It is the mission of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry to make Virginia a better place in which to work, live, and conduct business. We will acheive this goal by promoting safe, heathful workplaces, best employment practices, job training opportunitites through registered apprenticeship, the protection of children from hazardsous employment, and safe operation of boiler and pressure vessels. 

Virginia’s workplaces will be safer and more productive through sound occupational safety and health practices, and employers will have opportunities to develop a skilled workforce. Children will be protected from working in hazardous occupations, while employer and employees will be protected by fair enforcement of labor laws. Virginians will be protected from the dangers of unsafe boiler and pressure vessel operations.

• Service to the citizens and businesses of the Commonwealth with an emphasis on citizen/customer experience;


• Believing in the importance of our work;


• Possessing and encouraging a positive can-do attitude about our ability to achieve future successes;


• Maintaining a strong work ethic by keeping our word, and taking responsibility for our work and actions;


• Being consistent in the quality of our work;


• Fostering cooperation both internally and with those we serve;


• Treating all individuals professionally, equitably and with courtesy, honesty, dignity and respect;


• Making a difference for every individual or organization we serve;


• Understanding the needs and situations of others and being open to their ideas and opinions;


• Being prudent stewards of the resources given to us; and


• Knowing that the details matter.

The Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) was originally created in 1898 as the Bureau of Labor and Industrial Statistics for Virginia state government. Its purpose was to compile accurate information on both raw materials and labor and also to report on the activity of the principal industries of the day in the Commonwealth.

DOLI’s current role is as an Executive Branch agency whose powers and mandates are set forth in Title 40.1 of the Code of Virginia.  These responsibilities as set out include:

• Occupational safety and health protection of employees in the workplace;


• Registration agency for voluntary apprenticeship;


• Boiler and pressure vessel safety;


• Licensed asbestos and certified lead contractor notification and inspection;


• Enforcement of the Virginia Asbestos NESHAP Act;


• Role of the Department in regard to labor unions, strikes, etc.; and


• Child labor protections, minimum wage, equal pay, and payment of wage.

General Information about Ongoing Status of Agency:

The Department continues to strengthen its programs, and to strive to make Virginia a safer, healthier, and more productive place to live and work.

Agency employees continue to focus on greater efficiency, while increasing the effectiveness of our services that enhance economic development. Where it is advantageous to do so, the Department has partnered with other state and federal agencies, with local governments, and with private sector entities to make workplaces safer and healthier, while simultaneously lowering costs for employers.

The Agency expended a significant amount of resources during the COVID-19 pandemic requiring the agency to adapt to an ever changing COVID-19 and post COVID-19 environment. As many Virginia businesses dramatically reduced their operations or closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Agency’s ability to engage with businesses was hampered resulting in an overall reduction of productivity.  Pivoting to teleworking and providing resources for staff to telework more effectively was an initial obstacle; however, Agency staff eventually successfully adapted to the new hybrid working conditions.

The Agency has elevated the importance of communicating important safety and health information to the public. This became particularly important in communicating changes in COVID-19 safety protocols as it was a dynamic situation. Public Service Announcements, posts to the DOLI website, and social media have been utilized in providing this service. The Agency created new positions in social media and communications to handle the additional work generated by these changes. 

There is a need to develop talent for current and future workforce needs, with an eye toward job placement. The agency addresses this through its Registered Apprenticeship program.  Agency staff continues to provide appropriate level of support to existing registered apprenticeship employer sponsors and actively pursue new employer sponsorship relationships, particularly in high demand, high skilled areas of the economy.  In addition, the Agency is focused on expanding Youth Registered Apprenticeship and promoting the Commonwealth Registered Apprenticeship Future Talent (CRAFT) Apprenticeship State Expansion (ASE) Grant. 

To handle the increasing needs of the agency, modernization is needed to be more efficient and customer focused in regards to the quality of our services. The Agency always strives to improve customer experience.  The Agency is working closely with VITA as an early adopter and pilot partner for new technology platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Dynamics, and an updated webpage standardization initiative.

The Agency has historically been engaged by an ever-increasing cohort of customers who are unilingual Spanish speakers. As resources have permitted, DOLI has developed Spanish translations of the agency website and made informational posters and other materials available. In addition, DOLI offices provide access to phone translation services, as well as staff who are fluent in Spanish and can serve as translators when needed. To a lesser degree, DOLI is increasingly encountering customers who primarily speak languages other than English and Spanish, which challenge the Agency’s ability to meet service delivery demands.  To address this new challenge, we are becoming more adapt at leveraging the Commonwealth of Virginia’s language services to address language barriers. 

