Kara Sears
The US Department of Labor (DOL) enforces more than 180 federal laws, including those dealing with workers' compensation, unions, employee benefits, workplace safety and health, veterans' rights, and parental and medical leave. These laws cover around 150 million workers and 10 million workplaces. The DOL's goal is to improve working conditions and the overall health of the labor market, as well as to create employment opportunities, protect retirement and healthcare benefits, help employers find workers, encourage collective bargaining, and track changes in a range of relevant economic metrics.
The DOL enforces laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, which sets the standards for minimum wages and stipulates that overtime pay must be one and one-half times the usual pay rate. It also enforces the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which regulates the safety and health conditions employers are required to maintain.
The DOL has the authority to investigate companies for potential violations of these laws and can impose penalties for non-compliance. For example, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the penalty for a child labor violation increased from $15,138 to $15,629 in 2024. Companies under investigation by the DOL are advised to cooperate fully with the process and engage legal counsel to assist in determining their exposure to liability and negotiating with the DOL.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of federal laws administered and enforced | More than 180 |
| Number of workers covered by the laws | 150 million |
| Number of workplaces covered by the laws | 10 million |
| Example of a law enforced by the DOL | Fair Labor Standards Act |
| Parent agency | Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) |
| Goal | Create employment opportunities, protect retirement and healthcare benefits, help employers find workers, encourage collective bargaining, and track changes |
| Sub-agency | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| Sub-agency | Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) |
| Sub-agency | Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) |
What You'll Learn
The DOL enforces laws on workers' compensation
The US Department of Labor (DOL) enforces more than 180 federal laws, including workers' compensation laws. The DOL's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers four major disability compensation programs, which provide benefits to federal workers (or their dependents) and other specific groups injured at work or who have acquired an occupational disease. These benefits include:
- Wage replacement
- Vocational rehabilitation
The four programs are:
- Federal Employees' Compensation Program
- Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Program
- Federal Black Lung Program
- Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program
These programs serve to mitigate the financial burden resulting from workplace injuries for specific employee groups covered under relevant statutes and regulations.
For individuals injured while working for private companies or state and local government agencies, the relevant state workers' compensation program should be contacted. The DOL's OWCP does not have a role in the administration or oversight of these state-level programs.
In addition to the above, the DOL has several programs designed to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses.
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The DOL enforces laws on workplace safety and health
The US Department of Labor (DOL) enforces more than 180 federal laws, including those dealing with workplace safety and health. The DOL's goal is to improve working conditions and the overall health of the labor market.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency of the DOL that administers the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. OSHA regulates safety and health conditions in most private industries, as well as public sector employers. Employers covered by the OSH Act must comply with OSHA's regulations and safety and health standards. They also have a general duty to provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized, serious hazards.
OSHA enforces the law through workplace inspections and investigations, as well as compliance assistance and other cooperative programs. The agency has the authority to inspect workplaces for unsafe and unhealthful working conditions. It can issue citations and propose penalties for violations of occupational safety and health standards.
The DOL's Wage and Hour Division also plays a role in enforcing workplace safety and health laws, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, which sets standards for minimum wages and overtime pay.
The DOL takes violations of workplace safety and health laws seriously, and non-compliance can result in significant financial consequences for employers. The DOL has the discretion to reinvestigate employers as frequently as it chooses, and violations can lead to wage restitution, interest, and liquidated damages.
The DOL also adjusts its civil penalty amounts for legal violations to account for inflation, further emphasizing the importance of compliance with workplace safety and health regulations.
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The DOL enforces laws on parental and medical leave
The US Department of Labor (DOL) enforces laws on parental and medical leave. The DOL is responsible for enforcing federal labor standards and promoting workers' well-being. It enforces more than 180 federal laws, covering around 150 million workers and 10 million workplaces.
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is administered by the Wage and Hour Division of the DOL. The FMLA requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to eligible employees for the birth or adoption of a child, or for the employee's or a family member's serious illness. This leave is available to employees regardless of their employer's size or how long they have been with the company.
