Executive Order on Care
In April, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers to make care more affordable and accessible, and underscore the importance of care – and care workers – in our economy. In his speech, ahead of signing the Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers, POTUS cited our National Database on Childcare Prices and designated April 2023 as Care Workers Recognition Month.
- Read the Executive Order
- Learn more from the fact sheet
- Read our blog “Elevating Care -- and Care Workers”
- Watch a recording of the remarks
- See the proclamation
Black Maternal Health Week
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The U.S. has the highest mortality rate of any wealthy nation and Black women in America are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. To mark Black Maternal Health Week, April 11-17, the Women’s Bureau co-hosted a virtual webinar on “Black Mothers at Work: Workplace Challenges and Supports,” alongside the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, DOL’s Wage and Hour Division, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, National Birth Equity Collaborative, and A Better Balance. The webinar discussed how workplace conditions affect Black maternal health and what legal protections support mothers during pregnancy, after giving birth, and when returning to work. The U.S. also has a Maternal Mental Health Hotline, with free, confidential support offered in English and in Spanish. To get help, dial 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS (1-833-943-5746).
Hack-a-thon
Caption (l-r): Women’s Bureau Director of Regional Programs and Operations Charmaine Davis, Southcentral Regional Administrator Delia Garcia, Program Analysts Mariana Martinez, Natasha Black, Jennifer Fritzel, and Southeast Regional Administrator Marlaina Guillaume
In April, we observed Second Chance Month, a time to acknowledge the challenges that people who were formerly incarcerated face when reentering society. Women’s Bureau is partnering with Mission: Launch to host three hack-a-thons on issues facing justice-involved women, including: decriminalizing pregnant women and eliminating barriers to good jobs for justice involved women. The first hack-a-thon, held in Washington, DC focused on how we can strengthen our efforts to recruit, hire, and promote more justice-involved people at DOL. We had great turnout and received ideas we can start testing!
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
“Freedom from sexual assault is a basic human right.” April marked National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the workplace negatively affects women’s ability of women to fully participate in our economy. The Women’s Bureau is working to hold community-based conversations on strategies to end GBVH in the world of work.
Fostering Access, Rights and Equity Grant Program – Apply through June 10, 2023 | As part of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, we recently announced a funding opportunity of $1 million for up to four grants to help survivors and women at high risk for violence and harassment in the world of work. Administered by the department’s Women’s Bureau and the Employment and Training Administration, the Fostering Access, Rights and Equity (FARE) grants are designed to support non-profit organizations that connect women workers to services, benefits and legal assistance, and more.
- Learn more about FARE and our 2022 recipients
- Check out our Frequently Asked Questions
- Read the press release
Funding Opportunity Announcements
Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Grant Program – Apply through May 29 2023 | During a recent visit to the offices of New York City based community organization, Nontraditional Employment for Women, Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon announced a funding opportunity of $5 million for up to 14 grants to attract and support women in gaining access to Registered Apprenticeship Programs in industries where they are underrepresented such as construction, manufacturing, and cybersecurity.
- Learn about WANTO and our 2022 grant recipients
- Check out our Frequently Asked Questions
- See the press release
- Read the blog
New Registered Apprenticeship Regulations Listening Session
The Office of Apprenticeship is holding a 90-minute listening session on its proposed update to the Registered Apprenticeship regulations, specifically 29 CFR Part 29.
Date: Friday, May 05, 2023
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm ET
Register to attend: WorkforceGPS
Equity in Focus
Caption (l-r): Amy Dalrymple, Women’s Bureau policy analyst, Dr. Patricial Campos-Medina, executive director of The Worker Institute, Women’s Bureau Deputy Directors Gayle Goldin and Leah Rambo, and John Murphy, UA International Representative, NYS Pipe Trades Association
Earlier this month, Women’s Bureau staff joined the Worker Institute ILR School at Cornell University for the launch of the new Equity in Focus report. The report shared key findings from our work together on the webinar series and Equity in Focus: Job Creation for a Just Society Summit on job creation for women and workers of color.
In Case You Missed It
FAO North America recently released the ‘Status of Women in Agrifood Systems’ Report during a high-level presentation. Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon joined this conversation to discuss how we can achieve gender equity for women, centered around data and gender-transformative investments and practices.
Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon participated in the ILO-led CSW67 side event on addressing the gender pay gap in the digital economy, hosted by EPIC 2030. “Gendered differences in jobs are a significant measurable cause of the wage gap. We need to create more opportunities for women in high-paying careers where they're currently underrepresented & make sure they are good jobs with union protections.”
This month, we published a Spanish-language version of the Paid Family and Medical Leave fact sheet. Learn more about paid leave in the U.S. - who needs it, who has it, how people use it and more: Hoja informativa sobre el permiso familiar y médico pagado (dol.gov).
WB in the News
- PoliticoPro: Administration, advocates push for job equity in infrastructure, manufacturing spending
- The 19th News: Even when women make more than their husbands, they are doing more child care and housework
We Want to Hear from You!
“Occupational segregation” is the gendered sorting of men and women into different types of jobs. It leads to women being overrepresented in certain jobs, which are valued and compensated less than male-dominated jobs.
We’ve heard from many working women about their experiences with gendered job expectations, the challenges they face at work, the support systems that help them thrive and the policy changes that would help them succeed. We'd like to hear from you.
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The Women’s Bureau has championed the rights of working women and served as a convener of conversations critical to an equitable economy for women for more than 100 years.
Follow us at @WB_DOL to learn more about the latest research, initiatives, policies and updates related to working women and their families.