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:

• Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Scalia on the October Jobs Report – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement on the October 2020 Employment Situation Report: “The strong economic rebound continues, with approximately 900,000 private sector jobs gained back in September and again in October, and the October unemployment rate dropping a full point, to 6.9 percent.”

• American Workers Come First, Trump Administration Launches ‘Engaging as One Workforce for America’ Initiative – The Trump administration announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Agriculture will be joining efforts to put American workers first in a post-coronavirus economic recovery initiative to help more families experience the benefits of work.

Keeping America’s Workplaces Safe and Healthy:

• U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA Announces $2,496,768 In Coronavirus Violations – OSHA has issued citations arising from 179 inspections for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $2,496,768.

• U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guidance Alerting Employers to Frequently Cited Standards Related to COVID-19 Inspections – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued guidance and an accompanying one-pager to help employers understand which standards are most frequently cited during coronavirus-related inspections.

Defending Workers’ Rights to Paid Leave and Wages Earned:

• Houston Childcare Provider Pays Back Wages to Employee Wrongly Denied Paid Sick Leave and Terminated Amid Coronavirus Pandemic – A childcare provider based in Houston, Texas has paid $864 in back wages after wrongly denying leave to a worker with coronavirus symptoms who was ordered to self-quarantine for two weeks by a medical professional.

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.