Leadership Center for Attorney General Studies

Every worker should have the opportunity to succeed, earn a fair wage, and have access to a safe working environment.

The United States has a rich history of protecting workers, supporting unions, and strengthening the middle class. As the COVID-19 pandemic changes how people work and the gig economy replaces traditional employment, the laws protecting workers from abuse are more important than ever.

Attorneys general protect workers from wage theft, misclassification, discrimination, and other employment abuses. Their fair labor and employment divisions investigate complaints and bring actions against those employers that break state laws. Attorneys general also hold the federal government accountable for protecting workers and enforcing federal labor laws.