The Plain Writing Act of 2010 (the Act) requires federal agencies to write "clear Government communication that the public can understand and use." President Obama also emphasized the importance of establishing "a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration" in his January 21, 2009, Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government.

The U.S. Department of Labor (the Department) is committed to complying with the Act. The Department has established a Plain Writing website that includes an overview of the Act and its requirements, documents that are covered, and timeframes associated with compliance with the Act.

Plain Language Coordinators

Plain Language Coordinators in each agency within the Department have been identified and their contact information is available on the Department's Plain Writing website. These coordinators are responsible for ensuring each agency's compliance with the Act's requirements and answering questions from the public about their agencies documents or plain writing practices. In addition, general questions about the Department's implementation of the Plain Writing Act can be addressed to the Department's Senior Plain Language Official.

Plain Language Training

In May 2012, the Department began requiring that all new employees take the training within 90-days of joining the Department and that all employees take an on-line plain writing training. By July 31, 2012, over 85 percent of the Department's employees and contractors had taken the training and received a Plain Writing Education and Training Certificate. By the end of April 2016, the Department once again offered plain language training to all (permanent and contractor) employees.  By April 29, 2016, over 85 percent of the Department's employees and contractors had taken the training and received a Plain Writing Education and Training Certificate.

Institutionalized Practices

The Department of Labor received grades of "A" for Writing and Information Design and "B+" for Compliance on the 2015 Federal Plain Language Report Card. The Center for Plain Language reviewed the Department's plain language program and some writing samples.  The Center scored writing samples against a set of plain language criteria, and they analyzed the samples with an electronic text analysis tool, Acrolinx, for grammar, style, and overall readability.