Stories You May Have Missed:
Labor Department Eyes Major Deregulation Effort
What happened:
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) just released its regulatory agenda for Fall 2025—and it includes plans to roll back dozens of rules across wage & hour, union oversight, and workplace safety. This agenda signals a sharp pivot toward deregulation as the administration prepares for potential transitions in 2025.
Why it matters:
Overtime eligibility and independent contractor status could be redefined again.
Employers may see less enforcement on union financial reporting under the LMRDA.
The OSHA rollback proposals could alter how workplace hazards are tracked and cited.
This isn't just bureaucratic tinkering—it's a strategic reset that could reshape how employers manage risk, compliance, and labor relations.
Full story here: Bloomberg Law
Teen Vogue Is Talking Unionization. Are You Listening?
What happened:
A recent Teen Vogue article encourages young workers to “build community” by joining a union. Framed as a response to burnout, low wages, and feelings of powerlessness at work, the piece promotes organizing as a tool for personal empowerment and mental well-being.
Why employers should pay attention:
This is more than just a passing trend, it reflects a broader shift in values among Gen Z workers.
Younger employees are seeking workplaces that offer trust, transparency, and a real voice.
When they don’t find that, they’re being taught to organize—and they’re learning it from cultural influencers, not traditional business channels.
The fact that union advice is being featured in Teen Vogue should be a wake-up call: the organizing message is reaching workers earlier and more effectively than many employers realize.
If you’re not actively shaping your culture to meet these expectations, someone else will. And it may not be a conversation; it might be a campaign.
Read the article: Teen Vogue
Union Salts Are Targeting Starbucks’ Summer Hiring Surge
What's happening:
As Starbucks gears up to hire thousands of new employees this summer, union salts—pro-union workers who intentionally apply for jobs to organize from within—are jumping at the opportunity. Organizers affiliated with Starbucks Workers United are calling on supporters to “get a job at Starbucks” and help advance the union campaign from within.
Why employers should pay attention:
This is a coordinated campaign strategy, not a coincidence.
Large-scale hiring events create an entry point for salts to embed themselves in your workforce.
A well-timed hiring push can unintentionally amplify union organizing if managers aren’t trained and alert.
Salting isn’t new, but the visibility, sophistication, and online coordination we’re seeing today raise the stakes for employers in high-turnover industries.
If your team views seasonal hiring as routine, you may be overlooking one of the most critical flashpoints for union activity. Proactive communication, onboarding, and culture-setting are more important than ever.
Read the full story: Benzinga
Unions Are Knocking on Big Tech’s Door, and This Time, They’re Not Leaving
What happened:
A recent article in LeadDev outlines how union organizing is gaining momentum inside tech companies, long considered union-resistant due to high pay and perks. But behind the free snacks and stock options, many workers are seeking a greater voice in decisions about layoffs, ethics, and the use of AI.
Why the C-suite should pay attention:
The dynamics have changed:
High compensation doesn’t equal high trust. Even top-paid engineers are pushing back on unilateral decision-making.
Tech workers are organizing around values, not just wages—think ethical AI, DEI rollback, and remote work policy.
Organizing is spreading through project-based, distributed, and digital-first tactics that bypass traditional union playbooks.
Leadership takeaway: Employee voice isn’t optional anymore. If you’re not fostering a culture where employees feel safe, seen, and heard—especially during moments of disruption—someone else will offer to do it for you.
Full article: LeadDev
