Labor Standards administers and enforces the District of Columbia labor laws. The office investigates wage complaints, evaluates employee and employer safety/health in the workplace, and adjudicates compensation/medical care claims for private-sector employees injured in the course of employment. In addition, the office provides administrative and semi-judicial proceedings to assist in resolving disputes that may arise in connection with claims filed for workers’ compensation benefits.
Office of Wage Hour
The Office of Wage-Hour administers and enforces the District of Columbia’s wage laws requiring a minimum wage payment, overtime for hours worked in excess of a forty hour work week, a living wage for employees of District government contractors, paid time off for illnesses and for absences related to domestic abuse and requires timely payment of wages earned. The Office of Wage-Hour provides a mediation process for unpaid and disputed wages.
Office of Occupational Safety and Health
Using a free consultation service, employers can find out about potential hazards at their worksites, receive training and improve their occupational safety and health programs. The service is delivered by the Office of Occupational Safety and Health using trained professional staff. No citations are issued and the findings are confidential. Your only obligation is to commit yourself to correcting serious job safety and health hazards, a commitment that you are expected to carry out in a timely manner
Office of Workers’ Compensation
The District of Columbia Office of Workers’ Compensation provides services to employees of the private sector who sustain work-related injuries and/or suffer job-related illnesses/diseases during the performance of their duty.
Office of Hearings and Adjudication
The Office of Hearings and Adjudication conducts formal administrative hearings to determine disability benefits for private-sector workers and District of Columbia government employees injured on the job. Administrative Law Judges hear and decide the cases based upon the law. The District of Columbia Workers’ Compensation Act of 1979, as amended, governs eligibility for disability benefits for private-sector workers. The District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, as amended, governs District of Columbia government employees’ eligibility for disability benefits.
Compensation Review Board
The Compensation Review Board, sometimes called the CRB, serves as the agency’s appeals court and is responsible for reviewing decisions of the Department of Employment Services’ Office of Workers’ Compensation and Office of Hearings and Adjudication regarding eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits. Decisions of the CRB may be challenged by filing an appeal to the DC Court of Appeals.
See office services under related content.