EARN Newsletter: May 2025

EARN in Action

Celebrating America’s Small Businesses

Did you celebrate National Small Business Week the week of May 4–10? We hope you joined EARN (see “Empowering Small Businesses,” below) and your fellow small business owners and entrepreneurs to uplift America’s entrepreneurial spirit. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, with companies with fewer than 500 employees comprising 99.9% of businesses in the United States and employing 46.4% of the private sector workforce, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. EARN offers excellent resources to help small businesses recruit and retain qualified workers with disabilities—and boost small businesses’ bottom lines.

Supporting Worker Mental Health and Well-Being

For many people, the workplace can be an important source of support for mental health and well-being. EARN offers many resources to help employers foster a supportive environment for employees with mental health conditions—for example, by focusing on the “4 As” of a mental health–friendly workplace (awareness, accommodations, assistance, and access to treatment). EARN is also pleased to have participated in the most recent public service announcement for the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s Campaign for Disability Employment, which emphasizes that everyone has a role to play in promoting a mental health–friendly workplace.

Workplace Strategies to Prevent Opioid Use and Protect Mental Health in Construction

Substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid misuse, significantly impacts workers in the construction industry, in part because of the taxing, physical nature of their jobs. A safe and healthy workplace that includes strategies to promote good mental health and combat SUD can go a long way toward protecting workers’ well-being. To help construction industry employers understand the steps to take, EARN developed the guide, “Opioid Use and Mental Health in the Construction Industry: The Importance of Workplace Supports.” This guide explores SUD in the context of mental health, offers strategies for ensuring safety, and provides tips for educating and supporting those who need help.

The Latest

Empowering Small Businesses for a Stronger America

In honor of National Small Business Week, May 4–10, 2025, the director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Compliance Initiatives, S. Marisela Douglass, wrote about her office’s efforts. Director Douglass’ office promotes success among America’s small businesses while promoting compliance with federal labor laws. In her post on the DOL blog, she shared resources to strengthen entrepreneurial opportunities for people with disabilities and support small business employers who want to hire people with disabilities.

National Apprenticeship Day 2025

On April 30, 2025, we celebrated National Apprenticeship Day, a nationwide recognition of the impact of registered apprenticeship programs (RAPs). RAPs help develop highly skilled workforces to meet industry needs and create career pathways to in-demand jobs, benefiting individuals, employers, and America’s economy. If you missed the Apprenticeship Day celebration last month, you can look forward to spring 2026, when the full National Apprenticeship Week will resume.

Ask EARN

Spotlight

Employer.gov: Guidance on Federal Employment Laws

Have questions about your responsibilities as an employer? DOL’s Employer.gov has answers. This online compliance assistance tool for employers covers various topics and laws enforced by DOL and other federal agencies, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, and National Labor Relations Board. Employer.gov’s “Nondiscrimination” topic addresses several disability-related topics, including reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities.

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.