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Department of Labor (DOL)
Practical Law Glossary Item 2-501-6354 (Approx. 4 pages)
Glossary
Department of Labor (DOL)
Federal agency responsible for administration and enforcement in several key areas of employment law, including occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, reemployment services, and some economic statistics.
Some of the employment laws administered and enforced by the DOL include:
- The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).
- The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
- The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
- Foreign worker programs, including permanent labor certification and temporary labor condition applications. For more information, see Key Immigrant Visa Classifications Chart: Permanent Labor Certification and Key Nonimmigrant Visa Classifications Chart: Department of Labor Obligations.
Agencies, offices, and programs of the DOL include:
- The Wage and Hour Division (WHD).
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
- The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).
- The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP).
- The Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL-VETS).
- The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).
For more information about the DOL, see the DOL's website.
Most states have an equivalent department. For links to state departments of labor, see DOL: DOL Services by Location.