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October 12, 2008    DOL Home > Notable Results Summaries   

Notable Results Summaries

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As part of the Administration’s economic team, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has focused efforts on advancing policies, initiatives and programs that enhance the competitiveness of our nation’s workforce and preserve the flexibility of our nation’s workplaces while protecting worker safety and health, pay and benefits, and economic opportunity.

Measurable Results: Protecting Worker Safety and Health, Pay and Benefits, and Economic Opportunity

  • National Injury Rate chart.Safer Workplaces: The Department has taken a strategic approach to promoting health and safety that includes strong and fair enforcement and education and outreach efforts to help drive fatality and serious injury and illness rates in the American workplace to record lows. Read more...

  • Record Wage and Hour Recoveries for Workers: Since 2001, the Department’s Wage and Hour Division’s strong and fair enforcement coupled with effective outreach to employers and workers has resulted in the agency recouping more than $1.25 billion for nearly two million workers. Read more...

  • Preserving Workers’ Benefits: The Department’s strategic approach to protecting workers’ health, retirement and other benefit plans has set records – including $10.7 billion in monetary results since 2001 and $1.5 billion in 2007. During this same period, DOL has completed over 28,000 civil investigations and over 1,200 criminal investigations, which resulted in the indictment of 806 individuals for criminal activity related to employee benefit plans. Read more...

  • Image of shipyard.Safeguarding Jobs Tied to Commerce Through West Coast Ports: In October 2002, the Department helped resolve an impasse between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. The labor dispute had caused the temporary closure of ports on the West Coast – costing the U.S. economy as much as $1 billion per day. The resolution of the dispute marked the first successful use of the Taft-Hartley Act in 30 years and protected the jobs of numerous workers who rely on the West Coast ports operating for their livelihood.


  • $88 million recovered for union members.Combating Corruption Harming Union Members: During FY 2007, the Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) secured 100 indictments and 118 convictions against union officials and related parties for crimes, such as fraud and embezzlement. Since 2001, OLMS investigations have yielded a total of 842 indictments with 802 convictions and returned more than $88 million in restitution to rank-and-file union members.

  • Combating Corporate Fraud: The Department’s strong national enforcement strategy of investigating allegations of corporate misconduct that harms the benefit plans of workers was highlighted by the filing of DOL’s lawsuit against Enron, its officers, directors and administrative committee members. This single lawsuit resulted in a $220 million settlement to cover retirement and pension benefits of Enron employees and retirees. Read more...

  • Protecting Workers from Discrimination: In FY 2007, over 22,000 workers who had been subjected to unlawful employment discrimination by government contractors received more than $51 million in back pay, annualized salary and benefits. Ninety-eight percent of this amount was collected in cases of systemic discrimination. Read more...

  • Standing Up for Low-Wage Workers: The Department’s Wage and Hour Division has focused its resources on ensuring proper payment of wages to low- wage workers throughout the country. This has resulted in the recovery of millions of dollars in back pay owed to domestic and foreign-born workers alike. Read more...

  • Safer Workplaces for Miners. 91 injuries in 1997, 64 injuries in 2007.Safer Workplaces for Miners: Since 2001, the Department’s mine safety and health agency has taken several actions, including issuing effective regulatory measures, strengthening enforcement, and improving training, technology and outreach, to help reduce fatality and serious injury and illness rates to record lows. In 2007, mining fatality and injury rates had been reduced by approximately 30 percent compared to averages of the 1990s.

  • Gulf Coast Recovery: The Department quickly responded to the 2005 storms that devastated the Gulf Coast by making resources available for workers displaced by the hurricanes and by providing technical assistance and resources to help protect those participating in cleanup and recovery activities. DOL provided over $290 million in emergency funds to give more than 99,000 dislocated workers a paycheck to participate in the cleanup and recovery efforts and to provide education and training for new career opportunities. Read more...

  • Compensating the Nation’s Energy Workers Exposed to Radiation: The Department’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs successfully implemented the provisions of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act in 2001 (Part B) and again when Congress ordered the transfer of cases from the Department of Energy to DOL in October 2004 (Part E). Read more...

  • Employment initiative to reduce recidivism of ex-offenders. By the end of 2007, efforts had placed 6,690 participants in jobs. Employment Initiative to Reduce Recidivism of Ex-Offenders: In 2004, the Department’s Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives launched a Prisoner Reentry Initiative (PRI) designed to strengthen urban communities by competitively awarding grants to employment-centered organizations that provide mentoring, job training and other transitional services for ex-offenders. Read more...

  • VPP Logo.Record Number of Partnerships to Promote Safety and Health: The Department has fostered more safety and health partnerships with unions and businesses than ever before. At the end of FY 2007, there were more than 1,830 Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) sites, more than 1,070 Safety and Health Achievement and Recognition Program (SHARP) sites, more than 150 Strategic Partnerships and more than 450 Alliance Program Agreements. Read more...

