Macy’s Can Ban Employee Use of Customer Data, Board Says

Macy’s Inc. can ban its employees from using or disclosing confidential customer information, the National Labor Relations Board ruled Aug. 14 (Macy’s, Inc., 2015 BL 501611, 365 N.L.R.B. No. 116, 8/14/17).

Macy’s has an employee handbook rule that prohibits employees from taking customer names and contact information from company records. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1445 in Massachusetts challenged this rule, arguing that employees should be able to use and disclose that information to get public support in labor disputes.

Two members of the NLRB rejected the union’s claim. NLRB Chairman Philip A. Miscimarra (R) and Member ...