Department+of+Labor

 



= Department of Labor = By Hannah Markle and Rachel Jones

a cabinet department of the United States Government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. **
 * Department of Labor:

History:
In 1888, under the Department of Labor the Congress first established a Bureau of Labor. The Bureau of Labor than became and independent Department of Labor, but, lacked executive rank. Since it lacked executive rank the Department became a Bureau under the Department of Commerce and Labor. This was established on February 15, 1903. Than on March 4, 1913 President William Howard Taft signed a bill establishing the Department of Labor as a Cabinet-level Department.

Mission Statement:
=== To improve the quality of life and economic security for Pennsylvania workers and businesses, encourage labor-management cooperation, and prepare the Commonwealth's workforce for the jobs of the future. (www.dli.state.pa.us/) ===

Current Leaders:
Leader: Hilda L. Solis Secretary of Labor: Elaine Chao Deputy Assistant Secretary: Suey Howe Director, Division of Enterprise Communications: Paul T. Craven Assistant Secretary of Labor for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs: Brian Kennedy Associate Assistant Secretary: Teri Bergman Chief of Staff: Laura MacDonald ARB Chair: Nancy S. Dolder Commissioner: Keith D. Hall

Agencies or bureaus:
Administrative Review Board (ARB)- to succeed the former board of service contract appeals, wage appeals board, and office of administration appeals. Benefits Review Board (BRB)- to review and issue decisions on appeals of workers compensation claims arising under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act and the black lung benefits amendments to the federal coal mine health and safety act of 1969. Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB)- it conducts research and formulates international economic, trade, immigration, and labor policies in collaboration with other US government agencies and provides international technical assistants in support of US foreign labor policy objectives. Center for Faith-Based & Community Initiatives (CFBCI)- to empower the faith based and community organization that help their neighbors prepare for, enter, and thrive in the workforce. Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)- protects the integrity of pensions, health plans and other employee benefits for more than 150 million people. Employee's Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB)- to hear and decide cases on appeal from decisions of the office workers compensation programs in an impartial and expeditious manner. Employee Standards Administration (ESA)- to enhance the welfare and protect the rights of american workers.

Topic: Employee Benefits Article 1: Work-life Benefits Fall Victim to Slow Economy featured in Los Angeles Times on April 4 2008 by Annys Shin http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/04/business/fi-flexible4 Summary 1: Many businesses are cutting back on employees, and employees are trying their best to hold on to their jobs. Many people are no longer getting the benefits needed to balance work and family. Advocates say they are concerned about consequences for women, and managers are not doing anything to take care of the concerns. Article 2: More Workers to Face Higher Health Care Costs in '09, Surveys Find featured in Los Angeles Times on January 27, 2009 by V. Dion Haynes http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/27/business/fi-insure27 Summary 2: There is an increase in the number of employees paying more for health benefits, and may, in some cases, receive less coverage. The recession is making it hard for employers to subsidize health care costs are previous levels. Health costs are raising much higher than wages, and retirement funds are being crushed. Employers are focusing on "health savings accounts" to keep workers healthy through diet and exercise. Article 3: Employer-Based Health Insurance Plans No Longer Work featured in the Los Angeles Times on December 10, 2008 by David Lazarus http://articles.latimes.com/2008/dec/10/business/fi-lazarus103: Summary 3: President Obama, Congress and the insurance industry all want change; they want to do away with the employer-based insurance program. The 180 million people who receive coverage from employers wouldn't be happy with this idea. This health coverage is a historical accident during World War II to attract workers during a wage freeze, and the benefits gradually became the primary health insurance. Expanding Medicare to all Americans would be the most effective way of providing insurance to everyone and controlling costs, but the insurance industry disagrees. We need to focus of whats best for Americans, along with whats good for the businessed. Recommendation to the President: As President of the United States of America, Barack Obama needs to focus mainly on getting us out of this recession. Many people are losing jobs, and therefore, their health is deteriorating due to their loss of benefits. The people who still do have their jobs, are losing some of their benefits that are needed in order to balance their work and their family. We need to see a decrease in the unemployment rate, and if that isn't happening, then a nationwide healthcare, like Medicare, for all Americans may need to come into effect.
 * Articles:**

Topic: Unemployment Article 1: State Unemploymet Insurance Benefits [] Created March 29, 2004 Updated December 2, 2008 Summary 1: The Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program provies benefits to eligible, unemployed workers who have been unemployed through no fault of their own. These benefits are alternate financial assistance to unemployed workers who have fulfilled the requirements of State Law.  Article 2: Unemployment featured by New York Times on May 4, 2009 by David Leonhardt [] Summary 2: Since Carroll Wright created the “no man’s land of the labor market” there has been a dramatic increase in the number of citizens who have fallen into this category. More and more people are becoming unemployed. This is because some people choose not to work (self-unemployed: retirees, stay-at-home parents, and people doing un paid work) and also the people who are not looking for a job but really do want a job. Article 3: Americans struggle through a day in the recession featured in Philadelphia Inquire on May 4, 2009 by Sharon Cohen http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/business/44294682.html Summary 3: This article talks about how some Americans are actually in the process of foreclosing their house and some Americans are able to lives similar to their life before the recession because they were able to manage their money. But, they are wondering if they are going to have to sacrifice their money to help out those who were not careful.

Recommendation to the President: I agree with the recommendation made above. I agree that President Barack Obama does indeed need to focus on getting us Americans out of the recession. He needs to cut back all the excess spending made in all the businesses. I also think that Obama should allow the unemployed have unemployment for a longer time. This is because not many jobs are opening up due to companies filing for bankruptcy and foreclosure and this will allow them to look longer for a job suited for their needs.

Questions:
 * 1) What does the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) do?
 * 2) Who is the commissioner of the Department of Labor?