Unions representing New York Times workers are demanding a renegotiation of the company’s remote work policies following the announcement of new tracking measures.
The New York Times Guild and the Times Tech Guild have both issued cease and desist letters to management in response to the new policy, which would require employees to return to the office three days a week and have their attendance tracked through badge swipes. These unions represent the majority of NYT workers.
The guild contends that there is no mention of tracking badge swipes in their contract, which was finalized in May, and they are demanding renegotiation of this aspect of the policy. The tech guild, which does not yet have a contract, argues that the policy violates their status quo and must be renegotiated. The status quo refers to the terms and conditions established when the union was ratified last year.
The disputed policy aims to monitor employees’ attendance through their badge swipes, allowing managers to analyze data and identify workers who have not met their attendance requirements.
These letters highlight the ongoing disconnect between management and workers that is being seen in offices nationwide. Amazon recently faced its own controversy over badge swipes when workers expressed concerns about privacy invasion.
Although stay-at-home orders are no longer in effect, remote work remains popular among U.S. workers.
Many workers, particularly office workers, adopt a hybrid model of work, and businesses have faced challenges in enticing employees back to the office over the past year.
