John A. Ferguson, Jr. and Thomas N. Cammack, III were presenters at the SAHRMA 15th Annual Employment Conference on August 18, 2021.
Mr. Ferguson co-presented on, “Why The Pro Act (and Other Biden NLRB Initiatives) Are Significant Challenges For South Texas Employers,” and reviewed the latest decisions by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and projected trends toward a more pro-labor Board, which will affect both unionized and nonunionized employers. The speakers provided an overview of the key provisions of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2021, which would, if enacted, dramatically amend the National Labor Relations Act.
Mr. Cammack presented on, “LGBTQ Rights in the Workplace,” which discussed the decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia was a landmark event in the history of employment law, holding that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay and transgender employees from workplace discrimination. This session addressed what the high court’s ruling means for employers’ general equal employment opportunity (EEO) policies, how companies should update their existing practices to avoid possible claims under Bostock, and what proactive steps employers can take to respond to LGBTQ employees’ concerns in the workplace.