  • Common-Sense Approach to Ergonomics: The Department implemented a comprehensive strategy to effectively address musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace in response to Congress’ rejection of the previous administration’s “one-size-fits-all” rule, whose efficacy was challenged by many in the scientific community and which was estimated to have cost more than $4.5 billion. DOL developed a four-pronged approach that combined industry-specific guidelines, outreach, enforcement and research. The result has been a decline in ergonomic injuries.


Regulatory Reform and Policy Initiatives: Enhancing the Competitiveness of our Nation’s Workforce and Preserving Flexibility in our Workplaces

  • Revised Overtime Rules to Protect Workers and Reduce Litigation: In August 2004, for the first time in over 50 years, the Department of Labor modernized and clarified overtime regulations to guarantee and strengthen overtime rights for more American workers than ever before. Read more...

  • Improving Mine Safety: The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006, also known as the MINER Act, was signed into law by President George W. Bush on June 15, 2006. This legislation is the most significant mine safety legislation since the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and contains a number of reforms to improve safety and health in America’s mines. Read more...

  • Union Accountability chart. Strengthened Union Financial Disclosure Reports: Since 2001, the Department has worked to improve the administration of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), including the design and usefulness of the financial reports required by the Act, in order to provide union members with greater financial transparency. Read more...

  • Enhanced Union Conflict-of-Interest Disclosures: Certain problems were also identified with Form LM-30, the report filed by union officers and union employees to disclose possible conflicts between their personal financial interests and their duty to the union and its members. DOL’s Office of Labor-Management Standards made revisions to improve disclosure and clarify the form and instructions, which had remained essentially unchanged for more than 40 years. Read more...

  • Servicemembers in civilian dress and in military uniforms. Protecting Jobs for Veterans: Although the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) was enacted in 1994, no regulations existed to help employers comply with it until this Administration. In 2005, the Department issued the first-ever regulations implementing statutory protections for employment and reemployment rights and benefits of National Guard and reservists when they return to civilian life. Read more...

  • Image of piggy bankPension Reform: On August 17, 2006, President Bush signed the Pension Protection Act (PPA) – the most sweeping reform of America’s pension laws in over 30 years. The Act helps to shore up the defined benefit pension system and provides for greater transparency of these plans for workers. It also allows for automatic enrollment in 401(k)-type plans and allows workers to receive investment advice related to their retirement accounts. Read more...

  • Safeguarding Retirement Security in 401(k)-Type Plans: In February 2002, Secretary Chao outlined the President’s proposal to improve worker retirement security in defined contribution plans. The proposal included five main reforms: 30-day advance notice before a blackout period; restrictions on corporate officers from trading company stock held outside the plan during a blackout period; increased access to quality, professional investment advice; freedom to diversify investment in company stock after three years; and better information through quarterly benefits statements. Read more...

  • Photos of field and construction laborers. Modernized Labor Certification Application Process: The Department's Permanent Foreign Labor Certification (PERM) program helps meet workforce needs when there are no available American workers to fill an open job and ensures that the employment of foreign workers will not adversely affect U.S. workers. Read more...

  • Combating Immigration Fraud: In May 2007, the Department implemented regulations to enhance program integrity and combat fraud and abuse in the permanent employment of aliens in the United States. The changes prohibit the substitution of alien beneficiaries on approved labor certifications; prohibit the sale, barter or purchase of permanent labor certifications or applications; and impose a 90-day window for employers to file approved permanent labor certifications in support of a petition with the Department of Homeland Security.

  • Leveling the Playing Field for Faith-Based and Community Organizations: In carrying out President Bush’s Executive Order 13279, the Department launched innovative projects to build stronger public-private partnerships with faith-based and community organizations that serve youth, job-seekers, workers and former prisoners who have paid their debt to society. Read more...

  • Financial Remedies chart. Enhanced Ability to Target Discrimination Among Federal Contractors: An independent research firm determined that the Equal Opportunity (EO) Survey, which had been used as a discrimination targeting mechanism, failed to find contractors who are actually discriminating. Therefore, in 2006, OFCCP eliminated the EO Survey requirement and directed resources to initiatives and programs that more effectively target discrimination. Read more...

  • First-Ever Interpretative Standards to Tackle Systemic Compensation Discrimination: In 2006, the Department published interpretive standards for evaluating compensation practices. This action provided contractors, who had previously had to comply with difficult to understand legal obligations, with the first ever definitive guidance on the subject. Read more...

  • Updating the Rule on Who is an Applicant in the Internet Age: In October 2005, the Department finalized regulations clarifying the recordkeeping requirements for federal contractors concerning who is an “applicant” in the context of the Internet and related technologies. Read more...

  • Protecting the Integrity of the Unemployment Trust Fund: In 2003, the Department published a regulation to protect the integrity of the Unemployment Trust Fund by ensuring that funds could only be spent on unemployment benefits, as was originally intended by law.

