The U.S. Department of Labor has launched a comprehensive opinion letter program designed to help employers and workers understand how federal labor laws apply to specific workplace situations.
The program covers five key enforcement agencies within the department and marks an expansion of the agency’s compliance assistance efforts. Employers can now request official written guidance on how labor laws apply to their particular circumstances, potentially reducing confusion and compliance risks.
Five agencies participate in expanded program
The Wage and Hour Division will issue opinion letters addressing questions about wage and hour requirements. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will provide letters of interpretation on workplace safety issues.
The Employee Benefits Security Administration will release advisory opinions and information letters related to employee benefit plans. The Veterans’ Employment and Training Service will issue opinion letters on veterans’ employment rights.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration will provide compliance assistance through its new MSHA Information Hub, a centralized platform offering guidance, regulatory updates, training materials and technical support.
“Opinion letters are an important tool in ensuring workers and businesses alike have access to clear, practical guidance,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “Launching this program is part of our broader effort to empower the public with the information they need to understand and comply with the laws the department enforces.”
How the system works
Opinion letters provide official written interpretations from the department’s enforcement agencies, explaining how laws apply to specific factual circumstances presented by individuals or organizations. The letters address real-world questions and promote clarity in the application of federal labor standards.
The department has created a new website at dol.gov/opinion-letters where users can explore past guidance and submit new requests to the appropriate agency. The site serves as a central hub for accessing compliance assistance across all participating agencies.
Additional resources available
For general questions about federal labor laws, employers and workers can visit dol.gov or call the department’s toll-free helpline at 1-866-4-USA-DOL.
The opinion letter program represents the department’s continued focus on providing practical guidance rather than taking enforcement action as the first response to compliance questions.
