Should local governments publish lists of unscrupulous activities by private employers?

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander recently unveiled a new tool aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the business sector: the “Employer Violations Dashboard.” Known colloquially as the “Wall of Shame,” this dashboard is a public resource that catalogs and displays a range of labor law violations committed by businesses across the city from 2020 to 2023. This initiative, according to Lander, is designed to spotlight businesses that fail to uphold workers’ rights. Publishing this list will inform the public and other stakeholders about these entities’ unethical practices.

The Office of the New York City Comptroller has created this dashboard to advance corporate accountability, protect taxpayers, empower workers, and create a level playing field for responsible employers. It is designed to be a transparent and accessible resource for the public — from everyday New Yorkers curious about the business on their block, to workers searching for their next job, to organizers shining a light on exploitative employers, to agency procurement officers seeking to avoid doing business with contractors who violate the law. – comptroller.nyc.gov Employer Violations Dashboard

The “Wall of Shame” serves a several purposes. By compiling data from federal, state, and city enforcement agencies, it provides a comprehensive view of businesses that have engaged in activities such as wage theft, unsafe labor practices, and discrimination. This transparency tool is intended not just for workers, but also for customers, neighbors, and other businesses, offering them the ability to make informed decisions about whom they choose to support or avoid. The ultimate goal is to foster a fairer work environment in New York City by holding these businesses accountable and encouraging them to amend their ways.

Among the businesses highlighted on this year’s “Wall of Shame” are Chipotle Mexican Grill and Planned Companies. Chipotle was cited for a high number of unfair labor practices including coercion and retaliation against employees trying to unionize, resulting in multiple legal actions and hefty fines totaling over $23 million for various infractions. Planned Companies, providing janitorial and other building services, faced 20 violations related to union interference and bad faith bargaining, along with serious safety infractions that had fatal consequences. These examples underscore the severity of the violations being tracked and the types of behaviors that the dashboard aims to expose. Other companies topping the list were, unsurprisingly, Amazon, Uber, and Lyft.

A list like this could empower workers and consumers, promote corporate accountability, and deter unethical business practices. Rights organizations and watchdogs will probably be happy to have such a resource publicly available. How much the public will use the list remains to be seen but the information will be accessible. You’d imagine that all comptrollers in all cities across the country have access to this type of data. So, should local governments publish lists of unscrupulous activities by private employers?

Watch the full conversation from the recent episode of Nuance.

Nuance with Mike Scala and Jay Carter is a weekly video podcast that engages its audience through examination of current events from the unique perspectives of its hosts and guests.

Additional

• Find out which companies are on the wall of shame
• See Which Companies Landed on Comptroller Brad Lander’s Inaugural “Employer Wall of Shame”
• Employer Violations Dashboard