Essential Protections for Essential Workers

En español

The Wage and Hour Division’s Essential Workers – Essential Protections initiative shares information with essential workers across the country about their rights to fair labor standards and respect in the workplace.

The goals of the Essential Workers – Essential Protections initiative are to:

• Provide outreach and education to protect essential workers and ensure they know their workplace rights.
• Reintroduce the Wage and Hour Division as a trusted resource to workers, employers, unions, employer associations and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with strategic partners to reach the most vulnerable, at-risk workers.

To help reach these goals, the Wage and Hour Division offers the resources below on common issues that essential workers and their employers face in several industries throughout the country.

Your hours and pay

Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act

Taking time off if you or a family member are sick

Family and Medical Leave Act Resources

Break time for nursing mothers

Fair Labor Standards Act: Nursing Mothers Resources

Share Our Message

Download resources and graphics for talking about worker rights and safety in your community.

• Social Media Toolkit (ESPAÑOL)
• Protecting Essential Workers (YouTube)
• We hear you: How we’re addressing feedback

Essential Protections Presentations

• Essential Workers (PDF)
• Agriculture Workers (PDF)
• Restaurants Workers (PDF)
• Warehouse Workers (PDF)
• Misclassification (PDF)
• Care Workers (PDF)
• Retaliation (PDF)

Workers We Help

• By the Numbers: Essential workers we've assisted in the past year
• Blog: Protecting Essential Workers' Rights: Four Stories
• Blog: Essential Workers an Essential Focus
• Blog: Nursing Mom Fights for Workplace Rights