Benefits of providing Weingarten rights for nonunion employees

Abstract

Purpose

Unionized employees have the legal right to bring a union representative with them into an investigatory interview if they request it (“Weingarten rights”). This study aims to demonstrate that employers should allow nonunion employees the right to have a co-employee accompany them in a similar type of interview, if the employees make that request.

Design/methodology/approach

Not applicable.

Findings

There will be two benefits to allowing nonunion employees the right to bring a co-employee into an investigatory interview with them. First, this will be a form of organizational justice, and researchers demonstrated the benefits of employees perceiving that they receive organizational justice. Secondly, this will be a form of union substitution which should reduce employees’ desire for unionization.

Originality/value

Whereas most employers seek to avoid the application of Weingarten rights in nonunion workplaces, this article argues that organizations should grant employees this right voluntarily.

Citation

Abraham, S. (2016), "Benefits of providing Weingarten rights for nonunion employees", Strategic HR Review, Vol. 15 No. 6, pp. 267-270. https://doi.org/10.1108/SHR-07-2016-0063