🗞️ DOL Launches New Compliance Tools to Help Employers Navigate Labor Laws
The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division launched compliance tools including a new webpage, FMLA video series, and industry toolkits, complementing its recently relaunched PAID program and opinion letter initiative to help employers prevent violations.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division announced on January 26, 2026, the launch of several compliance assistance resources designed to help employers understand and comply with federal labor laws while empowering workers with educational materials.
The new tools include a dedicated compliance assistance webpage, a video series on the Family and Medical Leave Act, and revised compliance assistance toolkits tailored to various industries. According to Wage and Hour Administrator Andrew Rogers, these resources provide "simple, straightforward guidance" to help employers focus on running their businesses while meeting their legal obligations.
This announcement builds on recent compliance assistance initiatives, including the June 2025 relaunch of the department's opinion letter program across five DOL agencies. The opinion letter program provides official written guidance on how federal labor laws apply to specific workplace situations, offering employers a form of legal safe harbor when they rely on the guidance in good faith.
The division also continues to offer the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program, which was relaunched in July 2025 after being discontinued in 2021. PAID enables employers to voluntarily self-report and resolve potential minimum wage and overtime violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as certain violations under the FMLA. The program allows employers to correct compliance issues without facing liquidated damages or civil penalties, while employees receive expedited back wages and remedies.
The Wage and Hour Division emphasizes that these compliance assistance tools complement its enforcement activities. Employers and workers can access additional support through the division's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243), and workers can use a search tool to determine if they may be owed back wages collected by the division.
Key Points
- New Resources: DOL launched a compliance assistance webpage, FMLA video series, and industry-specific toolkits to help employers understand federal labor law obligations
- Opinion Letter Program: Expanded program across five DOL agencies provides official guidance on how laws apply to specific workplace situations
- PAID Program: Voluntary self-audit program allows employers to resolve wage and hour violations without liquidated damages or penalties
- Dual Purpose: Resources designed to both encourage proactive employer compliance and educate employees about their rights
- No-Cost Assistance: Employers and workers can access free compliance support through the division's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243)
Primary Source Author: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division
Primary Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division
Primary Source Link: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20260126
