The former union leader will head the Labor Department at a time when the pandemic has left millions unemployed and raised concerns about workplace safety.
The Labor Department is expected to report the U.S. lost millions of jobs last month due to the coronavirus. Unemployment likely jumped to its highest level since the Great Depression.
December's job growth is down slightly from the three previous months, when employers added an average of 200,000 jobs. But the unemployment rate held steady at 3.5%, matching a 50-year low.
The rule would allow employers to require waitstaff and others to share their tips with kitchen staff. But labor advocates say it could allow bosses to take advantage of their workers.
A long-awaited update to federal overtime rules means about 1.3 million workers will be entitled to extra pay when they work more than 40 hours a week. But critics say it doesn't go far enough.
Wage growth — and more specifically, the lack of vigorous pay raises — continued to be an issue, with average hourly earnings nudging slightly upward to 2.9 percent.
"It is time to stop ignoring these issues in tech," says one plaintiff. They are seeking class-action status to sue on behalf of all women employed by Google in California over the past four years.
On Tuesday the Labor Department formally requested information from the Office of Management and Budget, setting the stage for scaling back a rule that would make more workers eligible for OT.
In a bipartisan vote of 60-38, the Senate confirmed President Trump's second choice for labor secretary. Trump's first nominee, Andrew Puzder, withdrew when it became clear he would not be confirmed.
A lobbying battle is being waged over a rule requiring financial advisers to act in their clients' best interest in retirement planning. It pits financial firms against consumer and retiree groups.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Obama administration says it will challenge a federal court's decision to block implementation of a regulation that would make an estimated 4 million more higher-earning workers eligible for overtime pay.
The future of the rule is extremely uncertain. Even if the Obama administration wins its appeal, the incoming Trump administration has already threatened to scrap the measure.
Congratulations to the Class of 2016! They are graduating into the best job market in a decade, especially for those with degrees in business, technology or engineering.
The White House on Wednesday rolled out rules to force financial advisers to take on fiduciary duties. That means they must put savers' interests ahead of fees. Critics say the rules are too complex.
The U.S. Department of Labor has begun investigating whether alternative plans to state workers' comp benefits are unfair to injured workers and violate federal law.
The U.S. economy turned up encouraging signs for most Americans. Workers can now find more jobs, and drive to them using cheaper gas. And retirement accounts are getting a boost from rising stocks.
The TV ads say rules involving retirement advice must be "fixed," but they may leave you scratching your head. Brokers and insurance agents are behind the ads, which aim to block tougher new rules.
On Friday, the Labor Department said the July unemployment rate held steady at 5.3 percent. If you had to choose, would you take that to mean the economy is too cool or too hot? Weigh the evidence.
![Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, pictured in 2015, says, "If you get hurt on [the] job, you still should be able to put food on the table, and these laws are really undermining that basic bargain."](https://knpr.org/sites/default/files/public/styles/thumbnail/public/images/npr-story/471871484_510692369.jpg?itok=EzW7t4aw "Molly Riley, AP")
