Motorola Worker’s Lies About Pay Talks Shielded, NLRB Judge Says

Motorola Solutions Inc. violated federal labor law by firing a worker for lying about discussing wages with other employees, a National Labor Relations Board judge ruled.

The right to talk about pay is protected by the National Labor Relations Act, so Motorola employee Elisa Sheley had no obligation to respond to a manager’s questions about her discussions, truthfully or otherwise, Administrative Law Judge Charles Muhl held Thursday.

The decision shows the strong legal protections workers enjoy for conduct connected to their communications about compensation.

The case stemmed from Motorola’s investigation of leaked payroll information after an employee at a facility ...