I get a lot of calls from people looking for the “Pennsylvania Labor Board”. As far as I can tell, there is no such thing. Many people seem to believe that there is a PA Labor Board that oversees employment in Pennsylvania and assures that employers treat workers fairly and obey the law. Unfortunately, there is no state “fairness” authority – but there are some state agencies that enforce workplace laws.
The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board is the agency with the closest name. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the same agency that handles Worker’s Compensation, unemployment compensation and wage and hour issues. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board deals exclusively with union issues – disputes between unions and members, unions and management, and issues regarding people who are trying to organize their workplace.
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission enforces Pennsylvania laws regarding discrimination in employment, housing and other areas. The PHRC deals with discrimination on the basis of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and nationality. There are also federal agencies that enforce federal laws that apply to the workplace.
Most of the people who call and ask about the “labor board” are calling about unfair treatment at work, not union issues. If unfair treatment is the issue, there are other agencies that may be able to help.
If you have questions about unfair treatment in the workplace, contact me or get a free copy of my Secret Employee Handbook.