Happy 100 Dept of Labor

The US Department of Labor was established in March of 1913.

Here is a timeline of major labor milestones.

• Creation of the Labor Department March 4th 1913

President Taft signed the Organic Act that created the U.S. Department of Labor, after much opposition during his last hours in office and followed shortly by new President Woodrow Wilson’s appointment of William B. Wilson (no relation) as the first secretary of labor.

• Benefits are established for sick and injured workers Sept 9th 1916

This act established the Office Workers’ Compensation, The Federal Compensation Act provided benefits to sick and injured workers in the workplace.

Labor Department Streamlines War Production

• Women Bureau created June 5th 1920

Created ensure effective employment of women and develop polices

• Unemployment Data is collected starting July 7th 1930

Until The Great Depression, the Bureau of Labor Statistics was only collecting emplyment information so Congress authorizesd BLS to get unemployment information, as unemployment was about to hot an all time peak.

• 5 day work week began December 9th 1930

As secretary of labor under President Hoover, William Doak instituted a five-day workweek and lead the way for progressive reform throughout all labor markets.

• Social Security Act Created August 14th 1935

Payment of benefits to the elderly, disabled and unemployed began with The Social Security Act of 1935.

• 40-Hour Workweek started June 15th 1938

The Fair Labor Standards Act standardizes the 40-hour workweek and created the Wage and Hour Division to enforce the law.

• Equal Pay for Equal Work began on June 10th 1963

Men and Women are guaranteed equal pay for equal work under the Equal Pay Act of 1963.

• Banning Workplace Discrimination stated July 2nd 1964

Employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin was prohibited with the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Tags: employment law, labor law, law