L&I Industrial Relations Agent 2

Our Mission: Keep Washington Safe and Working! Our Values: Customer Focus, One L&I, Respect, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Learning and Growth, Reliability

Please Note: This posting represents 2 open positions.

Job Highlights

Join the Employment Standards team as an Industrial Relations Agent 2! In this role, you’ll have a direct impact in fulfilling the "Working" component of L&I's mission by elevating awareness and understanding of Washington's fair labor requirements, processes, and obligations for both employers and employees.

You will also provide education, outreach, consultation and enforce compliance related to Washington state child labor rules including the Industrial Welfare Act, Minimum Wage Act, Wage Payment Act, and other related statutes. Some of what you’ll do:

• Investigate existing and emerging child labor requirements and work processes related to the child labor rules of the Industrial Welfare Act and related enforcement.
• Work independently to resolve both standard and complex child labor violations.
• Investigate child labor violations that are legally or politically sensitive, or that include multiple act violations, or multiple issues legally requiring coordination with other central office staff and/or other agencies.
• Identify and analyze issues in dispute, recommend solutions, negotiate settlement or otherwise mediate and resolve disputes between employers and employees resulting from child labor violations.
• Collect documentary information and other substantiating evidence through interviews, observations, and examination of records. Obtain witness statements through telephone and in-person interviews.
• Communicate with employers, employer representatives and employees via phone, email, in person, and letters to gain information for both complex and standard child labor investigations. Determine validity of complaints by applying rules and regulations promulgated under the appropriate statutes.
• If child labor violations are found during an investigation, prepare a written recommendation to the child labor specialist for a citation and file the complete case for review.
• Issue subpoenas when necessary.
• Review and approve minor work permits through the Department of Revenue Business License Service Portal. Prepare case files for litigation, participate in the appeals process and testify in judicial proceedings such as hearings, pre-trial conferences and interviews.
• Upon request or assignment, speak before any group of interested people concerning child labor requirements and other Employment Standards topics.

Required:

• A bachelor’s degree

AND

• Two years of experience in any of the following:• labor/employment relations and regulations
• collection of revenue/taxes from employers/businesses
• investigation of complaints of misconduct
• audit of employer financial records
• the interpretation and explanation of Labor and Industries rules and regulations regarding employment standards, prevailing wages, wage and hour, and child labor laws
• related experience

Note: Additional qualifying experience will substitute for education at the rate of one year of experience for one year of education.

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Desired:

• Experience conducting investigations of complaints of misconduct (administrative, civil or criminal)
• Working with applications or systems such as Outlook, Excel, Word, CATS, LINIIS, and BEAR
• Applying knowledge of testifying processes, mediation, arbitration, and resolution
• Understanding the principles, standards and techniques of investigations, rules of evidence, interviewing techniques, auditing, and bookkeeping procedures
• Interpreting and applying complex laws, rules and regulations
• Experience managing heavy caseloads
• Analyzing issues involving employee/employer disputes and formulating suggestions to compromise and settle disputes
• Communicating and presenting complex information in clear, concise, and logical sequence; gather, preserve, and present material; exercise mature judgment in a wide variety of public rules
• Interpretation and explanation of Labor and Industries rules, regulations, policies, and practices regarding employment standards and child labor rules.

Things You Need To Know

To help you maintain a proper work-life balance, teleworking is one of the work schedule options for this position. L&I also offers flexible custom work schedules.

State employees who meet the qualifications will become eligible for a generous retirement package at the end of the employee’s career. Click on the “Benefits” tab to learn more.

At L&I, your voice matters. In addition, L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. Take a look at this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

For this position, telework is permitted full time. The assigned duty station for this position is in any of our L&I service locations statewide in Washington.

For positions where in-office work is necessary, the frequency of telework will be discussed with the supervisor of the position at the time of offer.

To receive more information on opportunities at L&I sign up for GovDelivery and select L&I job alerts.

Application process

We will contact the top candidates directly to interview for this position. Because we base the selection on information provided by you, it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities that address the required and desirable qualifications described in the announcement.

Please include the following documents with your application:

• A cover letter describing specific qualifications.
• A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.
• A list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers.

Please do not attach or place any medical information (vaccination status included) within the application, resume, or cover letter. If you do, we will have to reject your application to safeguard others from receiving your confidential information. You will have to remove the confidential information before you can apply again.

To learn more about our hiring process timeline at L&I please visit our L&I recruiting page at Hiring Process at L&I. If you would like to read our website in a language other than English, scroll up to the top of the page to select your language of choice from the banner.

Background Check Notice

Prior to a placement in this position, a background check, including criminal history record will be conducted. Information from your background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining your eligibility to perform the requirements of the position.

Other information

• For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
• Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.

Did You Know?

Washington is America's Top State to live, play, and work, according to U.S. News (2021). Join the L&I team and enjoy all the Evergreen State has to offer.

In addition to offering a positive balance between life and work, L&I provides one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation. We also believe your voice matters. We value our employees and their work-life balance by encouraging flexible schedules. L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3 million workers.

Veterans Preference

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to their application a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information, contact L&I’s [email protected].

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

L&I employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the agency mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need accommodation in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 360-902-5700. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

For more Information

If you have any questions regarding this job posting, program, or the agency, please contact Haleigh Missildine (she/her/hers).