Government Offices

Linked below are Web sites of key, Federal and state government offices in the United States that deal with employment, labor and employee rights issues, and administer the related laws and regulations.

About Government Offices

Government offices are also called government agencies, departments or bureaus, among other names.

Employment-related government offices are good places for workers to research their employee rights under employment and labor laws. Many have avenues for filing complaints against employers or their representatives for violations of same.

The same government offices are also good places for employers to conduct employment and labor law, and compliance research.

Federal and State Government Offices - Resources

Each link below opens the matching, government offices resource page at EmployeeIssues.com.

Department of Labor Government Offices
Links to Federal and state department of labor Web sites, for researching employment and labor laws and locating contact information to ask questions or file complaints against employers.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Government Offices
Links to the Web sites of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and state equivalents, for researching Federal and state discrimination laws and filing discrimination charges against employers for violating the laws.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration Government Offices
Links to the Web sites of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and state equivalents, for researching workplace safety and health laws and standards, and filing complaints against employers for violations.

State Labor Law Government Offices
Link directly to the Web sites of legislative state government offices (or other Web sites authorized by same), that allow you to search or browse state labor laws and related rules, regulations, and bills.

Unemployment Government Offices
Links to Federal and state unemployment office Web sites for filing unemployment insurance claims and researching unemployment compensation, benefits, appeals, and related employment and labor laws. See also One-Stop Career Centers.

Workers' Compensation Board Government Offices
Links to the Web sites of Federal and state workers' compensation boards, commissions, courts, and offices for filing workers' compensation insurance claims and researching workers' compensation insurance, benefits, appeals, and related employment and labor laws.

Federal Government Offices - Direct Links

Each link below opens the matching, Federal government office Web site. Some of the government offices linked below maintain links to state-equivalent government offices, if they exist.

Administrative Review Board (ARB)
Makes judgments on appeals arising from cases decided by Department of Labor Administrative Law Judges or the Administrator of the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. (See Employment Standards Administration for information about the Wage and Hour Division. See also Office of Administrative Law Judges.) Offers research resources for case decisions, and employment and labor laws. Part of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Benefits Review Board (BRB)
Reviews and issues decisions on appeals of workers’ compensation claims arising under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and the Black Lung Benefits amendments to the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969. Offers research resources for board decisions and the Acts. One of several government offices under the U.S. Department of Labor.

Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB)
Conducts research on and formulates international economic, trade, immigration, and labor policies in collaboration with other U.S. government offices. Also provides international technical assistance in support of U.S. foreign labor policy objectives. Includes these government offices: International Child Labor Program (ICLP), National Administrative Office (NAO), Office of Foreign Relations (OFR), Office of International Economic Affairs (OIEA) and Office of International Organizations (OIO). Part of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
A government office for researching labor market statistics, such as national, state and local unemployment rates, statistics for wages, earnings and benefits, and occupational career information. Includes Career Information for Kids. One of the many government offices within the U.S. Department of Labor.

Center for Faith-Based & Community Initiatives (CFBCI)
Issues grants to faith-based and community organizations that help individuals enter, succeed and thrive in the workforce. Part of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Administrates immigration and naturalization adjudication functions and establishes immigration services policies and priorities. Among its employment-related duties, this government office issues green cards and EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 EB-4 work visas. Formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service, it's now a bureau of the Department of Homeland Security.

Department of Education (ED)
Oversees the educational system. Also enforces Federal statutes prohibiting education discrimination. Includes resources to apply for financial aid, and research statistics, legislation and regulations.

Department of Transportation (DOT)
Employment-related duties include regulating workplace safety for transportation industry employees. Some government and private-sector employers follow DOT's guidelines for drug testing in the workplace. (See also Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for mandatory workplace drug testing guidelines.) Key government offices under DOT that have employment-related regulatory duties include the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Maritime Administration (MARAD), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)
Explains government-provided benefits and services for military veterans, and how to apply. Employment-related matters include education and disability benefits, and vocational rehabilitation and employment services. See also Veterans' Employment and Training Service.

Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (EEOICP)
As part of the U.S. Department of Labor, it delivers benefits to eligible employees and former employees of the Department of Energy, its contractors and subcontractors or to certain survivors of such individuals, as provided in the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. Also delivers benefits to certain beneficiaries as provided in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. A government office under the Federal Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.

Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
The name of this government office is misleading. EBSA does not regulate all employee benefits, as its name implies. (Many benefits are voluntarily offered by employers to attract and retain employees, because few laws require employers to offer them.) But it does promote voluntary compliance and facilitates self-regulation for private retirement, health and welfare plans offered through employers. It also enforces employee rights under related laws, such as the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). One of the many divisions of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Employees' Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB)
Under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act, this board decides cases on appeal from decisions of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). (See Employment Standards Administration for information about the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.) Offers research resources for the appeals process, board decisions, and employment and labor laws. Just one of the many government offices under the U.S. Department of Labor.

Employment Standards Administration (ESA)
The ESA regulates and enforces several employee rights, such as those under minimum wage, overtime, workers' compensation, and family and medical leave laws. It's the largest government office within the U.S. Department of Labor, likely because it's comprised of a Wage and Hour Division (WHD) plus three component offices: Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) and Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP).

Employment & Training Administration (ETA)
Provides job training, employment, labor market information and income maintenance services, primarily through state and local workforce development systems. Its government offices and programs are too numerous to list here. But, as examples, its Office of Job Corps administers the Job Corps, while its Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training oversees State Apprenticeship Councils. The ETA is a division of the U.S. Department of Labor. Consequently, it's sometimes abbreviated as DOLETA.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
The EEOC is the government office for researching employment discrimination on the basis of age, disability, national origin, race, religion, genetics or sex (gender), in violation of Federal discrimination laws. (Discrimination laws are also called equal employment opportunity or EEO laws. Some states call them fair employment practices or FEP laws.) The EEOC or its nearest state or regional field office is also the place to file a discrimination charge against an employer or its representatives. See also Office of Disability Employment Policy.

FirstGov
Helps you to find Federal, state, local and tribal government offices.

Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
A government office that protects the safety and health of miners, under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. Includes compliance information and research resources for the Act.

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
The NLRB protects your union rights under the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, and investigates unfair labor practices of employers and unions. Its site includes resources for researching the Act, unfair labor practices and related matters.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA protects your employee rights to work in a safe and healthy workplace. Research the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and related matters at the site of OSHA, a division of the Department of Labor that enforces the Act. See also Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ)
Administrative law judges preside over formal hearings concerning matters related to more than 80 labor and employment laws and regulations. Includes a law library for researching OALJ decisions and those of other U.S. Department of Labor Offices.

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
Develops and influences disability-related policies and practices affecting the employment of people with disabilities. Includes research resources for its programs and initiatives. (See also Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.) A government office within the U.S. Department of Labor.

Office of Inspector General (OIG)
This government office is listed here, because it conducts union racketeering and organized crime investigations for employee benefit plans, labor-management relations and internal union affairs. It also conducts audits and evaluations to review the effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and integrity of all Department of Labor programs and operations.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
The official, central, human resources department for Federal government employers and employees. Explains Federal government employment, such as wages, benefits and employee rights. The OPM conducts job security clearances for government and private-sector employers.

Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP)
Ensures that small businesses have procurement opportunities with the Department of Labor. Also helps small businesses comply with employment and labor laws. See also Small Business Administration.

Office of the 21st Century Workforce (21CW)
The mission of this government office is to ensure that all Americans succeed at aspiring to have fulfilling and financially rewarding careers. The Web site consists mostly of press releases and career resources. Among the many government offices of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Ombudsman for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program
Nicknamed the Office of the Ombudsman likely to shorten its long name, this government office addresses concerns of claimants and potential claimants regarding their receipt of benefits under Part E of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). Includes resources for researching Part E of the Act and news releases. Part of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Small Business Administration
This government office offers a variety of free services for starting up and running a small business. Includes help complying with employment and labor laws. See also Office of Small Business Programs.

Social Security Administration (SSA)
Research your employee rights to Social Security retirement income, supplemental security income, and disability and health-insurance benefits.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
This government office is included here, because its Division of Workplace Programs has published model, mandatory guidelines for drug testing in the workplace that some government and private-sector employers follow. (See also Department of Transportation for workplace drug testing guidelines.) The Division of Workplace Programs is also responsible for other workplace health, wellness and safety programs. See also Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS)
A government office under the Department of Labor, it helps veterans to succeed in the 21st century workforce, by maximizing their employment opportunities, protecting their employment rights and meeting labor-market demands with qualified veterans. Includes resources for researching related laws, such as the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Veterans' Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 and Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. To determine your eligibility for veterans' preference in government hiring and retention, see the Veterans' Preference Advisor. See also Department of Veteran Affairs.