  • Helping Employers and Unions Comply with the Law: In June 2002, the Department launched a new initiative to help employers and others in the regulated community understand how to comply with the laws and regulations DOL administers. Under the Compliance Assistance Initiative, which supplements and is a complement to vigorous enforcement efforts, DOL has made compliance assistance an integral part of how the Department fulfills its mission to protect job seekers, wage earners, retirees and union members. As part of this initiative, Secretary Chao created an Office of Compliance Assistance headed by a senior career official.

  • The President’s American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI): In 2006, the Department launched Career Advancement Account (CAA) demonstration projects in eight states. CAAs were first announced as an element of President’s American Competitiveness Initiative and are part of a broader effort to reform the workforce investment system and the billions of dollars spent on worker training. Read more...

  • Expanding Opportunity for Spouses of Serving Military: In November 2007, the Departments of Labor and Defense jointly launched an initiative to provide military spouses with opportunities to pursue portable careers in high-demand, high-growth occupations. Read more...

  • Wired Initiative map. Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED): In the global economy, developing a skilled workforce is a key factor in our nation’s economic competitiveness. As part of the President’s Competitiveness Agenda, the Department launched the WIRED initiative to integrate workforce development with economic development and to demonstrate that a trained workforce can generate economic development and job creation in a region. Read more...

  • Community-Based Job Training Grants: In October 2005, the Department launched the first competitive round of grants under the President’s Community-Based Job Training Initiative to strengthen the capacity of community and technical colleges to train workers in the areas and skills required by today’s employers. Read more...

  • High Growth Job Training Initiative: The Department has focused job training programs on preparing workers for jobs in growing sectors of the economy. In 2004, DOL implemented the President’s High-Growth Job Training Initiative and created partnerships between employers, the workforce investment system and educational institutions. Awards through 2007 totaled $288 million for 156 projects.

  • Hispanic Worker Initiative: To expand career opportunities for Hispanic workers, the Department developed an initiative that focuses on their specific needs. The initiative helps develop language and occupational skills, helps Hispanic youth stay on an educational path that leads to rewarding careers and encourages collaboration between employers, community colleges and the public workforce system to help Hispanic workers build skills for jobs in growing industries.


Effective Management: Demanding Performance and Accountability

  • Performance graphic Demanding Effectiveness from Programs: The Department has assessed all programs for their effectiveness, sought to utilize resources more effectively, and end those programs that do not fulfill their mission. As a result, between FY 2001 to FY 2007, ineffective programs costing $344 million were eliminated and resources were redirected.

  • Meeting the Goals of the President’s Management Agenda: The President’s Management Agenda (PMA) is a results-driven strategy for improving the management of the Federal government. DOL was the first agency to receive all green scores from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the first five categories of the PMA (E-Government, Financial Performance, Human Capital, Budget Performance and Integration and Competitive Sourcing).

  • Streamlining DOL’s Regulatory Agenda: The Department has reduced its regulatory agenda from an unrealistic 145 items in the Fall of 2000 to approximately 87 items at the end of FY 2007. Read more...

  • Reformed Performance Appraisal System for DOL Employees: The Department revamped its performance and appraisal system for civil service employees. This revamped system created performance plans for managers, set pay-for-performance standards, and established a realistic rating system for all of DOL’s 15,000 employees.

  • Rebuilding Labor Oversight Capability and Making Information Available to Union Members and the Public: The Department’s Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS), the primary Federal agency with oversight responsibility for labor unions, is being rebuilt after years of neglect during the 1990s. This Administration has doubled funding for the office and added almost 100 new investigators. Read more...

  • Mercatus Center logo. Recognized Outside the Government for Excellence: In 2008, the Department received its eighth consecutive Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting from the Association of Government Accountants. Since 2001, DOL has received four President’s Quality Awards and has been ranked #1 four times among all Federal agencies for its Annual Performance and Accountability Report by George Mason University’s Mercatus Center.

  • Modern Approach to Affirmative Action Programs: In March 2002, the Department established procedures permitting multi-establishment federal contractors to develop written affirmative action programs (AAPs) along business or functional lines. Standard establishment-based AAPs often cover only a small number of employees, which make them more difficult to use for demonstrating compliance with equal employment opportunity requirements. Read more...

  • Achieving Results Without New Spending. Achieving Results Without New Spending: Without increasing spending, the Department has consistently met its strategic goals and achieved new records in worker protection. In fact, DOL has achieved cost savings in its discretionary budget of 15 percent in real terms since 2001.

  • Competed Older Worker Grants: In 2002, for the first time ever, the Department successfully competed approximately $342 million in grants for the national Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). In 2006, DOL awarded nearly $260 million to 18 organizations that successfully competed in the second SCSEP grant competition. These grants, which had been largely awarded to the same grantees for years prior to introducing competition in 2002, help to transition older workers from unemployment to community service to full time employment. Read more...

 




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