Moving forward, the Department endeavors to:

• Partner with higher education for the purposes of providing related technical instruction and sponsoring innovative programs through the registered apprenticeship program;


• Partner with the Department of Veterans Services (DVS) through the registered apprenticeship program;


• Partner with employer/trade associations and member associations to invite their members to use the Registered Apprenticeship model to compete with talent recruitment;


• Further develop and refine Agency programs, VOSH and Boiler Safety, that make Virginia a safe, healthy, and productive place to work;


• Continue to work with employers, especially those who seek to strengthen their safety and health programs, and who understand the value and importance of employees returning safely home every night to their families;


• Work to increase the impact of the VOSH Program by multiplying the size and expertise of our Voluntary Protection Program, and eventually expand into the construction industry and other mobile workforce industries;


• Improve the efficiency of the child labor online employment certificate processes;


• Work to further expand Registered Apprenticeship for both sponsors and apprentices, especially where opportunities arise in emerging industries, particularly in advanced manufacturing, health care, IT/Cybersecurity, and the business and professional services sectors;


• Strengthen payment of wage collection procedures;


• Modernize information systems; and


• Improve communications with stakeholders (employers, employees, labor unions, trade associations, etc.) through the agency website and social media platforms.

The Department of Labor and Industry's programs and related administrative support functions are sustained by customized business application systems.  Each application provides agency programs the business functionality to comply with statutory responsibilities and best management practices.  The VOSH Program utilizes integrated software systems developed, supplied, and supported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States Department of Labor such as OSHA Information System (OIS).  The Office of Research and Analysis utilizes software systems developed, supplied, and supported by Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor.  The Division of Registered Apprenticeship Programs utilizes a database maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor called Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database System (RAPIDS). The Division of Labor and Employment Law use Virginia Electronic Employment Certificate System, (VAeECS), which that agency had custom built, and a legacy Oracle case management system. The Asbestos and Lead program utilize a custom legacy Oracle system. The Legal Support division utilized a custom legacy Oracle case management system. The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety division utilized a third party inspection and reporting system online called Jurisdiction Online (JOL).

Population increases, enhanced workforce opportunities, and new regulatory programs (affecting customer bases) create increased demand for agency services, particularly real-time automated interactive business processes to support on-line licensure and case management. Renewed emphasis on anytime anywhere access to electronic data generates greater demand for enhanced delivery, readiness, and reporting capabilities.

On-going Agency IT Projects and Initiatives:

DOLI is currently undergoing a modernization effort to replace major systems for all program areas.  DOLI is working with VITA to develop a Microsoft Dynamics Financials and Microsoft based products and platforms for all major systems.  The To-Be state DOLI vision is guided by the organizational mission and is intended to better enable these critical processes through the goals, requirements, and considerations outlined as follows:

• Integrated, centralized operations:
  
  
  
  • Integrate systems and processes to increase efficiency and move as one organization.
  
  
  
  


• Best-in-class, online customer service:
  
  
  
  • Provide quality online services to the public to drive professional, efficient, and accessible service delivery.
  
  
  
  


• Unparalleled, citizen-centered user experience:
  
  
  
  • Provide seamless, convenient, effective, easy, and enjoyable digital and direct for DOLI customers that improve with time.
  
  
  
  


• Leading business processes:
  
  
  
  • Incorporate credit card payment capability for public use.
  
  
  • Automate and digitize citizen experience processes to reduce manual workflows, use of paper, duplication, and workarounds and lead the field in operational efficiency and technology.
  
  
  
  


• Empowered agency staff:
  
  
  
  • Provide best-in-class functionality and interfaces to staff to enable them to do their jobs efficiently and effectively and focus on agency mission.
  
  
  
  


• Operational visibility:
  
  
  
  • Enable robust reporting capabilities to clearly view performance and workflow, inform continual improvement, and meet other reporting demands.
  
  
  
  


• Modernized technology:
  
  
  
  • Adopt a system that provides a secure, stable, and high-performing technology environment that complies with requirements and leading practice.
  
  
  
  


• Streamlined technology:
  
  
  
  • Achieve more efficient system support, maintenance, and enhancement operations.
  
  
  
  


• Sustainable technology:
  
  
  
  • Allow for enhancements through a configurable, scalable, and adaptable system that can also be maintained and supported over time.
  
