DOL works to address variety of issues

The sprawling and multifaceted U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is on track to receive a significant budget increase of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2023, which the department will use to meet the expanding number of issues that confront its numerous divisions and agencies.

WHD administrator nominated

After months of temporizing, Jessica Looman, the acting Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administrator, was named by President Joe Biden to be the permanent administrator of this critical agency. After the embarrassing rejection of David Weil for the post in April, the WHD has been without a confirmed administrator or nominee.

Looman has proven to be an able leader in her “acting” capacity. Under her aegis, the WHD rolled back the Trump DOL’s joint employer and independent contractor rule last year (with mixed success) and has promised new rulemakings on independent contractor status, calculating prevailing wages, and overtime eligibility.