ICYMI: U.S. Department of Labor Acts to Help American Workers and Employers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor took a range of actions to aid American workers and employers as our nation combats the coronavirus pandemic.

Reopening America’s Economy:

• U.S. Secretary of Labor Scalia Highlights Economic Reopening and Apprenticeship Announcement in Greensboro, North Carolina – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Greensboro, North Carolina to discuss the economic recovery during the coronavirus pandemic. Secretary Scalia toured Machine Specialties, Inc. and met with company leadership, employees, and apprentices to discuss economic recovery and building a stronger workforce through apprenticeships.

• U.S. Department of Labor Announces Phased Reopening Of Job Corps Campuses – Students will return to Job Corps centers in a phased approach based on guidance from the CDC and the OSHA, supplemented by recommendations from state and local health officials, and the recommendations of the health consultants who work with Job Corps.

• U.S. Department of Labor Announces First Group of Standards Recognition Entities for Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs – As a critical part of the Administration’s efforts to expand access to in-demand job opportunities, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that it has recognized an initial 18 organizations as Standards Recognition Entities to oversee the development of high-quality Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs.

Defending Workers’ Rights to Paid Leave and Wages Earned:

• Mobile, Alabama, Franchisee Pays Back Wages to Seven Workers After Wrongly Denying Paid Sick Leave Amid Coronavirus Pandemic – The operator of a franchise in Mobile, Alabama, has paid back wages to seven employees after wrongly denying them emergency paid sick leave. The seven employees took leave while some sought medical diagnosis for suspected coronavirus infection and others followed orders to self-quarantine due to coronavirus exposure at the workplace.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Labor is focused on protecting the safety and health of American workers, assisting our state partners as they deliver traditional unemployment and expanded unemployment benefits, ensuring Americans know their rights to new paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave, providing guidance and assistance to employers, and carrying out the mission of the Department.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.