NY DOL Gets Proactive
Posted on 22-Dec-07 by The Timekeeper
The NY Labor Department Commissioner M. Patricia Smith announced on December 19 “a major proactive approach to enforcing the state’s labor laws” as part of Governor Spitzer’s program to increase labor law enforcement for low-wage workers.
The NY State DOL will partner with local advocacy and community groups and unions to gather information needed in wage and hour investigations. For instance, based on information provided by Make The Road New York (MTRNY), a non profit organization and by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Untion (RWDSU), DOL inspectors walked a mile-long strip of Knickerbocker Avenue in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City and inspected 26 businesses. They found at least 73% (19 of 26) had violated labor laws in some way, generally wage and hour and recordkeeping violations. Seven businesses remain under review.
In a press release announcing this initiative, Commissioner Smith is quoted as saying:
This new initiative is about targeting industries that do not play by the rules, and partnering with local groups to get the vital message out that we will protect all workers. With the valuable information our community partners provide and our dedicated wage enforcement investigators, we will take action against employers who cheat their employees and return back wages to workers.
So if you’re doing business in the state of New York, don’t count on being able to fly under the radar. You never know who might be watching (and potentially ratting you out to the state DOL). Wouldn’t it just be easier — and cheaper in the long run — to keep adequate records and pay your employees correctly to start with?
I’m just saying…
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