What is the Department of Labor (DOL)?
The Department of Labor (DOL) is a government agency that works to ensure that all working people in the United States have access to fair and safe workplaces. The department also helps ensure that businesses are competitive and profitable, while offering employees opportunities for advancement and providing families with benefits such as health insurance. The mission statement of the department reflects its goals: "We foster, promote and develop the welfare of working people, improve working conditions, advance opportunities for profitable employment, and assure work-related benefits and rights." The DOL is made up of five main bureaus: The Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) and Employment Standards Administration (ESA).
What responsibilities does the Department of Labor have?
The Department of Labor is responsible for enforcing the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which sets minimum wage and overtime laws, along with other labor laws. The FLSA establishes standards for minimum wage and overtime pay. These standards are enforced by the Wage and Hour Division in the U.S. Department of Labor. The FLSA also requires employers to keep accurate records of their employees' hours worked and wages paid to them. In addition to enforcing the FLSA, the Wage and Hour Division investigates complaints from workers who believe they have been denied their rights under the law. The division also seeks out violations of workplace health and safety laws, especially in industries such as agriculture or mines where hazards are more prevalent than in other sectors.
Why is the Department of Labor important?
The Department of Labor is important because it ensures that workers are treated fairly and given the opportunity to earn a living. The Department of Labor is responsible for enforcing federal labor laws and making sure that employers follow them. This includes ensuring that employers pay their employees fairly, provide them with safe working conditions, allow them to take breaks when needed, and do not discriminate against workers on the basis of race, gender or disability. The department also provides information about these laws to employers through publications such as the Fair Labor Standards Act Fact Sheet.
