CEO Library

The literature scan highlights promising applications of behavioral insights to challenges that are specifically relevant to U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) programs, workers, job seekers, and employers. It synthesizes this information for DOL and others who are interested in applying behavioral interventions to address challenges within the labor context. DOL’s own work in this area contributes to this evidence base. Suggestions of areas in which to extend this body of work are also noted.

The Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) partnered with the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) and commissioned contractor ICF Incorporated to conduct the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Impact Evaluation and TAP Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot (ENPP) Formative Evaluation.

The report presents findings on plan filings of Form 5500 using data from 2000 to 2016. The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) administers and enforces the reporting, disclosure, and fiduciary requirements of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Each year, employee benefit plans are required to submit Form 5500 to EBSA to report information about the plan. Form 5500 captures important employee benefit plan information on plan type, plan administration, and plan benefits.

This study includes a systematic review of existing evidence on the intersection of the opioid epidemic and workers’ compensation programs administered by public and private payers. The study will analyze existing evidence and identify innovative interventions and initiatives that may be relevant to the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) client/customer population, and will develop research and evaluation design options for generating new evidence in the field.

In September 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) contracted with IMPAQ International and its partner ideas to conduct an exploratory study of the customer experience at American Job Centers (AJCs). The purpose of this study is threefold: 1) to learn more about the customer experience in AJCs, 2) to highlight promising practices in those AJCs, and 3) to produce a set of behavioral science-based strategies that could enhance the AJC customer experience.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has contracted with IMPAQ International and ideas to learn about the customer experience in American Job Centers (AJCs), and to identify ways to improve that experience. Developing an understanding about how job seekers and employer customers perceive their AJC experience, and then maximizing what makes a positive experience, should lead to improved outcomes in employment and other areas. As part of this exploratory study, the research team conducted a literature scan in fall 2015 on related key topics.

The mission of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is “to enforce, for the benefit of job seekers and wage earners, the contractual promise of affirmative action and equal employment opportunity required of those who do business with the Federal government.” Accordingly, OFCCP is dedicated to promoting diversity and protecting workers, ensuring that workers are treated fairly and equitably in their current jobs and that those seeking employment do not face discrimination in the hiring process.

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) in the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) serves to “protect workers, promote diversity and enforce the law.” Accordingly, OFCCP is dedicated to ensuring that federal contractors and subcontractors comply with their responsibility to take affirmative action and offer equal employment opportunity to job seekers and wage earners.

The podcast describes lessons learned from the Behavioral Interventions for Labor Related Programs Project, designed to test the use of behavioral science in U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) programs.

The way we write and structure documents can make them much more impactful. The checklist provides guidance before sending out an important communication. Make sure to review the checklist and see if there are edits you can make to improve it. While it may not always be possible to complete each item on the checklist, communications that incorporate more behavioral insights will have greater potential.

Finding a job after becoming unemployed can be challenging for many individuals. Even as the unemployment rate has decreased during the recovery from the 2007–2008 financial crisis, the average duration of regular unemployment insurance benefits remains high (15.6 weeks as of January 2017). The Department of Labor (DOL) has long sought effective ways to encourage unemployed workers to engage in services that can help them get reemployed.

Effective U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) programs often require people to take action to get the benefits offered, but people often fail to do so. The reasons can be varied: they aren’t motivated to participate or they intend to but get distracted, or they begin and then are deterred by seemingly minor operational hassles. Fortunately, behavioral scientists have developed many techniques to improve the effectiveness of program procedures–techniques that have been applied successfully in many DOL programs.

The playbook was developed to give program administrators and managers at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and other social programs an overview of how they can use insights from behavioral science to improve the effectiveness of their programs and services. This playbook is a step-by-step guide on how to identify behavioral problems and use strategies informed by behavioral science.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Behavioral Interventions (DOL-BI) project adds to a growing body of evidence indicating that relatively small changes in how programs operate can lead to striking improvements in their performance. In three trials that tested applications of behavioral science, the project team found substantial benefits for three DOL programs. The brief provides details on the design and findings of each trial. This brief focuses on the lessons learned by the team as it identified opportunities for behavioral trials and implemented each one.

Webinar describing the high-level results of the Using Behavioral Interventions to Improve Take-Up of a Reemployment Program Technical Report.

Infographic depicting high-level results of the Using Behavioral Interventions to Improve Take-Up of a Reemployment Program Technical Report.

The brief presents initial findings on the effects of an intervention designed to encourage Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants to participate in their state’s Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) pilot program and persist in their job search. For the study, selected Michigan Works! agencies and the W.E. Upjohn Institute partnered with the U.S.

Finding a job after becoming unemployed can be challenging for many individuals. Even as the unemployment rate has decreased during the recovery from the 2007–2008 financial crisis, the average duration of regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits remains high (15.6 weeks as of January 2017). In response, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) helps UI claimants find, apply for, and obtain new employment. DOL has long sought effective ways to encourage unemployed workers to engage in services that can help them get reemployed.

Webinar describing the high-level results of the Using Behavioral Interventions to Increase Retirement Savings Technical Report.

Infographic depicting high-level results of the Using Behavioral Interventions to Increase Retirement Savings Technical Report.

The brief presents initial findings on the effects of an email designed to encourage U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) employees to increase their contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)—a plan similar to 401(k) plans in the private sector—and take full advantage of the available employer match.

Preparing for retirement is important. For many workers in the United States, a comfortable retirement may depend on the savings decisions they make now. Failing to save today can have very real consequences as people age, reducing the comforts they get to enjoy during retirement and their ability to cope with health and financial shocks. Following broader Federal policy, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has sought effective strategies for encouraging its employees to increase their retirement savings.

Webinar describing the high-level results of the Using Behavioral Interventions to Help Employers Resolve Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Citations Technical Report.

Infographic depicting high-level results of the Using Behavioral Interventions to Help Employers Resolve Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Citations Technical Report.

The brief presents initial findings on the effects of an intervention designed to increase employer responsiveness to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Through a nationwide randomized controlled trial, researchers tested whether employers who were cited for health and safety violations would be more responsive if OSHA changed the way it issues and follows up on citations.