US Department of Labor and Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity sign agreement to share information, conduct joint operations

DETROIT – The U.S. Department of Labor’s offices in Detroit and Grand Rapids and the State of Michigan, Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Wage and Hour Division have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding to provide opportunities for the agencies to conduct joint investigations and joint outreach as well as share training materials and other information as appropriate.

“The U.S. Department of Labor and the Michigan Wage and Hour Division are committed to working together proactively to provide compliance assistance and worker rights information to Michigan’s workers and employers,” said Wage and Hour Regional Administrator Michael Lazzeri in Chicago. “This agreement will help to promote greater engagement and dialogue to protect workers’ rights.”

“While independent of one another, these divisions enforce many similar standards sometimes with overlapping jurisdiction,” said Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Deputy Director Sean Egan in Lansing, Michigan. “We cannot expect working people and employers to fully understand these nuances and by enhancing our working relationship we are better equipped to ensure stronger educational opportunities and more effective enforcement activity.”

This is the second Memorandum of Understanding the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour District offices have signed with Michigan government agencies. In January 2020, the offices signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Michigan’s Department of Attorney General, Payroll Fraud Enforcement Unit and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Unemployment Insurance Agency.

Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division.

Learn more about the Michigan Wage and Hour Division.