Essential Workers – Essential Protections: Your Rights in the North Carolina Workplace

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, the NC Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Bureau and the N.C. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Division protect the workplace rights of essential workers who are keeping our country moving forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Workers in grocery stores, health care, delivery services, retail establishments, and other essential industries have remained on the job despite many potential risks to their own health or that of their families. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, the NC Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Bureau and the N.C. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Division are  committed to ensuring that these, and all workers, receive the workplace protections provided under the law. 

Rapid changes in the workplace have surfaced many questions for workers, their advocates, and employers about safety, wages, hours worked, and time off for workers or their family members dealing with serious illness.  The Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the NC Wage and Hour Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina provide protections for workers that may be more crucial now than ever before.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, the NC Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Bureau and the N.C. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Division are pleased to offer virtual training for workers, organizations and employers in non-agricultural occupations on these critical workplace protections through our Essential Workers - Essential Protections Initiative. 

For questions, please contact Miguel A. Perez at perez.miguel@dol.gov.