  
  
  

Like many other state agencies, the Department has experienced significant challenges in recent years, including recruiting and retaining qualified individuals, a limited training budget, and an aging workforce. An analysis of workforce planning data reveals that the Agency has witnessed a tremendous increase in the number of applicants for each position, many of whom do not possess the desired knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively carry out the required duties. At the same time, the Agency continues to experience significant job enlargement for existing staff due to the inability to successfully recruit or retain existing staff, for a significant number of positions. The nature of the tasks, duties, and responsibilities associated with many of the positions within the Department require skills that are very specialized, marketable, and in demand. As noted previously, the Agency continuously faces stiff competition from private sector organizations, federal agencies, and larger state agencies which are also seeking to hire similarly trained and skilled employees and who can offer more lucrative compensation packages.

DOLI faces workforce challenges due to an increasing number of employees who are eligible to retire; the loss of staff to the federal and local governments; and private industry companies that offer highly competitive salaries.  In an effort to reduce turnover,  DOLI has developed a workforce strategic plan that includes a set strategic direction, analyze workforce and identify skill gaps; develop an action plan, implementation of action plan, and lastly monitoring, evaluating and revising.

This plan will enable the agency to align workforce requirements with business needs to fulfill the mission of the agency, identify gaps between competencies the workforce currently possesses and future competency requirements, identify and implement gap reduction strategies, implement organization restructuring to meet business needs and identify and overcome internal and external barriers to accomplishing strategic workforce goals.

The Department has expanded services to a continually increasing number of customers, even with far fewer employees and greatly diminished resources. A decline in federal and state funding in the past has directly impacted staffing availability resulting in a major decrease in the number of Agency employees. It has also caused significant salary compression which, over time, has compounded the loss of experienced long-term employees who leave the Agency for more lucrative employment elsewhere. In general, allocations for technology, staff training, and salaries have fallen far behind the pace of the rising costs of doing business in the Commonwealth.

As one means of retention, a detailed orientation program continues to acquaint new agency employees with the many advantages of employment within the agency. Due to the size of the Department, there are limited opportunities for internal advancement. However, DOLI has established several new Registered Apprenticeship Programs within the department to enhance career growth for its employees. The Division of Labor and Employment Law and the Division of Registered Apprenticeship now offer Registered Apprenticeship opportunities when vacancies occur within their Divisions in certain roles. The Department also continues to mentor new staff in the VOSH Program. The Agency has also began the process of a compensation study. 

The Department maintains a central headquarters office in Richmond within a multi-agency state-owned building. It also maintains leased regional office spaces in Henrico County, Manassas, Roanoke, and Norfolk, as well as field office spaces in Verona, Lynchburg, and Abingdon, which provide services throughout the Commonwealth.  All of these properties are managed/leased through the Department of General Services-Division of Real Estate Services.

1. Of the fifty-nine (59) VOSH Compliance Safety and Health Officer positions, fifty (50) are currently filled. Of those fifty (50), 40% are filled by CSHO apprentices. The VOSH program has an experience gap for a robust program. Though the agency is actively recruiting to fill vacant positions, there are obstacles to recruitment and retention, mostly related to compensation.


2.  In addition, staffing is currently at a critical level based on the 59 benchmark positions. In 1984, three years after the VOSH Program achieved operational status, there were 109,238 employers and 2,098,046 employees in the Commonwealth.  More recently, the Virginia Employment Commission, Quarterly Employment and Wages Report for the third quarter of 2021 indicates that VOSH has jurisdiction over approximately 4.3 million workers in 310,760 establishments  – a 184.5% increase in establishments and a 104.8% increase in employees. However, funding and staffing has not been commensurate with expansion.


3. Information Technology Demands: Increasing technology changes and related costs continue to present critical challenges to meeting program business needs and security standard requirements including staff support, infrastructure, equipment, software, development, ongoing maintenance, related service provider support, and staff training on the use of newer software and technology.


4. Workforce Impact: As more of DOLI’s most qualified workers retire or are nearing retirement, there is cause for serious concern. Their departure results in a loss of significant institutional knowledge and expertise, leaving vacancies to be filled by less experienced workers, who require training and/or other certifications.

Finance

Financial Overview:

The Department of Labor and Industry is funded by State General Fund Appropriations, Federal Funds from the U.S. Department of Labor, and Special Revenue Funds from various sources, including Indirect Cost Recoveries, Asbestos/Lead Project Permit Fees, Consultation and Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Grant Matching Funds, and registration fees for the Virginia Safety and Health Conference.

