Allegheny County Announces Bold New “Worker Protections” Order: 4 Key Takeaways for Employers
Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, is setting up a “Steel Curtain” of worker protections in response to federal deregulatory efforts. County officials issued an executive order just before Labor Day that aims to ramp up enforcement of local workplace laws and expand organizing rights, as well as sectoral bargaining, across the region. We’ll explain how the order impacts private employers and give you four key takeaways. Quick Overview Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato signed an executive order on August 28 that expands worker protections and aims to ensure that “prosperity is broadly shared, workplaces are safe and fair, and every worker’s dignity is respected.” To accomplish these goals, the county will establish: a first-of-its-kind Office of Worker Protections (OWP), which will enforce the county’s “policies, laws, and mandates regarding anti-discrimination, worker protection, workplace benefits, and workplace safety;” a ...