Campaign amid Pandemic to Promote Workers’ Rights

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of a public awareness campaign to remind workers that the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is committed to ensuring their workplace rights during the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure that employers know their responsibilities.

WHD’s campaign uses public service announcements in English and Spanish to provide employers and employees information about the new paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave benefits available under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The campaign will also feature short educational videos, digital guides, stakeholder outreach, and social media to educate workers about their rights and encourage them to contact WHD with their workplace concerns. Announcements will run on local radio and television stations and on popular social media platforms.

“Millions of Americans are back at work and our mission has never been more critical,” said Wage and Hour Division Administrator Cheryl Stanton. “As the coronavirus pandemic evolves, the U.S. Department of Labor wants employers to understand their obligations and employees to know their rights when it comes to paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave. Our campaign will reach workers with the information and tools they need most.”

The campaign continues WHD’s efforts to serve employers and employees amid the pandemic. The effort has included the publication of extensive guidance for workers during this crisis, such as online videos, digital compliance assistance toolkits and an ongoing invitation to make confidential calls to speak directly with trained professionals in local WHD offices.

For more information about the FFCRA or other laws enforced by WHD, contact the toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd.

WHD’s mission is to promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the nation’s workforce. WHD enforces federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. WHD also enforces the paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, wage garnishment provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act and a number of employment standards and worker protections as provided under immigration law. Additionally, WHD administers and enforces the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act and other statutes applicable to federal contracts for construction and for the provision of goods and services.

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.