A recent audit has revealed that the Connecticut Department of Labor failed to promptly investigate unpaid wage complaints. The audit, conducted by the Office of the State Auditor, found that the department did not meet the required 30-day deadline for investigating complaints in nearly half of the cases reviewed.
The audit specifically looked at complaints filed between July 2019 and December 2020, and found that out of 122 cases reviewed, the department failed to meet the 30-day deadline in 49% of the cases. In some cases, the department took up to 8 months to investigate complaints, which is a clear violation of the 30-day requirement.
The Department of Labor attributed the delays to a lack of resources and a high volume of complaints received. However, the audit pointed out that the department did not have a formal process in place for prioritizing cases based on the severity of the allegations or the amount of wages owed.
The audit also found that the department did not always communicate effectively with complainants, often failing to provide updates on the status of their complaints. This lack of communication led to frustration among complainants, many of whom felt that their cases were not being taken seriously.
In response to the audit findings, the Department of Labor has agreed to implement several corrective actions, including developing a formal process for prioritizing cases, improving communication with complainants, and providing additional training to staff. The department has also committed to reducing the backlog of unpaid wage complaints and complying with the 30-day deadline for investigations in the future.
Overall, the audit highlights the importance of timely and effective investigations of unpaid wage complaints to ensure that workers are protected and receive the wages they are owed. The Department of Labor’s commitment to implementing corrective actions is a positive step towards improving their handling of these complaints.
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