Employers should keep an eye on the National Labor Relations Board and its rulingsin the months ahead, according to Philip A. Miscimarra, theoutgoing board chair.

HRDive reports that Miscimarra, who declined the offerof a second term and will leave the board in December, spoke toattendees at Epstein Becker & Green’s annual workforcemanagement briefing in New York on September 14.

The outgoing chair told listeners that each time a boardmember’s term ends, it’s important for the NLRB to issue rulings on“as many cases as possible” that the departing member hasparticipated in. If that isn’t done, rulings can be delayed for upto four years, since those cases must then be reheard.

While Miscimarra didn’t mention any particular cases that mightbe included in a forthcoming wave of rulings, the report points outthat the NLRB maintains a webpage listing cases of interest, includinga headline-grabbing unfair labor practice charge againstTesla.

But before employers get too stirred up in anticipation, DavidW. Garland, chair of the Epstein Becker’s National Labor andEmployment Steering Committee and member of the firm’s board ofdirectors, says in the report that Miscimarra’s promise may be abit “ambitious.”

Garland says, “There’s no doubt that he’s committed and willwork tirelessly to do that,” adding that he believes Miscimarra isdedicated to the board. But it’s too soon to tell, he cautions,whether Miscimarra will be able to carry out that plan — or, forthat matter, which cases it might involve. He concludes, “We’rejust going to have to wait and see.”

The NLRB, the report says, “is at the center of a number of HR’smost contentious labor law issues, including joint employment and worker misclassification.” And while the waitcertainly isn’t over yet, perhaps the clock will finally tick downon some cases.