UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Press Releases

DENVER -- The U.S. Department of Labor will hold an informational and outreach forum for workers, community- based organizations, unions and advocacy groups on Thursday, Feb. 24, to learn more about federal and state wage laws, job safety, whistleblower rights and affirmative action programs. Concurrent sessions will be presented in both English and Spanish.

El evento gratuito tendrá lugar en la sala Community Room, Campus Lakewood del Red Rocks Community College, 13300 W. Sixth Ave. en Lakewood, desde las 8 a. m. hasta el mediodía MST.

The free event will take place at Red Rocks Community College’s Lakewood Campus, Community Room, 13300 W. Sixth Ave. in Lakewood, from 8 a.m. to noon MST.

“The Labor Department is committed to providing all workers and constituent groups with information and assistance on employee and workplace rights,” said Dusti Gurule, regional representative for Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis in Denver. “We are hopeful that this outreach effort will increase awareness of the laws that protect America’s workforce and also arm employees with the information they need to file a complaint when their rights have been violated.”

The forum is being held in partnership with Interfaith Worker Justice-Colorado and El Centro Humanitario in Denver, and will be hosted by Red Rocks Community College.

For more information on the forum and to pre-register, contact Gurule at Gurule.Dusti@dol.gov or 303-844-1256 and indicate a language preference.

The following federal and state Labor Department agencies will offer workshops:

• The Wage and Hour Division will provide an overview of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which establishes minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping and child labor laws. The Family and Medical Leave Act, which allows up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave for employees and family members with a serious health condition, also will be discussed.
• The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment will present information about the general state of wage and hour laws with a focus on state minimum wage, overtime, deductions and timely payment of wages.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will give an overview of laws and regulations that relate to worker safety and health, whistleblower provisions and employee protections.
• The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs will discuss agency jurisdiction over federal contractors and subcontractors, and contractors’ obligation to not discriminate in hiring practices. Focus areas will include language minorities, those with protected veteran status and individuals with disabilities.

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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.