New York State passes bill prohibiting captive audience meetings

At a glance

• New York State’s Legislature passed a bill prohibiting employers from holding mandatory employee meetings.
• Following the governor’s signature, the law will come into immediate effect.

On 6 September 2023, New York State’s Legislature passed a bill prohibiting employers from holding mandatory employee meetings for the purpose of discussing labour elections and union organising (captive audience meetings).

Following the governor’s signature, the law will come into immediate effect.

The NLRB in Babock v Wilcox Co, 1948 declared that employers may hold mandatory employee meetings during working hours on company property to address issues on union organising.

Under the new bill, it will become a violation of state labour law for an employer to discriminate against an employee based on their refusal to attend an employer sponsored meeting, listen to an employer speech or view communications that have the primary purpose to communicate the employer’s views on religious or political matters.