NLRB Judge Finds T-Mobile US Guilty of More Labor Law Violations

Nearly five months ago, an administrative law judge (ALJ) at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found T-Mobile US guilty of multiple violations of U.S. labor law. Yet, instead of rectifying its illegal corporate policies, the company continues to break the law.

On Monday, another ALJ found that T-Mobile illegally prohibits its employees from discussing the terms and conditions of employment with their co-workers and others. At locations in at least South Carolina and Maine, the company had been requiring employees to sign a confidentiality agreement whenever it conducted an internal investigation.

This practice was exposed as particularly egregious in Maine, where a customer service representative filed a sexual harassment complaint with the human resources department. T-Mobile forced her to sign the form and agree not to discuss the complaint with anyone. The employee was told explicitly that if she discussed the situation with her co-workers she could face discipline and termination.

T-Mobile refuses to own up to its lawbreaking. In March, an ALJ ruled that T-Mobile's nationwide policies violated labor laws and workers' rights by blocking employees from even talking to each other about problems at work. The company has not appealed nine of the 11 violations, but has taken no action to rescind its illegal policies and inform all 46,000 employees about policy changes, as the ALJ ordered.