NLRB Takes Action Against Grindr Over Return-to-Office Policy
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has initiated a formal complaint against Grindr, alleging that the company’s return-to-office (RTO) policy was implemented to undermine unionization efforts. As reported by Bloomberg, this mandate restricted remote work options and effectively forced many employees to relocate. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) indicated that approximately 80 out of 178 employees left the company due to last year’s RTO requirements.
Allegations of Labor Law Violations
The NLRB’s general counsel has accused Grindr of breaching labor laws by retaliating against workers who sought to organize a union. According to Bloomberg, the agency also claims that Grindr failed to acknowledge the union or engage in good faith negotiations, further violating labor regulations.
A representative from Grindr dismissed these allegations as “meritless,” asserting that some employees began signing union cards only after it became known that the transition back to in-office work was imminent.
Details on Unionization Efforts and Employee Exodus
The CWA reported that on August 4 of last year, Grindr announced a requirement for staff members to be present in offices at least two days per week. A significant majority of workers had declared their intention to unionize just a month prior, in July. By late August, it was claimed that nearly half of the workforce had been compelled to resign due in part to relocation demands.
This relocation requirement posed additional challenges for some trans employees at Grindr who would need new healthcare providers as a result. The CWA stated: “The RTO mandate provided workers with merely two weeks’ notice—forcing them either into relocation or termination.” This statement accompanied their filing for an Unfair Labor Practice against Grindr in September 2023. As highlighted by CNN, many remote hires were suddenly required at offices located in major cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.
Previous Controversies Surrounding Grindr
This is not the first instance where Grindr has faced scrutiny; earlier this year, they were sued for allegedly disclosing sensitive personal information—including HIV statuses and ethnic backgrounds—to advertising firms without user consent.
A Union’s Perspective on Recent Developments
In response to these developments, representatives from Grindr United-CWA hailed the NLRB’s complaint as ”another significant victory” for their organization. Their full statement reads:
“Today’s complaint from the NLRB marks another substantial win for our union efforts. Following management’s implementation of a retaliatory relocation policy shortly after we publicized our organizing activities more than half our colleagues faced either mandatory relocations or severance packages contingent upon silence about workplace conditions.
By filing an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB last year we held management accountable regarding worker rights and our right to form unions—this is why we established Grindr United: To ensure collaboration and representation during negotiations.
This filing should convey a clear message: With our union presence we are dedicated towards negotiating equitable working conditions sincerely.”
Update: November 4th – 5:40 PM ET:
This article has been updated post-publication with comments from representatives at Grindr United-CWA.
