Wage Claims Investigator

California Department of Industrial Relations; Monterey (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The California Department of Industrial Relations in Salinas, CA seeks a Deputy Labor Commissioner I to proactively investigate wage and hour claims, interview workers, and convene settlement discussions prior to adjudication. This role reports to the DLC Supervisor and supports enforcement of wage laws in the WCA program.

The incumbent analyzes facts, applies applicable laws, and educates the public on labor regulations while conducting investigations and coordinating with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Must be fluent in Spanish and able to pass a language fluency test if records are not on file.
• Ability to interview workers and assess wage and hour claims.
• Familiarity with labor laws and enforcement processes preferred.

Responsibilities

• Proactively investigates wage-and-hour claims under supervision.
• Interviews workers, holds settlement conferences, and gathers facts.
• Applies legal theories to assess violations and educate the public on labor laws.
• Enforces wage claim adjudication procedures in the WCA program.

Skills

Spanish language fluency

Job description

Job Description And Duties

Under the direction of the Deputy Labor Commissioner Supervisor (DLC Supervisor/Senior Deputy), the Deputy Labor Commissioner I (DLC I) proactively investigates claims to evaluate compliance with the law. The DLC I interviews workers, holds settlement conferences to resolve disputes prior to adjudication of claims, and gathers relevant facts and applies theories of liabilities in order to assess violations. The DLC educates the public on labor laws and performs a wide variety of duties involving enforcement of wage and hour laws in the Wage Claim Adjudication (WCA) program.

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To be considered for this Deputy Labor Commissioner I job opportunity, applicants must be either reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility or have reinstatement eligibility.

Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for hours in the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) per month.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

This is a bilingual Spanish position.

Working Conditions

950 E. Blanco Rd., Suite 204 Salinas, CA 93901

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) fluency in the Spanish language. If the State of California does not have a current record documenting your fluency in this language, you will be required to successfully pass an approved language fluency test prior to being hired.

This is a bilingual Spanish position.

The incumbent must successfully pass a Spanish-language bilingual fluency certification prior to appointment.

Required Application Package Documents

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug‑free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.