WASHINGTON –The U.S. Department of Labor will begin a series of events in August to highlight the importance of maternal health and workplace protections for expectant and new mothers as the country marks National Breastfeeding Month.  

On Aug. 10, the department’s Wage and Hour Division and Women’s Bureau will present “Working Mothers: What to Expect from Your Employer When You’re Expecting,” a public webinar from 1 to 2:30 p.m. EDT. Attendance is free, but registration is required.

The first in the department’s Maternal Health Series, the event will bring together representatives of the division and the bureau, along with representatives of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, who will share and discuss federal protections to prevent discrimination against pregnant workers, provide time off for the birth or adoption of a child, and ensure that working mothers may take breaks to express breast milk and do so in private. 

“Federal law forbids employers from discriminating against pregnant women or working mothers,” said Principal Deputy Wage and Hour Administrator Jessica Looman. “Whether women need to take leave for a medical appointment, to bond with their newborn, adopted or foster child, or to express breast milk privately and safely, working mothers have rights under the law. We encourage working women, employers and other stakeholders to know their rights and responsibilities and to seek our assistance if needed.”

In 2020, a study by the Commonwealth Fund of data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other sources found the U.S. has the highest rate of maternal mortality of any industrialized country. Research also suggests that proper prenatal care and medical management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure could prevent many deaths. CDC data also finds breast-fed babies experience short- and long-term benefits.

“Pregnant and nursing workers should never be forced to choose between their health – or that of their child – and their job,” said Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon. “By enforcing federal labor standards and ensuring workers know their rights, we help ensure more equitable workplaces for women, including staying connected to their job and vital supports like health insurance during a critical time for their families.”   

As part of its efforts, the department has created fact sheets on Birth and Bonding and Job-Protected Leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

The Maternal Health Series will continue with upcoming events that include state-level webinars on expectant and new mothers’ rights and benefits at the federal and state levels, industry-specific employer compliance events, an event focused on Black maternal health, and another on doulas and midwives.

Register for “Working Mothers: What to Expect from Your Employer When You’re Expecting”

Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division. Workers can call the Wage and Hour Division confidentially with questions – regardless of their immigration status – and the department can speak with callers in more than 200 languages.

Learn more about the Women’s Bureau.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor marked the 50th anniversary of the enactment of Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 with a roundtable discussion at its “Celebrating Title IX” webinar hosted by the department’s Women’s Bureau.

On June 23, 1972, Congress banned sex-based discrimination against women and girls in federally funded schools, education programs and activities. The legislation removed barriers for women and narrowed gender gaps in sports. Title IX also expanded opportunities for women in science, technology and other professions.

“Title IX has important implications in ending discriminatory sexist policies,” said Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon, the panel’s moderator. “Today’s celebration marking the 50th anniversary of Title IX allows us to reflect on the advancements that have been made in women’s education, athletics and STEM professions while also protecting women from gender-based harassment and acknowledging the continued struggles to make good on all the promises of Title IX.”

The event included participants from the Departments of Labor and Education, the National Women’s Law Center, the Advocacy at Women’s Sports Foundation and Know Your IX. Panelists discussed the need to protect women at educational institutions from gender-based discrimination, violence and harassment. They also focused on milestones towards women’s equity, and barriers that remain to keep women – especially women of color – from the benefits of fair rights and equal opportunities.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade:

“The right to reproductive freedom – which includes the right to access legal abortion services – is fundamental to women’s autonomy, health outcomes and economic security. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau is the only federal agency authorized by Congress to represent the needs and interests of working women. As such, the Women’s Bureau is uniquely positioned to safeguard the needs of working women and advocate for their equality, which includes access to safe reproductive health options such as abortion, contraception and comprehensive maternity care.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will allow states to ban or significantly restrict access to abortion immediately, often without any exceptions. This means women will lose access to safe, reliable and accessible reproductive medical care. It is an outcome that will have a catastrophic impact on women’s employment and economic security.

“Research has shown – repeatedly and consistently – that reproductive autonomy is linked directly to a woman’s ability to get an education, participate in the labor force and increase their earning potential. It has also helped to narrow the gender wage gap.

“For more than 100 years, the Women’s Bureau has been committed to advancing the status of working women. Today that means an explicit acknowledgement that access to abortion and all other personal reproductive choices is an issue of health and personal liberty as well as an economic issue that determines the welfare of working women.”

Learn more about the Women’s Bureau.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade:

“The U.S. Supreme Court today overturned decades of constitutional precedent, now allowing states to ban or significantly restrict access to abortion. This decision means that women across the country will lose access to necessary reproductive medical care.

“Reproductive autonomy directly supports women’s ability to get an education, participate in the labor force, and increase their earning potential and it has helped to narrow the gender wage gap. Losing the right to reproductive freedom will have a catastrophic impact on women’s employment and economic security.  

“Access to abortion and all other personal reproductive choices is not only an issue of health and personal liberty, but also squarely an economic issue that determines the welfare of working women and their families. The Department of Labor will work to advance our mission by empowering women using every tool we have.”

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a funding opportunity of $2 million for up to eight grants to help women who earn low wages to learn about and access their employment rights and benefits.

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration and Women’s Bureau, Fostering Access, Rights and Equity grants are designed to support non-profit organizations that connect women workers to additional services, benefits and legal assistance.

Grant recipients will provide the following support:

• Outreach that includes sharing educational materials through varied methods, ranging from social media to one-on-one consultations.
• Assisting women workers with navigating and calculating benefits.
• Connecting and referring women workers to additional services, benefits and/or legal assistance.
• Helping women become focal points for rights, benefits and assistance in their own communities.

Learn more about the FARE grant, our 2021 recipients and how to apply.

Apply for the 2022 FARE grant.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a funding opportunity of $3.4 million for up to nine grants to attract and keep women in Registered Apprenticeship Programs and industries where they are underrepresented such as manufacturing, infrastructure, cybersecurity and healthcare.

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration and Women’s Bureau, the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grant program supports community-based organizations in their efforts to recruit, train and retain more women in Registered Apprenticeships and nontraditional occupations.

While women make up nearly half the U.S. labor force, they comprise only 13 percent of Registered Apprentices.

These grants are intended to help address the significant underrepresentation of women in Registered Apprenticeship programs and in high-growth, high-wage STEM occupations.

Registered Apprenticeships are a pathway for workers to the middle class. They also help employers to recruit, develop, and retain a highly skilled and diverse workforce. While this earn-while-you-learn model has a long history in skilled trades, such as construction, emerging and high-growth industries like manufacturing, infrastructure, cybersecurity and healthcare are increasingly using Registered Apprenticeships to strengthen their workforce.

Read about the WANTO grant program, 2021 WANTO grant recipients and Frequently Asked Questions. 

Apply for 2022 WANTO grant at grants.gov.