On Sept. 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor announced policy efforts across 10 department agencies to support American workers and job creators.

Learn more about the initiatives:

Employment and Training Administration

• Released Training and Employment Notice No. 05-26: Framework for Effective Pre-Apprenticeships, which establishes a five-component framework for effective pre-apprenticeships. This will help guide younger workers into registered apprenticeship programs by providing employers with the resources necessary to engage them.  
• Issued Circular 2026-04: Opportunities and Flexibilities for Registered Apprenticeship Sponsors to Utilize Workforce Pell, which helps to inform apprentice stakeholders of new opportunities for registered apprenticeship programs to utilize Workforce Pell Grant funding. This will give businesses that use registered apprenticeships the flexibility to grow and provide higher-paying careers to their apprentices and employees.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

• Continuance of the Voluntary Protection Programs to recognize employers and employees with exemplary safety and health management systems and promote effective worksite-based practices that create safer workplaces. 

Wage and Hour Division

• Released three opinion letters addressing the application of the Fair Labor Standards Act: 
  • FLSA 2026-11: Whether an unpaid 60-minute meal period remains a bona fide meal period when employees spend six to 14 minutes walking to and from the employers’ designated break area.
  • FLSA 2026-12: Whether FLSA-exempt employees of a nonprofit organization may volunteer outside their normal work hours to perform services for their employers.

• FLSA 2026-13: Whether a restaurant supervisor who also works as a bartender may retain a portion of other employees’ tips and participate in a tip pool under the FLSA. 
• The division also updated its mobile timesheet app, now called WorkWise Timesheet, which provides tools for employees and employers to trace regular work hours, breaks, overtime and pay.