L&I Industrial Relations Agent 3

Our Mission:Keep Washington Safe and Working!
Our Values: Customer Focus One L&I Respect Diversity Equity and Inclusion Learning and Growth Reliability

Job Highlights

Make a direct impact on L&Is mission by providing education outreach consultation and enforcing compliance as an Industrial Relations Agent 3!

In this role youll elevate awareness and understanding of Washingtons fair labor requirements processes and obligations from both employers and employees. Youll be a senior industrial relations agent for the Retaliation Unit conducting Employment Standards investigations and will focus on aspects of enforcement and administration of anti-retaliation provisions of the Minimum Wage Act Agricultural Labor Wage Payment Act Industrial Welfare Act and related rules.

Some of what youll do:

• Work independently to investigate and resolve both standard and complex Minimum Wage Act Retaliation complaints and Administrative Violations.
• Investigate complex retaliation and administrative complaints that are legally or politically sensitive or that include a significant wage liability multi-employer work sites multiple act violations or multiple issues of legality requiring coordination with the retaliation specialist and other central office staff and/or other agencies and the Office of the Attorney General.
• Identify and analyze issues in dispute recommend solutions and negotiate settlement or otherwise mediate and resolve disputes between employers and employees resulting from the alleged retaliation.

• Determine validity of complaints by applying rules and regulations promulgated under the appropriate statutes e.g. whether a protected activity exists under RCW 49.46 and whether there was a materially adverse action against said employee.
• Determine whether or not a protected activity existed prior to any act of retaliation; whether the employer had knowledge of the protected activity; whether there was an adverse action against the employee; and if there is a nexus between the protected activity and the adverse action.
• Unless otherwise resolved recommend Citations and Notices of Assessment Determinations of Compliance Civil Infractions and any other form of emerging sanctions.
• Identify and analyze issues of coercion by an employer based on a workers immigration status recommend a notice of violation or no merit closure as the result of the alleged coercion

• Prepare case files for litigation if dispute is not resolved through mediation or negotiations.
• Participate in the appeals process and testify in judicial proceedings.
• Act as a mentor resource for all types of Employment Standards investigations.
• Investigate other employment standards complaints including but not limited to: WPA paid sick leave tips & service charges complaints as well as companywide investigations.
• Assist Retaliation Specialist with educational consultations for employers workers and others regarding retaliations rules and regulations as well as other state labor and employment law

Required:

A combined total of sixyears of education and/or experience.

Experience in one or more of the following areas to reach a total of sixyears (see below how education and experience can contribute to the six-year requirement total):

• A Masters Degree (six years education)
• A Bachelors Degree (four years education) and two or more years of experience; types of qualifying experience listed below
• An Associates degree (two years education) and four or more years of experience; types of qualifying experience listed below
• Six years of experience

Experience options (at the rate of one year of experience for one year of education) to reach a total of sixyears:

• Experience as an Industrial Relations Agent.
• Explanation interpretation understanding and enforcement of rules and regulations regarding RCWs WACs.
• Investigating complaints of misconduct (criminal or civil).
• Collection of revenue/taxes from employers/businesses.
• Audit of employer financial records.
• Experience in labor/employment relations and regulations collection of revenue/taxes from employers/businesses; criminal and administrative investigations; audit of employer financial records; interpretation and explanation of rules and regulations regarding employment law wages and hours and child labor laws or related experience.

Desired:

• Public sector experience explaining RCWs and WACs.
• Experience as an Industrial Relations Agent 2 and 3 in Employment Standards.
• Experience as a supervisor lead or in coaching training mentoring and providing technical advice to others.
• Working with applications or systems such as Outlook Excel Word CATS LINIIS and BEAR.
• Applying knowledge to mediation arbitration and resolution; application of the principles standards and techniques of personal investigations rules of evidence auditing accounting and bookkeeping procedures.
• Organizing and leading special projects.
• Interpreting complex laws rules and regulations analyzing issues involving wage disputes and formulating suggestions for compromise and settlement of disputes.
• Testifying at hearings prepare bill analysis and complete fiscal notes.
• Communicating and presenting complex information in a clear concise and logical sequence; gathering preserving and presenting material relevant and pertinent evidence.
• Exercising mature judgment in dealing with a wide variety of public contacts.

Things You Need To Know

To help you maintain a proper work-life balance teleworking is one of the work schedule options for this position. L&I also offers flexible custom work schedules.

State employees who meet the qualifications will become eligible for a generous retirement package at the end of the employees career. Click on the Benefits tab to learn more.

At L&I your voice addition L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washingtons 3.3 million workers. Take a look at this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

For this position telework is dependent upon business needs and supervisor approval. The assigned duty station for this position is Tumwater Washington.

For positions where in-office work is necessary the frequency of telework will be discussed with the supervisor of the position at the time of offer.

To receive more information on opportunities at L&I sign up forGovDeliveryand select L&I job alerts.

Application process

We will contact the top candidates directly to interview for this position. Because we base the selection on information provided by you it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge skills and abilities that address the required and desirable qualifications described in the announcement.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. Acover letterdescribing specific qualifications.
2. A current resumedetailing applicable experience and education.
3. A list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers.

Please do not attach or place any medical information (vaccination status included) within the application resume or cover letter. If you do we will have to reject your application to safeguard others from receiving your confidential information. You will have to remove the confidential information before you can apply again.

To learn more about our hiring process timeline at L&I please visit our L&I recruiting page at Hiring Process at L&I. If you would like to read our website in a language other than English scroll up to the top of the page to select your language of choice from the banner.

Background Check Notice

Prior to a placement in this position a background check including criminal history record will be conducted. Information from your background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining your eligibility to perform the requirements of the position.

Other information

For positions requiring travel you must have a valid unrestricted drivers license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.

• This position is represented bytheWashington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
• Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.

Did You Know

Washington is Americas Top State to live play and work according to U.S. News (2021). Join the L&I team and enjoy all the Evergreen State has to offer.

In addition to offering a positive balance between life and work L&I provides one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation. We also believe your voice matters. We value our employees and their work-life balance by encouraging flexible schedules. L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washingtons 3 million workers.

Veterans Preference

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to their application a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy) NGB 22 or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information contact L&Is.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion Employer

L&I employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion gender gender identity or expression sexual orientation national origin genetics disability age or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the agency mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agencys greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service.We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need accommodation in the application process or testing process or those needing this announcement in an alternative format may call . TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

For more Information

If you have any questions regarding this job posting program or the agency please contact Haleigh Missildine (she/her/hers) at