Our External Commitments to Diversity Equity and Inclusion

DOL recognizes that each New Yorker who comes through our doors —whether brick and mortar or virtual—has different circumstances and we believe in accessibility to assure they have a clear pathway to learn about and utilize whatever services they need. 

• DOL provides language access by providing one-on one assistance to LEP individuals both in person and over the phone. 
• We provide oral interpretation services in the individual’s primary language to help them obtain services or benefits.
• We provide forms and downloadable files in 29 languages, including all vital documents available in the 16 most commonly spoken non-English languages. 
• We have a Language Access Plan that is updated on a regular cadence and a Language Access Coordinator who monitors agency compliance.
• Perkins, DOL’s unemployment insurance chatbot currently speaks 13 languages. 
• The Unemployment Insurance Claimant Advocate Office provides free, impartial, and confidential services that help claimants, particularly those with limited English proficiency, understand their rights and responsibilities under Unemployment Insurance Law.
• All of our Career Centers have signage posted about the availability of language assistance services 
• We provide additional Spanish language support, including social media platforms (Twitter | Facebook), video content and captions, press releases, Telephone Claims Center IVR system, and more.

View additional Language Access info 

• We use a variety of platforms to meet New Yorkers at their communication level and connect them to the information they need.
• We are developing an agency road map to ensure our web-based properties and applications comply with WCAG 2.1 A.
• All new virtual tools throughout the agency are available in numerous languages and in accordance with accessibility standards.
• All DOL Career Centers have computer accessibility equipment and staff to support it. 
• The new UI system is undergoing a top to bottom review to ensure accessibility for customers with visual or auditory impairments.   
• Virtual UI hearings are expected to go live in the summer of 2023 which will reduce barriers and increase inclusion by allowing customers to participate in hearings remotely, saving time and travel costs.
• We have partnered with Northstar Digital Literacy and Coursera to develop training programs to help our customers improve their digital literacy.

• All DOL Career Centers are fully accessible to individuals with a disability. 
• DOL offers priority of service to veterans. 
• DOL funds the NY Systems Change and Inclusive Opportunities Network (SCION) program to place Disability Resource Coordinators in every local workforce area of the state. 
• DOL funds workforce development training programs across the state, the vast majority of which are aimed at assisting those with barriers to employment.

• DOL has a unit devoted to MWBE (Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises) and SDVOB (Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business) purchases and contracts. This unit coordinates with other divisions in the agency to facilitate MWBE/SDVOB grant and contract approval as well as vendor assistance and registration in state programs. The unit also tracks and reports out about our work with these businesses on a quarterly basis to ensure all established goals are being met. DOL consistently exceeds that goal.
• DOL oversees direct-entry pre-apprenticeship programs, which are designed to provide training to members of underserved communities (minority populations, women, veterans) and connect them to Registered Apprenticeship programs. 
• Registered Apprenticeship programs must submit an Affirmative Action Plan or Pledge (depending on size) that identifies what the program’s diversity goal is based on LMI for the market the program operates in.

• Demographic data can be used to study the characteristics of a specific population to assist with equity and inclusion initiatives. We produce data by gender, race, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, and many other characteristics on a regular basis and provide to the public in support of numerous initiatives.
• DOL also provides New York State-specific information from the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) tabulation of American Community Survey data. The EEO tabulation is the primary benchmark for comparing race, ethnicity, and gender composition of an organization's workforce to encourage employer compliance with anti-discrimination laws and regulations or to develop affirmative action programs where needed.
• We create DEI infographics to provide visualizations of demographic information to highlight and acknowledge heritage months and identity recognitions throughout the year.  Some examples of currently available infographics in honor of these special events include Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, Veteran’s Day, and the Gender Pay Gap report released on Equal Pay Day.