NLRB: The Memorial Hospital of Salem County’s Dress Code Changes Violated Labor Laws

The National Labor Relations Board has found that the Memorial Hospital of Salem County in Salem, N.J., violated national labor laws when it refused to bargain with the Health Professionals and Allied Employees union over changes in the dress code and did not give the union information it requested.

The hospital changed dress codes to exclude hooded sweatshirts and fleece jackets, which were previously allowed in the dress code. According to the NLRB decision, this "resulted in discomfort from the cold to at least one employee due to her inability to wear sweatshirts or hoodies over her scrubs."

The union demanded bargaining over the changes in the dress code policy and also requested information about the new dress code and the changes, and the hospital did not reply to those requests, according to the NLRB decision.

The Memorial Hospital of Salem County denies it violated labor laws when it changed the dress code, saying the changes were not "material, substantial and significant," so the hospital did not have to bargain over the changes and did not break the law in that regard. The hospital also says there was no basis for it to respond to the union's information request, according to the NLRB.

Written by Heather Punke

Becker’s Hospital Review