Government Shutdown to Halt Workplace Safety Investigations
Due to the recent government shutdown, investigations into workplace safety and discrimination come to a stop
Workplace safety investigators are being hit hard from the government shutdown—on Tuesday, the majority of investigations into workplace safety and discrimination stopped, due to the closing of the Labor Department.
According to an article from the Huffington Post, only around 3,000 of the Labor Department’s over 16,000 employees will be allowed to work. And of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, only around 100 of the 2,000 employees will be allowed to work. In the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, only three of around 2,500 employees will continue to work.
Investigations that don’t pose an immediate threat of danger or death have been stopped, which includes routine inspections. According to the Huffington Post, the DOL plans on keeping a “skeleton staff” to deal with imminent dangers that could affect human life.
In addition, the shutdown will halt the investigation of workers’ complaints of discrimination and will halt investigations in wage theft. According to an article from the Chicago Tribune, the shutdown will also halt the production of economic reports, including jobless data. The Mine Safety and Health Administration will stay open during the shutdown.
For more information, visit:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/30/government-shutdown-labor-department_n_4019452.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/30/absolutely-everything-you-need-to-know-about-how-the-government-shutdown-will-work/