Dr. Pepper Bottling Company Allowed to Ban ‘Indecent’ Conduct

A Keurig Dr. Pepper subsidiary didn’t violate federal labor law by maintaining a handbook provision prohibiting “immoral or indecent conduct,” a National Labor Relations Board judge ruled.

Administrative Law Judge Susannah Merrit ruled Friday that the American Bottling Co., owned by the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, was within its legal right to have a handbook outlawing indecent conduct that reflects poorly on the company, whether that conduct happens at work or not.

The handbook doesn’t unlawfully restrict workers’ right to organize, she said.

NLRB lawyers had argued that the company’s handbook provision was overly broad and should be unlawful under ...