It’s Friday, and we have five labor-related stories that you might not have heard yet:
💊🩺 A treasure trove for healthcare employee relations pros
Our partners at HR Acuity just released their Ninth Employee Relations Benchmark Study, and it is a doozy. The downloadable study contains every conceivable data point on how ER teams strengthen processes and weigh resources to meet the unique urgency of healthcare systems.
The report also contains a wealth of actionable ideas that healthcare execs can use, in the words of HR Acuity CEO Deb Muller, “to drive strategy and help build fair, transparent and healthy workplaces — so you can focus on what matters most: Delivering exceptional care for both patients and employees, while protecting your organization.”
🧰 Only 40% of Americans have a “quality” job
The above figure comes from Gallup’s The American Job Quality Study, which gathered responses from 18,000 workers to provide data on “the real story of work in America today.” The study goes far beyond wages to establish a benchmark for evaluating job satisfaction in the present and future, with indicators including workers feeling that they have a voice, control over scheduling, and opportunities for growth and advancement.
Although Gallup expects to further evolve these benchmarks, the study provides valuable insight into what job satisfaction really means, how it ties into burnout, and what workers require to thrive in their jobs. In turn, satisfied workers are indicative of overall U.S. economic health, so the study should prove fruitful for years to come.
🧠 OpenAI’s semi-for-profit plan includes a labor leader
The ChatGPT owner pulled together a temporary advisory commission that includes an American labor leader. National Farm Workers Association co-founder Dolores Huerta joins a politically diverse group – including GOP campaign fundraiser and attorney Jack Oliver, former Gavin Newsom aide Daniel Zingale, and media exec Monica Lozano – to make philanthropic recommendations for the AI company.
Over the course of 90 days, the group also will address “both the promise and risks of AI” while soliciting feedback on what charitable duties that OpenAI should embrace. For the time being, OpenAI is still controlled by a nonprofit board, and the startup has hit some obstacles in a quest to become a public company.
Additionally, CEO Sam Altman has been candid about the company’s multibillion dollar losses and long road to profitability.
💥🪓 An unlikely burying of the hatchet
Sean O’Brien recently spoke during a Senate HELP Committee hearing, where Sen. Josh Hawley warmly welcomed the Teamsters president. Together, they waxed rhapsodic about the Faster Contracts Labor Act, which wasn’t surprising since the pair collaborated on a so-called “Pro-Worker Framework.” The more shocking aspect of this hearing was the burying of a hatchet between O’Brien and Sen. Markwayne Mullen (R-OK).
Their long-lived public feud culminated in 2023 and included social media barbs, a “cage match” challenge, and each telling the other to “stand your butt up” during a fiery 2023 hearing. Apparently, Mullin has now forgiven the Teamsters for lurking outside his plumbing business back in the day.
Fast forward to October 2025, and Mullin declared, “I guess everybody’s surprised to see Sean and I on the same page… I’d like to welcome you back to the committee and call you my friend.” O’Brien’s response: “For the record, I’m not a hugger, but I’ll shake your hand.” Well then.
⚙️👷 More labor-related legislation of interest
This week, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced then Employee Rights Act, which is a companion bill to a House resolution that surfaced in June. Both pieces of legislation aim to do the following:
- Mandate secret elections for union representation, i.e. no card check.
- Require workers to explicitly opt-in before being required to pay union dues that aren’t used for collective bargaining or contract administration. Annual renewal is also required for this opt-in.
- Amend the Hobbs Act to address union violence and criminalize obstruction of commerce through violence during strikes.
- Allow employer action against harassment during labor disputes.
This is still early days for the bill, and as we’re all aware, the Senate is occupied with shutdown votes, but we’ll watch for further developments.
