Investigator - 711019 - job 1 of 3

*Only permanent employees in the civil service title, comparable title (under 6.1.9), eligible for the 55a program, and those that are reachable in the civil service list are eligible to apply. *

**This position may be eligible for remote work for up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Remote Work Pilot Program. **

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses more than 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection, licensing, and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources and, by helping to resolve complaints, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. Through its community outreach and the work of its offices of Financial Empowerment and Labor Policy & Standards, DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to educate consumers and to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp or on its social media sites, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

The Office of Labor Policy & Standards (“OLPS”) enforces the City’s worker protection laws, including the Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, Fair Workweek scheduling laws that protect fast food and retail workers, and Delivery Worker Laws that protect app-based restaurant delivery workers. In OLPS’ large, citywide enforcement actions, teams of attorneys, data scientists, and investigators work together to obtain compensation owed to workers and improve employer compliance. Since 2022, through our enforcement we have recovered over $47 million in restitution, and distributed it to over 34,000 working New Yorkers. Other programs include the Freelance Isn’t Free Act (FIFA) program, which assists freelance workers who have experienced wage theft and other violations, and our Paid Care Division, which focuses on workplace issues specific to nannies, housecleaners, home health aides, and other paid care workers. More information about our office is available at nyc.gov/workers.

OLPS is seeking an Investigator to investigate potential violations of NYC worker protection laws. Key responsibilities include:

- Maintaining a strong understanding of the laws OLPS enforces;

- Interviewing workers, employers, and witnesses by telephone and in-person;

- Obtaining, documenting, and analyzing documentary evidence, including employer policies, payroll records, employee schedules, time records and other employment-related documents;

- Performing research using public sources, law enforcement databases, and other investigative tools;

- Applying the law to facts gathered during an investigation to identify appropriate charges;

- Writing investigation reports identifying violations uncovered during an investigation and containing recommendations for enforcement action;

- Calculating money owed to employees and civil penalties owed to the City;

- Engaging directly with businesses and attorneys to negotiate a resolution of the charges;

- Drafting document demands, findings letters, and settlement agreements;

- Testifying at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings’ Trial Division about investigation findings;

- Independently investigating and managing a high volume of cases, using appropriate judgment to elevate complex issues with a Supervising Investigator; and

- Investigating cases that are complex and/or broad in scope, in collaboration with investigation teams of data scientists and attorneys.

INSPECTOR (CONSUMER AND WORKER - 33997

1. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and four years of full-time, satisfactory experience conducting investigations or inspections for a consumer or worker protection agency; or

2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; or

3. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience, which is equivalent to "1" above. College education may be substituted for the required experience on the basis of 30 semester credits for each year of required experience. However, all candidates must have a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent.

License Requirement:
Possession of a Motor Vehicle Driver License valid in the State of New York at the time of appointment. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.