Aug. 26-30 is Labor Rights Week for the U.S. Department of Labor — “a celebration and recognition of the fundamental rights of all workers across the nation,” according to the DOL. The week is a collaborative effort between the agency, the Mexican Embassy and other federal labor agencies, and will include events and initiatives meant to engage workers and employers alike. 

This year has been a big and worker-friendly one for the DOL, with the agency announcing a slew of final rules: its independent contractor rule, which went into effect in March; its overtime rule, which went into effect July 1; and its retirement security rule, which is set to take effect Sept. 23. DOL is not out of the woods on these rules, with legal challenges abounding, though it has fared better than some other agencies. 

Meanwhile, DOL has been continuing its pursuit of individual cases, enforcing wage and hour laws and securing back pay for workers in a range of industries. Below, HR Dive highlights some big achievements for the agency this past summer.