A Familiar Face in a New Role
Congratulations to Tiffany Boiman on her promotion to the role of Women’s Bureau Deputy Director! Tiffany has been serving as Acting Deputy Director since July of 2022. Before that, she served as the Director of the Women’s Bureau’s Office of Policy and Programs. She joined the Bureau in 2014.
October Observances
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
In October, we mark National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Every year, millions of people experience domestic violence which, among other challenges, impacts their ability to work and earn a living. The Women’s Bureau is committed to working with other agencies inside and outside the Department of Labor to prevent and address gender-based violence in the world of work, including by recognizing the impact of domestic violence on employment.
On October 24, Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon spoke on a panel of federal agencies at Every Survivor, Every Voice, the 2023 National Conference on Domestic Violence. She discussed how the Women’s Bureau uses our grants, partnerships and research to help workers and employers prevent and address domestic violence by supporting survivor-led strategies.
- Read our blog in English and Spanish about types of employment laws that can help domestic violence survivors at work
- Learn about our Fostering Access, Rights and Equity (FARE) grant program, which funds community-based organizations to support women workers who have been impacted by GBVH
- Read about the Biden-Harris administration’s National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence
Hispanic Heritage Month
During Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated from September 15 through October 15, we honor the achievements of Hispanic leaders, particularly those who have championed workers. Recently, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su hosted a panel with Latino/a labor leaders on how the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda can be catalyzed into opportunities for the Latino/a community by centering equity, job quality and worker organizing to create good union jobs.
- Read the Department of Labor blog on Hispanic women who have elevated workers’ rights
- Check out our thread on X on Hispanic women who are carrying on the legacy of advancing workers’ rights
National Work and Family Month
During National Work & Family Month, we honor working families and continue to strive toward a nation where every individual has the supports they need to thrive both in the workplace and in their family lives – supports that include paid leave, affordable and accessible child and elder care, and more.
- View our updated map of state-level paid family and medical leave laws
- Discover the average cost of child care in your county using our National Database of Childcare Prices
- View our research on mothers, families and work
Blog Roundup
60 Years Ago, This Report Jump-Started the Gender Equality Agenda
October 11 marked the 60th anniversary of “American Women,” the seminal report from John F. Kennedy’s Presidential Commission on the Status of Women. To mark the anniversary, we published a blog to tell the story of how the report shaped a policy agenda that would remain influential for decades, its connection to the Women’s Bureau and how we strive to carry on its legacy today.
Upcoming Events
Young Women in Apprenticeship: Starting Early on the Road to High Pay
On November 16, join the Women’s Bureau for a webinar to mark National Women in Apprenticeship Day. The webinar will focus on creating access to good-paying jobs for youth and young adult women. It will highlight the importance of educating young women on the advantages of apprenticeship, feature programs and training opportunities, discuss recruitment strategies and share information on Department of Labor apprenticeship programs.
Date: November 16, 2023
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM ET (11:00 AM – 12:30 PM PT)
Caring For Those Who Care: Labor Rights for Workers in the Care Industry
In recognition of Home Care and Hospice Month, November, join the Women's Bureau, Wage and Hour Division, and EEOC to learn about rights and protections for workers in the care industry. This event will help workers understand the protections afforded by current law and will also equip employers with information necessary to comply with those requirements.
Date: November 13, 2023
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET (7:00 – 9:00 AM PT)
Mid-Atlantic Region Quarterly Stakeholder Forum: Equity & National Apprenticeship Week
n recognition of National Apprenticeship Week, the Women’s Bureau Mid-Atlantic Region (DC, MD, VA, WV, DE, OH, KY, PA) will highlight programs and resources focused on building equity in apprenticeship during our upcoming Quarterly Forum.
Date: November 7, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:15 pm ET (4:00 – 4:40 PM ET)
Disability Awareness: Support for Small Business
Join the Women's Bureau's Western Region, the Office of Disability Employment Policy and the Nevada Women's Business Center for a webinar discussion offering practical strategies for small businesses on the recruitment, hiring, accommodation and retention of disabled women workers.
Date: November 9, 2023
Time: Time: 1:00 – 1:30 PM PT (4:00 – 4:40 PM ET)
And don’t forget to bookmark the Women’s Bureau Events page to stay up to date!
In Case You Missed It
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Memorial Dedication
This month, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su spoke at the dedication of a new memorial to commemorate the workers – mostly immigrant women and girls – killed in the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in New York City. This awful tragedy, which was caused by an employer who locked exit doors, spurred important labor reforms at the state and federal level. As such, it’s important to remember even 111 years later.
- Watch the dedication (Acting Secretary Su begins speaking at 1:39:00)
- Watch a YouTube short about lessons learned, or not learned, from the fire
- Read about the dedication and how the Triangle Shirtwaist fire helped shape the Department of Labor’s workplace safety rules
Director’s Trip to Switzerland
Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon and Chief of Staff Nikkilia Lu traveled to Geneva, Switzerland to attend the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) annual technical meetings, highlight effective U.S. practices on equal pay and learn from other EPIC members on strategies to combat the gender wage gap. Director Chun Hoon also spoke at an International Labour Organization event celebrating the first International Day of Care and Support, a day to recognize the importance of care workers and care infrastructure.
EEOC guidance on harassment
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is inviting public comments on its proposed Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace by November 1. The updated proposed guidance reflects notable changes in law, the #MeToo movement and emerging issues, such as virtual or online harassment.
- Read the proposed guidance and submit a comment
- Learn more about gender-based violence and harassment in the world of work
Women’s Bureau in the News
- Newsweek: Biden announces new childcare plan: who qualifies?
- Business Insider: A childcare center founder explains what she learned after 3 decades and why it's so hard to make the business work
- ProRemodeler: Female-Focused Trade Program Awarded Prestigious US Department of Labor Grant
We Want to Hear from You!
“Occupational segregation” is the gendered sorting of men and women into different types of jobs. It leads to women being overrepresented in certain jobs, which are valued and compensated less than male-dominated jobs.
We’ve heard from many working women about their experiences with gendered job expectations, the challenges they face at work, the support systems that help them thrive and the policy changes that would help them succeed. We'd like to hear from you.
Follow the Women's Bureau on social media @WB_DOL
The Women’s Bureau has championed the rights of working women and served as a convener of conversations critical to an equitable economy for women for more than 100 years.
Follow us at @WB_DOL to learn more about the latest research, initiatives, policies and updates related to working women and their families.