WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a significant move to modernize how the nation enforces labor protections, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced the launch of new and expanded self-audit initiatives spanning six federal agencies. The goal is to give employers, unions, and benefit plan administrators more tools to catch and fix violations before they escalate into costly fines, lawsuits, or formal investigations.

The announcement underscores the Department’s increasing reliance on voluntary compliance as a cost-effective strategy to uphold federal labor laws while reducing administrative burdens on businesses.

“Self-audits are one of the most effective ways to build a culture of compliance and trust,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “These programs are designed to give employers, unions, and benefit plan officials the tools they need to correct potential violations proactively. By empowering the regulated community with clarity and collaboration, we are continuing to fulfill the Department of Labor's mission to put both workers and employers first.”

What’s Changing?

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

‍OSHA will grow its Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), encouraging businesses to go beyond minimum safety requirements and adopt best practices. Its On-Site Consultation Program—which offers free, confidential help for small and mid-sized companies—will also expand, helping more employers find and fix workplace hazards without fear of citations.

EBSA (Employee Benefits Security Administration)

‍Plan administrators now have more support through EBSA’s Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program and the Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program, both of which allow corrections of retirement plan mistakes under ERISA while reducing costly penalties.

MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration)

‍MSHA unveiled CASH—Compliance Assistance in Safety and Health—a new initiative giving mine operators easy access to centralized resources, tailored guidance, and direct help from safety specialists through a revamped online hub.

WHD (Wage and Hour Division)

‍The WHD is bringing back its Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program, which enables employers to self-review pay practices and resolve wage and hour violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) before formal action is taken.

OLMS (Office of Labor-Management Standards)

‍Unions can continue using OLMS’s Voluntary Compliance Partnership, designed to help them meet financial reporting and disclosure requirements under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) with fewer risks of penalties.

VETS (Veterans’ Employment and Training Service)

‍VETS rolled out the SALUTE Program—short for Support and Assistance for Leaders in USERRA Training and Employment—to help employers review and strengthen compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and safeguard service members’ workplace rights.

Next Steps for Employers

The DOL says each agency’s program comes with free toolkits, checklists, and specialist contacts to help employers, HR professionals, unions, and benefits managers start their own internal audits. All resources can be found at dol.gov/SelfAudit.

The Department hopes these initiatives will encourage a shift in culture, where employers and unions actively spot and solve issues before they turn into enforcement actions—protecting workers and giving businesses more certainty.

For more details and self-audit guides, visit: dol.gov/SelfAudit

Originally reported by Stasia Demarco in OHS Online.