The United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and economic statistics. 

The DOL is an administrative agency in charge of enforcing a number of employment-related federal statutes, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”), and Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”). 

Employees with inquiries and complaints regarding the laws administered by the DOL may file a complaint with the Secretary of Labor by contacting the nearest office of the Wage and Hour Division of the Employment Standards Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.  The DOL will review the complaint, and attempt to resolve the complaint administratively.  Alternatively, a complainant may file suit in courts without first notifying the Secretary of Labor. 

More information regarding the DOL, including detailed information about the laws enforced by the DOL and the procedure for filing a charge of discrimination, can be found at the DOL’s website: www.dol.gov/

If you have questions about filing a charge, would like legal representation as you proceed with the DOL, or would like to proceed directly to federal court on a claim under the FLSA, ERISA, or FMLA, contact Caffarelli & Siegel Ltd. to speak to a Chicago Employment lawyer.