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.

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.

Tuesday, March 15, 2022 marks Equal Pay Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the gender pay gap that persists in the United States. Women, on average, earn just 83 cents for every dollar earned by men—and though this differs based on race, location, and industry, the trend has significant implications. On this Equal Pay Day, we hope you’ll take the opportunity to learn more about the history and present of the gender wage gap in this country, and what you can do in your own workplace to help address it.

Black History Month is an important time to celebrate the achievements and triumphs of the Black community. This year’s focus for Black History Month is Black Health and Wellness which calls for workplaces to respect and prioritize the health and safety of Black employees. Workplace health and safety conditions have been an issue that the Black community has fought for since long before our time. Among these activists were the unsung Black women who fought for Labor Rights - women like Coretta Scott King, Nannie Helen Burroughs, Lucy Parsons, Sylvia Woods, and Dora Lee Jones. Although workplace equity still has a long way to go, we have a movement and a legacy to be inspired by, thanks to the Black women activists who paved the way.

COVID-19 has changed the workplace for employees across the United States. At many businesses, there are new safety guidelines for workers to follow that may cause confusion. In some cases, employers are not following COVID-19 safety guidelines, putting workers at risk. Here are some COVID-19 safety challenges that workers may encounter in the workplace and resources to help.

So many people are coming to Empower Work right now because they hear a call to lead. Because they feel that their company leaders are failing to meet the needs of clients, customers, and employees. Because they see a disconnect between their own values of doing the right thing, protecting others' safety, and providing for their emotional as well as physical needs.

A few takeaways from our first 100,000 conversations about work difficulties. Seeing the cumulative data along with personal stories from people who have used Empower Work, I’m floored. Our timely intervention is leading to demonstrably more positive economic and emotional outcomes for underserved workers after livelihood-threatening experiences.