Sen. Harding: Labor Dept. Audit’s Findings are “Unacceptable”
July 25, 2024
Auditors Report: state Department of Labor Didn’t Assign Hundreds of Cases for Investigation
by Julie Martin Banks
CT News Junkie
July 24, 2024
The state Department of Labor’s Wage and Workplace Standards Division received or initiated nearly 850 complaint cases as of May 11, 2023, but they were not assigned for investigation, according to an audit report released this week by the state Department of Auditors of Public Accounts. One case, the audit report states, had not been assigned for nearly a year. The pending and unassigned status accounted for 41% of the estimated 2,000 WWSD cases as of May 11, 2023, according to the report. The auditors submitted the report for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2021 and 2022.
“Our audit identified internal control deficiencies; instances of noncompliance with laws, regulations, or policies; and a need for improvement in practices and procedures that warrant management’s attention,” according to the 27-page report. An audit summary lists six findings of the report – the actual report lists eight – along with recommendations on how to improve.
These sorts of delays could result in people, in cases of unpaid wages, not getting a timely resolution and restitution of those wages. “Extended delays may decrease the probability of collection in cases in which the employer ceases operations,” the report states. Changes in the state and federal law contributed to the backlog as well as a lack of staffing, according to the report, and a legislative request to get additional staffing in 2023 did not pass.
Sen. Rob Sampson, Ranking Senator on the Labor and Public Employees Committee, and Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding issued the following statement regarding the audit:
“Assistance delayed is assistance denied. It’s unacceptable, and this is not the first time that the state Department of Labor has been warned of this issue. These nearly year-long delays have real life impacts for employees and families across Connecticut. The Democrat-controlled department’s response to the audit is to blame the Democrat-controlled state legislature. Finger pointing is not a solution. The auditors also cited CTDOL for multiple inadequate internal controls and oversight.”
“Fixing these lingering issues could potentially save Connecticut taxpayers a lot of money, so what’s their game plan? Improved management of this state agency is clearly necessary.”
Through the report, the auditors suggested that the DOL improve its tracking procedures to address the backlog.