Department of Labor OIG

The OIG operates a hotline to receive and process allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse concerning DOL grants, contracts, programs and operations. The OIG also addresses allegations of criminal activity and serious misconduct involving DOL employees. Moreover the OIG has jurisdiction to investigate allegations of labor racketeering and organized crime influence in the workplace, including the misuse of union benefit plan assets or power, labor-management relations, and internal union affairs. LABOR RACKETEERING The use of a union, benefit plan (i.e. pension plan,) contractor, and/or industry for personal benefit by illegal means. This abuse may take the form of collusive arrangements between union officials and employers that occur at the expense of union members or corruption within the unions themselves. It also occurs when organized crime groups infiltrate unions. Internal Union Corruption • Criminal abuse of union power • Extortion • Improper collective bargaining agreements. • False reports on ERISA required documents. • The involvement of a member or associate of a traditional or non-traditional organized crime family or group, or a subject with a felony criminal history in a union. • Use of union funds or property for acts of violence. Improper Labor Management Relations • Bribery • Payoffs from management to corrupt union officials • Coercion of employers by union officials • Sweetheart deals Employee Benefit Plan Fraud • Embezzlement • Kickbacks • False reports to ERISA plan such as underreporting true number of participants in remittances to plans. PROGRAM FRAUD Unemployment insurance (UI) fraud • Disaster unemployment assistance (DUA) fraud • Identity theft Department of Labor employee misconduct Procurement fraud • DOL contract fraud • Embezzlement of Title Five funds Grant fraud • Workforce Investment Act (WIA) fraud, theft or embezzlement • Workforce development board misconduct/fraud • National Emergency Grant fraud Fraudulent Use of Office of Workers’ Compensation Benefits • Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) fraud • Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP) fraud • Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Program (DLHWCA) fraud • Black Lung Benefits Act (Black lung) fraud • Health care provider fraud Foreign labor certification fraud • DOL visa fraud Job Corps fraud • Theft of Job Corps funds • One-Stop abuse Worker health and workplace safety Mine safety issues Davis Bacon fraud VETS issues