The FMLA also applies to pregnancy-related medical leave. Pregnancy and parental leave can be taken within 12 months of the birth or adoption of a child. If an employee has paid leave, this may count towards the 12-week total. Employers must continue to provide the same benefits and contributions during pregnancy and parental leave as they do when the employee is not on leave.
The DOL's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) enforces laws and regulations that make it illegal for federal contractors to discriminate in the provision of parental leave on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The OFCCP evaluates parental leave policies as part of its compliance evaluations or in response to complaints alleging discrimination. It examines whether policies are discriminatory in their application, as well as their wording.
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The DOL enforces laws on employee benefits
The US Department of Labor (DOL) enforces laws on employee benefits. The DOL is a cabinet-level agency responsible for enforcing federal labor standards and promoting workers' well-being. The office is headed by the secretary of labor, a position held by Martin J. Walsh since 23 March 2021.
The DOL enforces more than 180 federal laws, covering around 150 million workers and 10 million workplaces. These laws include those dealing with workers' compensation, unions, employee benefits, workplace safety and health, veterans' rights, and parental and medical leave.
The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is a sub-cabinet entity within the DOL that is responsible for administering and enforcing the fiduciary, reporting, and disclosure provisions of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The EBSA helps workers, retirees, and their families understand their rights under the law and claim all benefits due to them. It offers assistance by telephone, online, in writing, and in person.
The DOL also enforces the Fair Labor Standards Act, which establishes minimum wage standards and overtime pay. The Act prescribes standards for wages and overtime pay, affecting most private and public employment. It requires employers to pay covered employees who are not otherwise exempt at least the federal minimum wage and overtime pay of one-and-one-half times the regular rate of pay. The Act also restricts the number of hours that children under 16 can work and forbids certain jobs deemed too dangerous for those under 18.
The DOL's goal is to create employment opportunities, protect retirement and healthcare benefits, help employers find workers, encourage collective bargaining, and track changes in relevant economic metrics.
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The DOL enforces laws on unions
The US Department of Labor (DOL) enforces more than 180 federal laws, including those dealing with unions. The DOL enforces laws on unions to ensure democratic procedures within labor organizations, protect union funds, and promote union democracy.
The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (also known as the Landrum-Griffin Act) deals with the relationship between a union and its members. It protects union funds and promotes union democracy by requiring labor organizations to file annual financial reports and establishing standards for the election of union officers. The Act also requires union officials, employers, and labor consultants to file reports regarding certain labor relations practices. The Act is administered by the Office of Labor-Management Standards.
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA) applies to labor organizations that represent employees in most agencies of the executive branch of the Federal Government. The regulations implementing the standards of conduct provisions of the CSRA incorporate many LMRDA provisions, including those related to labor organization reporting requirements. The CSRA is enforced through administrative action.
The DOL's goal is to encourage collective bargaining and protect retirement and healthcare benefits. The Biden administration aimed to use the DOL to shift some power from corporations toward workers and reduce income inequalities. This includes greater protections for workers looking to form unions.
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Frequently asked questions
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) is a cabinet-level agency responsible for enforcing federal labor standards and promoting workers' well-being. The DOL enforces more than 180 federal laws, covering around 150 million workers and 10 million workplaces.
If the DOL finds that a company has violated wage and hour laws, it may impose an underpayment liability on the business and, in some cases, personal liability on its management staff and owners. This can result in significant financial penalties, including wage restitution, interest, and liquidated damages.
The DOL enforces a range of federal labor laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and laws related to workers' compensation, unions, employee benefits, and veterans' rights.
Employers should take DOL investigations seriously and fully cooperate with the process. It is recommended that employers engage legal counsel to assist in determining their liability, assessing payroll records, and negotiating with the DOL. Employers should also use the investigation as an opportunity to come into compliance with any violations.
