The Current Status of [Online?] Labor Arbitration

This article examines the evolution of labor arbitration practices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the emergence and growing acceptance of online arbitration hearings. It discusses the adoption of video conferencing platforms like Zoom, the development of training and procedural guidance by organizations such as the National Academy of Arbitrators and the FMCS, and the legal and ethical considerations around compelling virtual hearings over party objections. While many arbitrators initially hesitated to conduct hearings online without mutual consent, the pandemic has accelerated technological adaptation and may permanently reshape arbitration norms by demonstrating the practical benefits of remote proceedings.