Investigator - Worker Protection

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is hiring an Investigator in the Office of Labor Policy & Standards to enforce worker protection laws and pursue enforcement actions. The position may allow remote work up to 2 days per week under the Flexible Work Pilot Program.

Responsibilities include interviewing workers, employers, and witnesses, gathering documentary evidence, applying the law to findings, drafting reports, and negotiating settlements.

Qualifications

• A four-year high school diploma or equivalent and four years of investigations/inspections experience; or
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college; or
• A combination of education and experience equivalent to the first option; college credits may substitute for experience

Responsibilities

• Maintain knowledge of OLPS-enforced laws and apply them to cases.
• Interview workers, employers, and witnesses by phone and in person.
• Collect, document, and analyze payroll records, policies, schedules, and related documents.
• Conduct public-sources research and use enforcement databases.
• Draft findings letters, demands, and settlement agreements; testify when required.
• Manage a high volume docket and escalate complex issues with supervisors.

Education

High School Diploma + 4 years investigations/inspections experience

Bachelor's degree

Education/experience equivalency

Job description

• Job Category: Public Safety, Inspections, & Enforcement
• Salary Band: $70,000 to $80,000
• Compensation: USD 63,736 - USD 73,296

Job Description

*DCWP is currently hiring for this position either on a provisional basis or through the 55a program. Permanent employees in the civil service title, and comparable title (under 6.1.9) are also eligible to apply.*

This position may be eligible for remote work for up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Flexible Work Pilot Program.

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses nearly 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), sign up for its newsletter, or follow on its social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

The Office of Labor Policy & Standards ("OLPS") enforces the City’s worker protection laws, including the Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek scheduling laws that protect fast food and retail workers, Delivery Worker Laws that provide minimum pay and other protections for app delivery workers, and wrongful deactivation protections for Uber and Lyft drivers. We also administer the Freelance Isn’t Free Act (FIFA) program, which assists freelance workers who have experienced wage theft and other violations. We obtain monetary compensation for workers for violations and bring companies into compliance. More information about our office is available at nyc.gov/workers.

OLPS is seeking an Investigator to investigate potential violations of NYC worker protection laws. Key responsibilities include:

• Maintaining a strong understanding of the laws OLPS enforces
• Interviewing workers, employers, and witnesses by telephone and in-person
• Obtaining, documenting, and analyzing documentary evidence, including employer policies, payroll records, employee schedules, time records and other employment-related documents
• Performing research using public sources, law enforcement databases, and other investigative tools
• Applying the law to facts gathered during an investigation to identify appropriate charges
• Writing investigation reports identifying violations uncovered during an investigation and containing recommendations for enforcement action
• Calculating money owed to employees and civil penalties owed to the City
• Engaging directly with businesses and attorneys to negotiate a resolution of the charges
• Drafting document demands, findings letters, and settlement agreements
• Testifying at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings’ Trial Division about investigation findings
• Independently investigating and managing a high volume of cases, using appropriate judgment to elevate complex issues with a Supervising Investigator
• Investigating cases that are complex and/or broad in scope, in collaboration with investigation teams of data scientists and attorneys

INSPECTOR (CONSUMER AND WORKER - 33997

Qualifications

1. 1. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and four years of full-time, satisfactory experience conducting investigations or inspections for a consumer or worker protection agency; or
2. 2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; or
3. 3. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience, which is equivalent to "1" above. College education may be substituted for the required experience on the basis of 30 semester credits for each year of required experience. However, all candidates must have a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent.

License Requirement:

Possession of a Motor Vehicle Driver License valid in the State of New York at the time of appointment. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.