The Department's programs contribute significant revenues to the state that offset program costs. For state fiscal year 2021, the Department's revenues were $10,726,622.47, representing 54% of annual agency expenditures. These revenues were a combination of fees collected in the Boiler and Asbestos programs, federal grants, and penalties collected by the Department's Virginia Occupational Safety and Health and Labor and Employment Law Divisions.

The Department's programs contribute significant revenues to the state that offset program costs. For state fiscal year 2022, the Department's revenues represented 54% of annual agency expenditures. These revenues were a combination of fees collected in the Boiler and Asbestos programs, federal grants, and penalties collected by the Department's Virginia Occupational Safety and Health and Labor and Employment Law Divisions.

The following statistics provide a comprehensive snapshot of the magnitude of the Department's operations during state fiscal year 2021.

DOLI’s employees serve more than 4.29 million workers and 291,238 establishments in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Department's maximum employment level (MEL) is 203, however DOLI is in the process of requesting additional full-time positions in the next two years.

The number of Board members is expected to remain stable at 12 members.

Products and services with a direct impact on external customers include:

• Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program:
  
  
  
  • Compliance Program
  
  
  • Asbestos and Lead Notification Program, Project Permits, and Fees
  
  
  • Injury and illness rates by industry reports
  
  
  • Consultation and outreach to assist employers with compliance
  
  
  • Training services
  
  
  • Voluntary protection programs
  
  
  
  


• Registered Apprenticeship Program:
  
  
  
  • Support of employer-sponsor participants for workforce development and retention program
  
  
  • Nationally recognized and portable Certificates of Completion to apprentices
  
  
  
  


• Labor Law:
  
  
  
  • Wage and Hour Law Enforcement
  
  
  • Youth Employment Permits and Enforcement
  
  
  
  


• Boilers and Pressure Vessels:
  
  
  
  • Inspection and certification of boilers and pressure vessels
  
  
  
  


• Legal Services:
  
  
  
  • Alternative dispute resolution and mediation
  
  
  • Complaint intake and investigation
  
  
  • Regulatory coordination and development
  
  
  • Whistleblower Protection Program
  
  
  
  

Other products and services include:

• Board and Council administration


• Budget and financial management


• Business continuity planning


• Education curricula development


• Employee benefits administration


• Employee development


• Employee recruitment and succession planning


• Facilities management and visitor access control


• Information technology and systems development


• Legislative analysis


• Mail processing and delivery


• Policy analysis and plan development (including strategic planning)


• Quality assurance and performance measurement


• Records/information management


• Risk management

• During state fiscal year 2021, the Department enhanced economic development and made Virginia a safer and healthier place to live and work. The Agency's occupational safety and health compliance staff identified 10,563 occupational safety and health hazards.


• The Agency’s boiler and pressure vessel safety staff issued 32,346 inspection certificates for covered boiler and pressure vessel objects. 


• The cost of providing Registered Apprenticeship services was approximately $103.17 per registered apprentice. 


• Increased awareness and proactive actions taken to not only comply with but also exceed IT security measures as set forth by the Governor’s Cyber Security mandate.


• Worked on translating its instructions, applications, and exams into Spanish to reduce language barriers and increase workplace safety awareness amongst Spanish speaking communities.


• Developed the first regulation in the nation to protect employees from the COVID-19-19 hazard.

The existing system is over 25 years old and is Oracle based. A new system development is underway based on Microsoft Dynamics Financials.

Work with partners to pursue employer sponsor engagement, as opportunity for occupational based training through employer sponsors.

Current number of RA participants in the RA program.

Current number of school systems served by the RA program and number of employer sponsors.

Address demand and supply opportunities that include transitioning military veterans into the workforce by converting more approved DVS parties to RA employer sponsors.

Address public sector workforce demand and supply opportunities that exist throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Increase safety and health awareness and practices in the workplace.

Increase child labor certification requirements and promote safety and health awareness and practices in the workplace.

Confirm that all Vessels subject to inspections and permitting are current. Identify additional vessels in operations that should be inspected and permitted.

Provide the public and industry options for credit card or bank transfer payments for permit fees. Modernize the monitoring and permitting process.

