Unsafe work environments can take a toll on a person’s physical health. Every year, approximately 125,000 workers are killed or disabled by hazardous work environments. If you feel that your physical health is in danger at work,  it’s important to know that you have rights and options.

Wage discrimination is a consistent inequality in the workplace. Equal Pay Day—which is recognized on March 14th this year—is more than just an arbitrary date on the calendar. It reflects how many days a woman must work in a given year to catch up to men’s earnings from the previous year. You may be wondering what you can do to advocate for equal pay as an individual experiencing or witnessing pay inequality at your workplace, or as a manager.

March 12, 2023, marks National Working Mothers Day. We can support all working moms better by providing what pregnant and nursing people need at work, expanding parental leave and childcare, and accelerating the march toward pay equity for women.

Some people attract followers by sheer charisma, and others command by force. True leaders do something more. Leadership is not just about holding a formal title or being in charge. A leader is a person other people choose to follow.

Curbing the burnout epidemic will take more than workers’ self-care techniques. People need more autonomy and support to prevent becoming depleted on the job.

Do you feel like you’re putting all of the time, effort, and patience into your job, but your job or your boss isn’t returning the favor? A non-reciprocal relationship with work can be draining, defeating, and can cause feelings of helplessness. So, how do you care for yourself when work doesn’t seem to care about you?  

Feeling stuck at a job you hate? Maybe you want to quit, but can’t afford to. Or the thought of a long and challenging job hunting process is holding you back. Or maybe you’ve looked at other job possibilities out there, but you’re afraid that you don’t have the relevant experience or skills on your resume. Whatever the reason is for why you hate your job, you may be wondering how to survive at that job and stick it out until you find something better.

At some point in your working life, you may encounter a manager or business owner whose mental illness or personal challenge affects you. The problem isn’t yours to solve, but you can protect your well-being.

When you’re out of a job, unemployment checks can be a lifeline. Know the ins and outs of filing and collecting your benefits and don’t leave what you’re entitled to on the table.

Unemployment insurance payments can be a lifeline when you’ve lost your job and don’t have a steady income. But some workers don’t apply to get the benefits they’re entitled to, due to some common misconceptions and misunderstandings.

Over the past year, Empower Work collaborated  with the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG) as they explored a critical question: “How can workplaces be an engine for well-being?” Our team had the pleasure of working with Dr. Vivek Murthy’s research team, including Ashleigh Reeves, Project Lead, OSG Innovation and Design Team, as they explored new recommendations for workplaces rooted in worker voice. And our founder, Jaime-Alexis Fowler, was honored to be part of the launch for the new framework this fall.

In December 2022, Jaime-Alexis sat down with Ashleigh for a digital “fireside chat” with the Empower Work community to dig into the research behind the framework. This is a transcript of their Q&A as they took a look behind the scenes at how the pieces came together.

This Q&A with an Empower Work peer counselor shares the unique perspective of one of our inspiring volunteers who started her Empower Work experience as a texter. Laura Combs works in direct service for a nonprofit and has a background in retail and food service.

Empower Work user, Kessie, shares her story about a stressful situation at work. Kessie reached out to Empower Work’s text line when she didn’t know where else to turn.

Workplace bullying happens, and it's a serious issue. If you are a victim of workplace bullying or witness it, here are some tips to help you deal with it.

Work in the U.S. is not working. 47.8 million workers quit their jobs in 2021, an average of 4 million per month. The data is clear. But the lived experiences of workers are missing. Those experiences point to a public health crisis.

Is your boss sabotaging your career path? You may have a job that you really enjoy, but if your boss is actively undermining your work and holding you back, you might feel overwhelmed and isolated. Sabotage is more than lack of support. When you’re being sabotaged, someone is actively undermining your performance or success. We see this directly through our text line. The situation feels urgent, yet you feel like you’re stuck and like there’s nothing you can do. The good news is, there are steps you can take.

Jaime-Alexis Fowler, Founder and Executive Director of Empower Work sits down with Kathy Gu, Purpose Partnerships Lead at Pinterest, to discuss Empower Work and Pinterest’s new partnership and the shared commitment to supporting worker wellbeing.

PTO is important for your mental wellbeing, productivity, and work-life balance. So, it’s frustrating when your time off isn’t encouraged by your employer. Through our text line, we’ve seen a variety of challenges with PTO. Whatever the cause of the frustration surrounding your PTO, know that there are steps you can take.

Performance reviews have a reputation for being daunting, anxiety-provoking, and full of surprises. Receiving feedback at work shouldn’t make you feel like you’re on the chopping block. So, what should a performance review look like? It should be a healthy conversation between you and your manager where you both reflect on your achievements, discuss areas for improvement and development, and set goals that support you in succeeding in your role. Unfortunately, not all performance reviews go as smoothly as they should. There are many ways you can prepare for yourself for performance reviews.

If you’ve been out of work for a while or you’re stuck in a job you hate, you may be wondering: How long should it take to find a new job? It’s normal to feel overwhelmed and frustrated as your job search drags on. At Empower Work, we can help you gain a new perspective. Here are a few questions to put yourself on the right track.