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Corporate counsel brace for more union organizing, higher health care costs after election
October 7, 2008
This year's presidential election could mean some big changes for employers, warn corporate counsel, who are bracing for everything from higher health care costs to more union organizing.
According to a recent survey of nearly 400 corporate counsel, six out of 10 corporate counsel expect this year's presidential election to affect labor and employment laws at their companies.
Among the potential changes cited by the respondents were increased costs for health benefits and mandatory paid sick days; a resurgence of workplace regulation generally; and passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, which would eliminate secret ballots in union organizing drives and strengthen labor's hand in negotiations over union representation.
"Change is in the air, and our clients are gearing up to face the challenges ahead, " said Patrick L. Vaccaro, firmwide managing partner of Jackson Lewis, one of the co-sponsors of the study.
The "In-House Counsel Workplace" survey was released today by the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), along with Jackson Lewis, a management-side firm that represents employers.
On day-to-day challenges, corporate counsel cited workplace discrimination as the most time-consuming employment issue, followed by family and medical leave, wages and hours, and employee benefits. Compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was also cited as a concern.
"The results of the survey illustrate that employment issues are among the chief concerns in corporate America," Vaccaro said.
Deborah House, ACC's vice president and deputy general counsel, said that with the election right around the corner, it's crucial to determine what employment issues are at the forefront of concern so clients can be better prepared.
"The results provide a snapshot of anticipated changes, as well as issues labor and employment attorneys will be focused on in the coming year," House said.
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