EARN Newsletter: April 2025

EARN in Action

Supporting Employees with Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

SUD impacts people from all backgrounds, working in all types of jobs in businesses across the U.S. For many people, the workplace can be a significant source of support. EARN’s Substance Use Disorder (SUD) in the Workplace web resource provides more information, complete with guides for employers and employees on how they can prevent workplace substance use and support colleagues in treatment for or recovery from SUD.

Addressing Mental Health in the Workplace

Did you know that 1 in 5 American adults will experience a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year? Employers can support employees by building awareness about mental health and sharing supports for people with mental health conditions. EARN offers a wide range of resources to help employers take steps to foster a mental health-friendly workplace.

Learning about Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is an umbrella term that encompasses neurocognitive differences including autism and other conditions. To help employers learn about it in the workplace context, EARN offers an online resource that explores the benefits of neurodiversity for employers and employees and common accommodations for neurodiverse people. This resource also describes neurodiversity hiring initiatives implemented by a range of companies.

The Latest

30^th Secretary of Labor: Lori Chavez-DeRemer

The U.S. Department of Labor welcomed its 30^th secretary last month. Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer was sworn in on March 11, 2025. Prior to being sworn in, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer represented Oregon’s 5th Congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she served on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, among others, working with her congressional colleagues to strengthen America’s workforce and support individual workers and families.

Ask EARN

Spotlight

Building Talent Pipelines Through Neurodiversity Partnerships

Organizations of all sizes can successfully hire neurodivergent workers—whether through specialized hiring programs or standard accessible recruitment practices. To do so, many establish partnerships with nonprofits, service providers, or state or local agencies. These partnerships help bring valuable skills, perspectives, and knowledge to the workplace.

The content in this newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.