This Service Area oversees Virginia's Registered Apprenticeship Program, implements the mandates and requirements of the Virginia Voluntary Apprenticeship law, and provides staff support for the Virginia Apprenticeship Council, which is the policy board responsible for adopting regulations for this program.

This Service Area directly aligns with the Department's mission by promoting the training of skilled workers to enhance the talent development efforts of the Commonwealth.

• Registered Apprenticeship Program


• Registration of Employer Sponsors


• Registration of Employee Apprentices


• Issue Certificates of Completion to Apprentices


• Quality Assurance Assessments


• Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance Reviews

The Apprenticeship Program is funded by State General Fund Appropriation.

This Service Area administers Virginia’s labor and employment laws that govern the payment of wages, minimum wage, and youth employment laws.  Additionally, the Division of Labor and Employment Law enforces miscellaneous labor laws, including right to work, prevention of employment, human trafficking notices in certain establishments, administering polygraphs, equal pay, and payment for medical exams.

This Service Area aligns with the Agency’s mission of making Virginia a better place in which to work, live, and conduct business by administering and enforcing laws that govern wage payments, youth employment, minimum wage, garnishee rights, discharge for work-related injuries, and other employment laws.

• Labor and Employment Law


• Payment of Wage Investigations


• Youth Employment Certificates


• Youth Employment Investigations


• Age Certificates


• Theatrical Permits


• Solicitation Permits


• Paid Sick Leave


• Virginia Prevailing Wage Law

Labor Law Services is funded by State General Fund Appropriation.

This Service Area administers occupational safety and health activities in Virginia according to the Virginia State Plan agreement between the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program and the USDOL Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as required by § 40.1-1 of the Code of Virginia, for general industry, agriculture, construction, and the public sector.

This Service Area directly aligns with the Department's mission of making Virginia a better place to work, live and conduct business by promoting safe and healthy workplaces, and fostering safe work practices by employers. VOSH also provides training, information, and technical assistance to employers, employees, and safety/health professionals.

• Enforcement of Occupational Safety and Health Statutes


• Whistleblower Protection Program


• Asbestos and Lead notification and permits


• Injury, Illness, and Fatality Data Collection


• Consultation and Training Services


• Voluntary Protection Programs

The Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program is funded by State General Fund Appropriation, Federal Funds from the U.S. Department of Labor, Special Revenue Funds for Asbestos/Lead Project Permit Fees, Consultation and Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Grant Matching Funds, and registration fees for the Annual Safety and Health Conference.

This Service Area implements Virginia's Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act (the Act), which enhances both public safety and occupational safety through monitoring the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of boilers and pressure vessels. The Act permits the Department to certify inspectors to act on behalf of the Commissioner of Labor and Industry and conduct inspections, which serve as a basis for issuance of a Certificate of Inspection for boilers and pressure vessels.

This service area aligns with the Department's mission of making Virginia a better place to work, live, and conduct business through the objective of ensuring the safety of boilers and pressure vessels located in businesses, public buildings, such as schools, apartment buildings, and other structures, where both the general public and workers may be present.

• Inspection of Boiler and pressure vessels


• Enforcement of law and regulations


• Certification of qualified inspectors

Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Services are funded by State General Fund Appropriation. Fees are collected and deposited to the State General Fund in support of this program.

This Service Area provides overall management direction and administrative support to the Department of Labor and Industry's other service areas.

This Service Area directly aligns with the Department's mission of making Virginia a better place in which to work, live and conduct business by providing effective and efficient administrative and resource support to achieve the Agency’s mission, while ensuring full compliance with all applicable state and federal rules and regulations, laws, and executive orders.

The Code of Virginia, Chapter 1 of Title 40.1, provides for the establishment of the Department of Labor and Industry and establishes the authority of the Commissioner. The Code of Virginia, Chapter 1 of Title 40.1, at subsection 5 of §40.1-6, authorizes the Commissioner "to appoint such representatives as may be necessary to aid him in his work; their duties shall be prescribed by the Commissioner." 

Executive Leadership and Management;

Accounting, budgeting, financial management, and compliance for all Agency funding streams;

Information Technology and telecommunications for all Agency programs;

Human resource services, including staff recruitment and retention, training, benefit administration, dispute resolution, implementation and evaluation of fair employment practices;

General Services, which incorporates asset management, contract management, procurement, facilities management, general service support, and Regional/Field Office Administrative Support.

Agency Administrative and Support Services are funded by State General Fund Appropriation and Nongeneral Indirect Cost Recovery Funds.