US Department of Labor unveils agency-wide initiatives supporting American workers, job creators, retirees

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its latest round of opinion letters and ongoing policy efforts to provide greater guidance and transparency to support American workers, job creators, and retirees.

"This Labor Day, the Department of Labor is providing all of its stakeholders with greater clarity on federal labor laws," said Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. "This Administration is committed to clear, practical compliance assistance that helps workers understand their rights, helps employers understand their obligations, and gives all stakeholders the certainty they need to comply with the law. In honor of Labor Day, 10 agencies across the Department of Labor are delivering on that commitment."

Learn more about the department's initiatives on the Labor Day 2026 page.

Center For Faith:

• The department's Center for Faith created a resource to answer common questions that faith-based organizations have regarding federal wage and hour laws.

Employee Benefits Security Administration:

• EBSA issued an advisory opinion considering whether the Blue and Gold Automotive Health Trust Fund Welfare Benefit Plan constitutes a viable association health plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act such that the employers involved can band together to obtain more favorable healthcare pricing options for their employees.
• EBSA also published a field assistance bulletin outlining the guiding principles for EBSA's enforcement policy regarding the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act to focus resources on areas that will have the greatest impact on access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits.

Employment and Training Administration:

• ETA released a Training and Employment Notice 05-26, establishing a five-component framework for effective pre-apprenticeships. By strengthening pre-apprenticeship programs and giving employers the guidance and tools necessary to funnel younger workers into registered apprenticeship programs, the Trump Administration is ensuring the American workforce gains and maintains the skills necessary to build the modern and future economy.
• ETA also issued Circular 2026-04, informing employers that sponsor registered apprentices how to obtain money made available through the new Workforce Pell Grant, created by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. By following this guidance and partnering with eligible educational institutions, employers using registered apprentices can access program flexibilities that allow businesses to grow and apprentices to build a high-paying career in their communities.
• ETA published Unemployment Insurance Program Letter 14-26, furthering President Trump's directive to fight fraud by setting expectations for state workforce agencies to develop and implement plans to combat fraud in their state-level unemployment insurance systems and clarifying when states must adopt corrective action plans for failure to protect against the misuse of American's tax dollars.

Bureau of International Labor Affairs:

• ILAB released videos highlighting the American stories that put our workers front and center. From shrimpers on the Gulf Coast to workers in Alaska powering our critical minerals supply chains, the recordings demonstrate how unfair foreign competition driven by labor abuse undercuts U.S. industries - and what a level playing field really looks like. Each story makes it clear President Trump's work is increasing U.S. job and wage growth, enforcing fair labor standards, and backing American workers and businesses with the tools they need to compete and win.

Mine Safety and Health Administration:

• Aiming to achieve greater consistency of outcomes, MSHA recently centralized its negotiators into the Conference Litigation and Investigative Resources group. This new structure will streamline conferences, reduce litigation costs, and enhance agency credibility before judges, operators, and miners. This will help support the Trump administration's reinvigoration of the American coal industry.
• MSHA recently launched a new, comprehensive "professionalism" training course for inspectors, as well as managers and administrative staff in the field who also interact with the public. To best protect America's crucial mine workforce, MSHA must earn the trust of and build lasting relationships with those who work in and operate American mines. Equipping MSHA investigators with the skills to do both is essential for rebuilding American mining dominance.

Office of Labor-Management Standards:

• OLMS issued an advisory opinion letter considering whether a newly formed union's initial officer selection process is subject to the election protections and requirements of Title IV of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration:

• OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs promote effective worksite-based safety and health by recognizing employers for their achievements leading the way in creating stronger and safer worksites every day. OSHA recognizes employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health management systems through VPP.

Wage and Hour Division:

The division released three opinion letters responding to important questions on the application of the Fair Labor Standards Act:

• FLSA 2026-11: Whether an uncompensated 60-minute lunch break, during which employees spend six to 14 minutes walking to and from the employer's designated break area, constitutes a bona fide meal period.
• FLSA 2026-12: Whether FLSA-exempt employees of a nonprofit organization may volunteer, outside of their normal work hours, to perform services for their employing organization.
• FLSA 2026-13: Whether the FLSA allows a restaurant supervisor who also works as a bartender to keep a portion of other employees' tips and the extent to which he or she may participate in a tip pool.

The Wage and Hour Division also updated its mobile app timesheet, now called WorkWise Timesheet, to provide streamlined tools for tracking regular work hours, breaks, overtime, and pay for both employees and employers.

Office of Disability Employment Policy:

• ODEP unveiled the Make Work Pay Hub, a new website that helps job seekers, workers, retirees, and employers find financial planning resources for people with disabilities. The Hub features ABLE accounts, which let eligible workers save for disability-related expenses without affecting federal benefits, and Trump accounts, new tax-advantaged savings accounts for any U.S. citizen under 18.

Veterans' Employment and Training Service:

• VETS issued an opinion letter considering whether the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act protects employees from any retaliatory action by their employers because they engaged in USERRA-protected activity.