https://www.uschamber.com/employment-policy
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Employment Policy

The Employment Policy division regularly interacts with Congressional staff, numerous Federal agencies and many national coalitions (some of which are chaired by the Chamber) to help define and shape national labor, immigration and employee benefit policy.

 

Employment Policy Priorities

Commonsense Immigration Reform

Commonsense immigration reform will boost economic growth, create jobs, and spur innovation and entrepreneurship. It will also reaffirm America's legacy of being an open and welcoming country where anyone who works hard and follows the rules can achieve his or her dreams.

Throughout our history, America has attracted and welcomed the most talented and the hardest working people to our shores. But today our immigration system is broken and failing to meet the needs of our society, our economy, our businesses, and our workers.

To help advance comprehensive reform that includes border security, the Chamber's Employment Policy division provides leadership to a broad coalition including businesses, labor, law enforcement, the faith-based community, and various immigrant-advocacy organizations.

Though there may be several different approaches to fixing our system, meaningful and lasting reform can only be achieved through bipartisan legislation, which is the ultimate goal of the Chamber’s immigration program.

Learn more about what the Chamber is doing on immigration.

Department of Labor

The U.S. Chamber believes the Department of Labor (DOL) must partner with both employers and employees to effectively advance the goals of the wide array of laws it administers and enforces. 

The DOL oversees such diverse areas as minimum wage, overtime, worker safety in general industry as well as mining, federal contractor compliance with affirmative action requirements, employee leave requirements under the Family and Medical Leave Act, labor union financial accountability, and contractor wage payments on federally funded or supported construction and service jobs.  Employees depend on the Department to safeguard their rights, while employers look to the DOL for information and guidance on meeting their obligations.

The Employment Policy Division works with many of DOL’s component agencies including the Wage and Hour Division, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs, the Office of Labor-Management Standards, and the Office of the Solicitor. 

Learn more about what we're doing on DOL issues.

Restoring Common Sense at the NLRB

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was created in 1935 to be a neutral arbiter in the field of labor law. 

During the Obama administration, however, the agency engaged in an aggressive one-sided agenda aimed at growing labor unions at any cost. Rather than act as an impartial referee, it issued many decisions that overturned decades of well settled precedents intended to give unions an advantage in organizing campaigns. 

Restoring the appropriate balance to labor law will provide much-needed stability, and certainty for American businesses and workers. 

Fortunately, the NLRB has new members, including Chairman John Ring and a new General Counsel, who have already begun the work of revisiting Obama-era precedents. 

Learn more about what we're doing on issues related to NLRB.

Protecting Retirement Security

The Employment Policy Division is committed to protecting the retirement security of America’s workforce, and promoting policies that will continue the success of the private retirement system.

We seek to maintain a sound legal framework that encourages employers to offer retirement plans, address the demographic challenges facing the system, and encourage innovation and flexibility to help the private retirement system reach additional types of workers.

Learn more about what we're doing on retirement issues.

State Labor Issues

Advocates of increased regulation are not satisfied with just pursuing action at the federal level.  They have also taken their agenda to state and even local government.  

In the process, they are creating a patchwork of different standards that multi-state employers can find difficult to meet.  Significant state and local regulations include:

  • Minimum Wage
  • Misclassification
  • Wage Theft
  • Paid Leave
  • Regulating Pre-Employment Inquiries
  • Equal Pay
  • Labor Peace
  • Predictive Scheduling
  • Opportunity to Work
  • Overtime

Learn more about what we're doing on the state level.

Recent Activity

LetterJun 25, 2018 - 8:30pm

Joint Letter to EBSA Regarding Missing and Unresponsive Participants and Beneficiaries

On June 25, 2018, the Chamber, along with several other trade assoicaitons, signed a joint letter to Employee Benefits Security Administration Assistant Secretary Preston Rutledge regarding missing and unresponsive participants. 

ArticleJun 22, 2018 - 2:00pm

NLRB General Counsel Issues Handbook Guidance

The General Counsel at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently issued a guidance memo...

Sean P. Redmond
ArticleJun 19, 2018 - 11:00am
Wet floor sign reads: "Caution: Vague joint employer standard"

Coalition Files Petition for Joint Employer Rulemaking

A broad coalition of trade associations and other industry groups, including the U.S. Chamber, on June 13 filed a petition...

Sean P. Redmond
EventJun 14, 2018 - 8:00am to 4:00pm

Aligning Incentives for Better Health

This program highlights the important role of businesses as health care purchasers and efforts to adopt and advance holistic and innovative approaches to improve the health of their employees and families.

ReportJun 13, 2018 - 11:15am
Businesses and Jobs at Risk Report Cover Graphic

The Multiemployer Pension Plan Crisis: Businesses and Jobs at Risk

On Wednesday, June 18, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a report titled The Multiemployer Pension Plan Crisis: Businesses and Jobs at Risk. The report outlines the multiemployer pension plan crisis and what it will mean for employers, participants and beneficiaries, as well as the U.S. economy in general.  

Op EdJun 13, 2018 - 11:00am

The Hill Op-ed: The Multiemployer Pension Crisis

Defined benefit pension plans have long been favored for retirement because they promise a guaranteed level of income and don’t require individuals to manage assets...

Aliya Wong
ArticleJun 08, 2018 - 5:15pm
NLRB

Could a Micro-Union Lift Off at Boeing?

A recent vote at Boeing’s North Charleston, SC, plant is likely to provide the NLRB an opportunity to clarify its position on micro-unions.

Sean P. Redmond
LetterJun 07, 2018 - 3:30pm

Nomination of Gordon Hartogensis to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)

This letter was sent to all members of the Senate in support of the nomination of Gordon Hartogensis to be Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”).

ArticleJun 07, 2018 - 11:30am
"Pension" made up of Scrabble tiles.

Just the Facts... The Multiemployer Pension System Needs a Fix

Several recent reports on the multiemployer pension system have underscored the depth of the financial crisis facing these plans.

Aliya Wong
ArticleJun 06, 2018 - 4:15pm
NLRB

NLRB Confirms Joint Employer Rulemaking

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on May 5 confirmed that the agency intends to proceed with a joint employer rulemaking.

Sean P. Redmond
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