WorkLife Law has trained over 100 community health workers in how to support farmworkers endangered by toxic chemicals during their pregnancy. One of those workers includes “Rosa,” who recently shared her story with an investigative reporter unveiling the dangers of pesticide exposure and how our volunteers and legal helpline are keeping pregnant workers safe.

For the first time, farmworkers in California’s Central Coast can access critical pregnancy and workplace rights information in their native languages– by simply listening. Roughly half of the region’s farmworkers have limited Spanish proficiency and speak primarily-oral Indigenous languages. These workers have long been underserved by traditional outreach efforts, and often struggle to learn about the legal protections they need to stay safe. WorkLife Law’s newest resource breaks these barriers by allowing workers to listen to their rights.

WorkLife Law is proud to have submitted comments opposing the U.S. Department of Labor’s proposed rule, “Application of the Fair Labor Standards Act to Domestic Service.” This rule proposes stripping basic minimum wage and overtime protections from homecare workers – a critical segment of the workforce whose labor is already undercompensated yet is critical for the well-being of our children, people with disabilities, and older adults. The proposed rule perpetuates a long and troubling legacy of undervaluing care work necessary for our economy and communities to thrive.

WorkLife Law is excited to welcome two bright members to our team: Erin Lichtenstein as our Legal Extern and Westley Shaw as our Legal Service Funders Network Fellow. 

In our annual report, you’ll find a snapshot of WorkLife Law’s impact this year—victories won, partnerships forged, and lives transformed. We invite you to dive deeper into our work and discover how together we’re building a more just future for working families.

WorkLife Law condemns the recent immigration raids in Los Angeles and across the country. These actions are an inhumane violation of human rights that betray fundamental American values and directly undermine the work and family justice movement we champion.

On May 20th, Washington became the fifth state in the United States to enact paid lactation breaks– a major step toward health equity for postpartum workers. Starting in 2027, the landmark bill will also ensure that all pregnant and postpartum workers have an enforceable right to reasonable accommodations.

WorkLife Law is partnering with Rise Up, the new legal defense network providing federal workers with the free legal support they need. We will serve as a legal Backup Center to provide technical assistance to the defense network’s frontline attorneys on issues related to pregnancy, lactation, leave, and caregiving. WorkLife Law is proud to partner with Rise Up to ensure pregnant, postpartum, and caregiving federal workers have information and tools to protect their livelihood and health.

President Trump signed an Executive Order today to dismantle much of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). “The order is an affront to our children and the future of our country,” said Jessica Lee, Co-Director of WorkLife Law and Co-Founder of WorkLife Law’s Pregnant Scholar Initiative. “While the Trump administration is not legally permitted to shut down the Department of Education, this order will accelerate major cuts that will shutter much of the Department’s work in practice— harming students and entire communities.” 

WorkLife Law is pleased to announce a new award of $75,000 by the California Access to Justice Commission’s Infrastructure and Innovation Grant Program that will expand legal support to working family caregivers. Through this critical funding, WorkLife Law will launch a pilot community-legal partnership with the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center, empowering low-income caregivers in the Los Angeles area to access paid family leave and other workplace rights.