Author Archive for: pkhambadza

America’s workforce thrives on diversity. Throughout our history, the variety of skills, experiences and perspectives of this nation’s workers fueled innovation and growth. This month, we’re highlighting Black workplace pioneers who blazed trails that created opportunities and improved the lives of generations of Americans. Phillis Wheatley:Poet Phillis Wheatley became the first Black American to publish a book of poetry, after

Today, the Office of Labor-Management Standards issued its Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2021. This is our 17th year publishing this report, and the reporting process gives us an opportunity to reflect on the agency’s work and what that work says about the state of the labor movement’s democratic and financial integrity. Before diving into the report’s conclusions, I want

The unemployment insurance system is intended to provide temporary support to workers when they lose their job, through no fault of their own. Unfortunately, for many workers – especially women, people of color, and those who have faced historic challenges accessing benefits – the pandemic exacerbated delays and lack of access to benefits. For instance, recent research supported by the

I have seen the benefits of mentorship as both mentor and mentee, and I am thankful for the many mentors who have helped me understand my strengths, skills and contributions to the workforce. About 10 years ago, Angela West was interning at the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University while working toward a master’s degree in rehabilitation

Privacy Data Week is a great time to reflect on our responsibility to protect and safeguard the Department of Labor’s sensitive data. We take every measure possible to secure devices, applications, and network environments, but we also need your help to assist in protecting America’s workforce from data breaches. In order to accomplish this, the Department of Labor’s Office of

The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration is dedicated to ensuring all Americans have access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits, but this past year we’ve been particularly busy. In fact, we’ve undertaken more mental health parity investigations than we have in previous fiscal years on the parity requirements. This increase is no accident: We’re purposefully ramping

Mental health is health – period. When someone gets the flu, or sprains an ankle, there’s no question about whether care is needed. If that person has health insurance, they can go to their doctor, or nearest urgent care or hospital. It’s often a commonplace, run-of-the-mill experience. You go in, you pay a copayment, you see the health care professional,

Progress and the well-being of working families requires an economy that works for everyone. The Minimum Wage Executive Order signed by President Biden on April 27, 2021 and the implementing regulations adopted by the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division ensure that workers on federal contracts receive a fair wage and demonstrate that government can lead by example. Starting

In the past year, the Wage and Hour Division has held more than 70 listening sessions and met with people representing workers and employers in many industries to identify ways we can improve access to the worker protections and services we provide. Learn more about our plans to address these priorities in 2022. Here are some of the things we’ve

Workers line up the newly-opened division office of the State Employment Service in San Francisco, CA to receive unemployment benefits in 1938. (Library of Congress) Ninety years ago this month, the state of Wisconsin made history by creating the nation’s first unemployment insurance system. That law was the product, in part, of years of work from a married pair of