Bill Overview
Title: Small Businesses before Bureaucrats Act
Description: This bill increases by a factor of 10 the revenue thresholds for businesses subject to the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board.
Sponsors: Rep. Good, Bob [R-VA-5]
Target Audience
Population: People associated with small businesses previously under NLRB jurisdiction globally
Estimated Size: 25000000
- The bill affects businesses subject to the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which primarily includes businesses engaged in interstate commerce.
- The bill raises the revenue thresholds for NLRB jurisdiction by ten times, which implies that smaller businesses, which do not meet the new threshold, will no longer be under NLRB jurisdiction.
- The change will thus directly impact small businesses that previously met the old revenue thresholds but are below the new ones.
- This legislation could impact the way labor relations are managed in small businesses, possibly altering employment conditions, collective bargaining, and labor rights for employees in these businesses.
Reasoning
- The target group for this policy includes small businesses currently under NLRB jurisdiction but not meeting the new, higher revenue thresholds. This population is expected to be substantial given the number of small businesses in the U.S.
- Under this policy, small businesses might face reduced regulatory oversight related to labor relations. This might be viewed positively or negatively depending on one’s perspective—employers might appreciate fewer constraints, whereas employees might feel less protected.
- The financial impact of implementing the policy involves understanding potential loss or gains in employment rights and any ancillary regulatory or legal costs.
- A portion of employees might perceive this change as having a positive impact on business expansion possibilities, while others might view it critically due to reduced protective oversight.
- Cost evaluation is essential, given the budget over ten years, implying a significant federal investment and potential savings for businesses.
- The duration and degree of impact are likely quite variable across individuals, dependent on job stability, business success, and potential changes in labor conditions.
Simulated Interviews
Small Business Owner (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a relief. We've struggled with the complexities of NLRB oversight that seemed excessive for our small operation.
- I hope this will allow us to expand more confidently without regulatory fear.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
HR Manager in Tech Startup (Austin, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about the loss of protections for our employees that this policy introduces.
- The lack of oversight may lead to conflicting labor practices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
NLRB Official (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will lead to less oversight and perhaps unfair labor practices going unchecked.
- I'm worried about the future of my job given this shrinkage in responsibilities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Factory Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried that this policy will erode worker protections.
- The NLRB has been crucial in ensuring fair treatment in our workplace.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
CEO of Small Tech Firm (Houston, TX)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Removing NLRB limitations allows us to optimize our growth strategy without being bogged down by unnecessary oversight.
- I believe this move will help in job creation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Freelancer/Consultant (Seattle, WA)
Age: 37 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My clients might face less regulatory burden, which they see as a plus, but I'm worried about the indirect impact on labor conditions.
- This policy might create disparities in employee rights across business sectors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Retired (Chicago, IL)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Back in my day, NLRB's involvement was often cumbersome for small operators like us.
- I see this policy as a way for current owners to operate with more flexibility.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Recent Graduate in Business (Miami, FL)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- For someone starting out, this policy sounds liberating—less red tape to navigate.
- I'm hopeful about these changes as I enter the business world.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Labor Rights Advocate (Portland, OR)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy weakens labor protections that the NLRB ensures for vulnerable workers.
- I'm deeply concerned about the long-term implications for worker rights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 4 |
Lawyer (Raleigh, NC)
Age: 43 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- In terms of oversight, smaller businesses do stress about NLRB compliance.
- This act could simplify my clients' legal considerations, though it might reduce protections.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 3: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Changes in NLRB jurisdiction thresholds will reduce the number of small businesses required to comply with certain federal labor regulations.
- Potential savings for small businesses from reduced regulatory compliance obligations could lead to improved operational efficiencies.
- Employment practices may evolve in small businesses previously under NLRB jurisdiction, impacting labor conditions.
- The policy might result in slight state and local variances as different jurisdictions respond to changes in federal oversight.