(AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

CATHY BUSSEWITZ

Workplace reporter

Bussewitz is a national business reporter for The Associated Press. She writes about the workplace, job issues and wellness.

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Mistake-filled legal briefs show the limits of relying on AI tools at work

Judges around the world are seeing error-riddled legal briefs that were generated with the help of artificial intelligence.

Aicha Soumaoro poses in West Chester, Pa., Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

With confidence and support from each other, more women are redefining baldness as beautiful

More women are defying traditional beauty standards and finding empowerment by going without hair on their heads.

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Career experts say asking for a raise isn’t off the table in a tough job market

The U.S. is experiencing a significant hiring slowdown. And job postings are attracting hundreds of applicants. It’s a daunting time to be looking for a job in the U.S.

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Mini-meditations are a way to foster peace of mind at work

The idea of meditating can be intimidating to beginners. Beginners may find the prospect of trying it at work embarrassing.

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It can be hard to shift out of negative thoughts, but there are ways to stop spiraling

When we make mistakes at work, it can lead to a cycle of negative thinking. Damaging thoughts swirl in our minds.

Charlie Kirk speaks at Texas A&M University as part of Turning Point USA's American Comeback Tour, April 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (Meredith Seaver/College Station Eagle via AP, File)

Workers commenting on Kirk’s death learn the limits of free speech in and out of their jobs

In the days following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, numerous workers have been fired for their comments on his death, among them MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd.

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Facing stiff competition, remote workers up their game

The trend of ditching traditional office space to work from living rooms and hotels accelerated when the coronavirus hit in 2020.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives before a trilateral signing with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the State Dining Room of the White House, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

What to know about visas for foreign truckers and the politics of a deadly Florida crash

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced this week that the U.S. will pause issuing work visas to some foreign truck drivers.

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College graduates struggling to find jobs have plenty of company

Many people looking for entry-level jobs are struggling to get hired at a time when economic uncertainty has discouraged employers from adding staff.

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Keeping work from spoiling a vacation takes planning and the right phone settings

The summer vacation season is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere, but navigating the line between work time and personal time is tricky for a lot of people.

A truck displays a small strike sign in the parking lot of the Aerospace Machinists Union hall as Boeing employees arrive to vote on a new contract offer from the company, Nov. 4, 2024, in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, file)

Thousands of Boeing workers who build fighter jets and weapons go on strike

Several thousand workers at three Midwest manufacturing plants where Boeing develops military aircraft and weapons are on strike early.

OPEC+ countries to boost oil production by 547,000 barrels per day

A group of countries that are part of the oil cartel OPEC+ have agreed to boost oil production, which some believe could lower oil and gasoline prices.

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Employers add student debt help to tuition assistance programs

As higher education costs have grown to heights many U.S. residents find unattainable or illogical, some adults are looking to their employers for help.

The entrance to the Labor Department is seen near the Capitol in Washington, May 7, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Trump’s Labor Department proposes more than 60 rule changes in a push to deregulate workplaces

The U.S. Department of Labor is aiming to rewrite or repeal more than 60 “obsolete” workplace regulations adopted under previous presidential administrations.

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Making healthy snacks a habit when afternoon energy slumps strike at work

Sticking to healthy snacks during workdays can be tough, especially with busy schedules and tempting treats nearby.

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How to manage ADHD at work and turn it into a strength

Having ADHD can pose challenges at work. Common symptoms include trouble concentrating and sitting still.

Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer looks as Job Corps members stand behind her during a House Education and Workforce hearing, Thursday, June 5, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Federal judge orders US Labor Department to keep Job Corps running during lawsuit

A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction to stop the U.S. Department of Labor from shutting down Job Corps, a residential program for low-income youth, until a lawsuit against the move is resolved.

Solane Ellis studies at the Driving Academy on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 in Linden, N.J., where students prepare to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with multilingual instructors. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Truckers fear job loss as new English language rules take effect

Brushing up on English has taken on new urgency for truck drivers in the United States. President Donald Trump issued an executive order in April saying that commercial truckers who don’t read and speak the language proficiently would be considered unfit for service.

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How expressing gratitude can transform your work and life

Practicing and encouraging gratitude can be a simple way to boost morale at a time when layoffs and economic uncertainty are causing stress and anxiety.

Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer arrives before a House Education and Workforce hearing, Thursday, June 5, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Judge and lawmakers question the Trump administration’s plan to gut Job Corps centers

Members of Congress and a federal judge are questioning the Trump administration’s plan to shut down Job Corps centers nationwide.

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Astronaut one day, artist the next: How to help children explore the world of careers

Early life experiences can shape the way we think about work. Sometimes career paths follow a straight line.

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Workers are saying ‘no’ to toxic environments. Here’s how you can set limits or know it’s time to leave

As mental health awareness increases, so are conversations about about what constitutes toxic behavior at work and the kinds of treatment people won’t tolerate for a steady paycheck.

AP Illustration / Annie Ng

Do you really need that extra ChapStick? Here are tips to reduce and tame workplace clutter

It’s easy to accumulate clutter at work. That’s true in home offices and traditional workspaces alike.

AP Illustration / Annie Ng

Taking a mental health leave from work is an option most people don’t know about

Taking a mental health leave from work is becoming more of an option for people in the United States even thought most of them probably don’t know it.

A sign stands outside the U.S. Department of Labor's headquarters, May 6, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Federal grants to fight child labor worldwide are axed in DOGE cuts

The Trump administrated has canceled millions of dollars in international grants that a Department of Labor division administered to combat child labor and slave labor around the world.

AP Illustration / Annie Ng

Community, mentors and skill-building: Experts weigh the role of employee resource groups

Employer-sanctioned groups designed to enhance diversity and inclusion began in corporate America in the 1970s to help address tensions around race, gender and sexual orientation.

AP Illustration / Annie Ng

In the rapidly shifting world of work, many employees are unclear what’s expected of them

More workers have reported feeling disconnected from their organization’s purpose and unclear on how to meet expectations since the coronavirus pandemic changed the way we work.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer attends a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on her nomination for Secretary of Labor, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Senate confirms Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Trump’s labor secretary

The Senate has voted to confirm Lori Chavez-DeRemer as U.S. labor secretary. The Cabinet position puts her in charge of enforcing federally mandated worker rights and protections at a time when the White House is trying to eliminate thousands of government employees.

AP Illustration / Annie Ng

More than hot flashes: Women raise awareness about menopause symptoms and work

Menopause affects about half the world’s population at some point in life. Yet women often don’t recognize their insomnia, migraine headaches and anxiety as side effects of declining hormone levels.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer attends a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on her nomination for Secretary of Labor, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Senate committee recommends Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s confirmation as Trump’s labor secretary

A Senate committee has advanced the nomination of President Donald Trump’s choice to head the Department of Labor.