Beasley et al. v. Food Fair of North Carolina, Inc., et al.

Decided May 15, 1974. William Joseph Brennan Jr. delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 72-1597 · 416 U.S. 653 (1974) · Cited 125 times

Holding

The second clause of 14(a) applies to any law requiring an employer to accord to supervisors like petitioners, who are 'the front line of management,' the 'anomalous status of employees,' and enforcement of the North Carolina law would thus flout the national policy against compulsion upon employers from either federal or state authorities to treat supervisors as employees.

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court — read the official opinion for authority.

How the Justices voted

Decided 9–0.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• Hanna Mining Co. v. District 2, Marine Engineers Beneficial Ass'n · 382 U.S. 181 (1965)
• Packard Motor Car Co. v. National Labor Relations Board · 330 U.S. 485 (1947)
• Retail Clerks International Ass'n, Local 1625 v. Schermerhorn · 375 U.S. 96 (1963)
• Retail Clerks International Ass'n, Local 1625 v. Schermerhorn · 373 U.S. 746 (1963)
• Local 20, Teamsters, Chauffeurs & Helpers Union v. Morton · 377 U.S. 252 (1964)
• Algoma Plywood & Veneer Co. v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Board · 336 U.S. 301 (1949)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• Florida Power & Light Co. v. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 641 · 417 U.S. 790 (1974)
• Lodge 76, International Ass'n of MacHinists & Aerospace Workers v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission · 427 U.S. 132 (1976)
• International Longshoremen's Ass'n v. Davis · 476 U.S. 380 (1986)
• National Labor Relations Board v. Yeshiva University · 444 U.S. 672 (1980)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

Explore from here

William Joseph Brennan Jr.’s profile · All Supreme Court opinions · The Supreme Court

Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (1974). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-07-03. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).