Pausing to appreciate AANHPI impact on business, workforce

Have you paused this May, during Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month, to reflect on the contributions of AANHPIs to our nation? Now more than ever, we must work to ensure economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for the roughly 22 million AANHPIs living United States and in its Pacific Island jurisdictions.

To appreciate the formidable leadership and impact AANHPIs make on America’s economy, business sphere, and workforce, keep in mind the following: As of 2018, there were more than 577,000 Asian-owned employers in the U.S. In 2019 more than 50 percent of the Asian population (Asian alone or in a combination of AANHPIs) had a bachelor’s degree or higher. About 2 million AANHPIs served on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, including healthcare workers and first responders. Their contributions are not without adversity. Yet, AANHPIs continue to work for and within their communities, imparting a lasting impact.

Meanwhile, support is available. AANHPI Heritage Month is an opportunity to share that your local U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage Hour Division representatives are here for you. After all, the department’s focus, is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of every American. We hope to improve working conditions, advance opportunities for profitable employment, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all American workers. Everyone must understand his or her rights as American workers, and responsibilities as business leaders.

Resources are available at the U.S. Department of Labor. Visit the Department of Labor’s website, to find information about Fair Labor Standards Act, the department’s Wage and Hour Division, and OSHA. The agency’s toll-free helpline is 866-4US-WAGE (866-487-9243).

If you have questions, join us on our one of our upcoming Southeast Essential Worker – Essential Protections information webinars on May 26 at 10 a.m. (EDT) or May 27 at 10 a.m. (EDT). Get more information by calling (919) 790-2741 or viewing the agency’s webinar announcement here: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20210503. Registration is required.

The division is ready to help and provide worker rights protections regardless of immigration status. Please note many of the department’s documents are available in more than 200 languages, including Bahasa Indonesian, Chinese, Hindi, Hmong, Korean, Punjabi, Samoan, Tagalog, Thai, Urdu, and Vietnamese. When questions about work-related benefits and rights surface, contact the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. Your confidentially is protected under the law.