Compliance Assistance - Drop-In Article

We encourage you to publish the following article in your own publication.
To do so, please e-mail our media relations team at compliancehelp@dol.gov. Let us know:

1. Where and when it will be published; and
2. How often the piece will reappear.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF THE AMERICAN WORKFORCE ...
Establishes an Easy to Understand, Web-Based System of
Employment Law Advisors

Utilizing the vast power of the Internet to reach anyone at anytime, the U.S. Department of Labor's elaws Advisors (Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses) are the simple solution to the often confusing and frustrating process of understanding federal employment laws. These Web-based educational tools offer employers and employees access to information about federal employment laws at any time, free of charge and address common labor issues such as:

• Family and Medical Leave
• Fair Labor Standards
• Occupational Safety and Health
• Small Business Retirement Savings
• Poster Requirements

"With elaws, any individual with access to the Internet can find free and accurate information about employment laws affecting them with the simple click of a mouse," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "The elaws Advisors are a valuable set of tools for America's 21st century workforce. They have the power to provide instant information to anyone at anytime."

The elaws Advisors mimic the interaction an individual might have with a DOL representative by asking questions, providing information, and directing the individual to the appropriate resolution. DOL aims to offer a pleasant experience that yields real answers and real results, and plans to continually develop new Advisors to further assist America's employment community.

"Normally it would cost a business owner lost hours and countless phone calls to find the answers to employment questions," said a representative of the National Association of Women in Construction. "Until now, that is. The Department of Labor has set up an interactive Web site called elaws that answers any questions you might have."

The elaws Advisors are part of the Compliance Assistance Initiative set forth by the Department of Labor to help America's 21st Century workforce and its employees better understand their rights and responsibilities in the workplace. DOL encourages you to visit the elaws Advisors at www.dol.gov/elaws and looks forward to announcing further interactive tools in the near future.