The modern American workplace is changing due to technological advances and the booming economy. Rigorous demands on companies and workers call for an investment in creating an environment in which our personal values are reflected at work. The Department continues its commitment to reducing the more than 210,000 annual workplace injuries and fatalities to young workers in America. Expanding the Family and Medical Leave Act. The President continues to support expansion of the FMLA to reach workers in firms with 25 or more employees, extending coverage to 12 million more workers.
Many workers face barriers, such as financial barriers, to taking advantage of unpaid leave.
Minimum Wage Despite the strongest economy in a generation, there are still millions of workers trying to raise a family and struggling to make ends meet. A higher minimum wage will help over 10 million Americans. This increase will help ensure that as costs continue to increase, parents who work hard and play by the rules can bring up their children out of poverty. The average woman who works full-time earns approximately 75 cents for each dollar that an average man earns. For women of color, the gap is even wider.