Education for Communities

The Division of Compliance and Education is available to provide education and other support to all communities including workers, job seekers, their families, and the organizations that serve them. We are also a point of contact for small businesses for information about New York State Labor Laws and compliance with those laws.

The Division of Compliance and Education (DOCE) is often the first point of contact for immigrant, refugee, and limited English proficient workers or job seekers to the Department of Labor services.

DOCE is dedicated to engaging with immigrant and refugee communities and organizations that serve them.  We are happy to meet with advocacy groups, community-based organizations, social services providers, faith-based groups, small business associations, community boards, elected officials, government agencies, and foreign government representatives.  We make a concerted effort to visit areas in the state where large groups of immigrants and refugees live or work, bridging the gap for those who may face geographical or time constraints in visiting a Department of Labor office.

DOCE's presentations are tailored to support immigrant communities, as well as the organizations dedicated to serving them.  Collaborate with us to bring valuable information and support to your community.  Interested?  Please complete the DOCE Community Education Request Form.

DOCE’s team is committed to the education of the broader community regarding the rights of immigrant workers and the responsibilities of employers under labor laws.  We use these visits to bring information to people who may not be able to visit a Department of Labor office.  We offer a diverse range of collaborative options, including:

• In-Person Presentations: Invite our team to your location for in-depth presentations.  These sessions cover a wide range of essential topics, including minimum wage, wage supplements, child labor regulations, hours of work, tip appropriation, and more.  We also provide insights into complaint investigation processes, labor trafficking, retaliation, U visa certifications, and T visa endorsements.
• Webinars: If in-person presentations are not feasible, we can arrange live webinars tailored to your organization's specific needs.  These virtual sessions provide a comparable level of interaction and information as in-person presentations while offering the convenience of remote accessibility.
• Community Events: Invite our team to your organization’s events. We can set up informative displays and engage with individuals in attendance.  People in the community can request information, seek guidance, and pose questions regarding labor laws and related matters.
• Staff Training: Empower your staff members with the knowledge and tools to effectively inform and support your community on labor laws.  Our comprehensive training programs are available both in-person and virtually, catering to your organization's circumstances.

Our presentations review both the New York State labor law and the Department of Labor’s complaint handling process for:

• Labor law protections regardless of immigration status
• Minimum wage
• Payment of wages and wage supplements
• Prevailing wages under public work contracts
• Child labor
• Hours of work
• Illegal kickbacks
• Tip appropriation
• Retaliation
• Rights for Nursing Mothers
• Workers’ Compensation
• Unemployment Insurance Benefits
• New York State Paid Sick Leave
• New York State Paid Family Leave
• Human Trafficking: U Visa Certifications and T Visa Endorsements
• Statement of Interest
• And more…

For businesses, our presentations focus on areas of labor law relevant to their operations:

• Our role as a liaison to the Business Services staff within the Department of Labor
• Industry-specific wage orders
• Payment of wages
• Payroll records
• Maintenance of records
• Understanding the laws related to child labor, deductions from wages, tip appropriation
• Workplace environment issues

Through our toll-free hotline, we assist with:

• Connecting workers to services within the Department of Labor including filing complaints for unpaid wages, filing for unemployment insurance benefits
• Connecting job seekers to a Department of Labor Career Center for job search assistance and other employment services
• Providing referrals to social or other appropriate service providers
• Referrals to resources and labor law compliance for business owners

To request information, to schedule a presentation for your organization or business, or to invite us to attend your event, please contact us

By telephone:  877-466-9757

By e-mail:  [email protected]

Submit a request:  DOCE Community Education Request Form