Wage & Hour Investigator I

State of North Carolina•Wake, TX

3d•$39,244 - $68,679

About The Position

The Investigator I promotes compliance with the Wage and Hour Act, E-Verify Act, Controlled Substance Examination Regulation Act (CSERA), Expunction of Records Act, Private Personnel Services Act (PPS), and Job Listing Services Act (JLS). Investigations take place in the office and/or at business locations and may involve audits of time and payroll records, employment policies and practices concerning promised wages, minors’ jobs and hours, and procedural compliance with applicable laws. The investigator interviews employers, employees, and other witnesses to verify information and records. The role evaluates findings to determine compliance or identify violations, calculates wages due where applicable, negotiates payment of back wages, and works to ensure violations are corrected. It prepares computer-generated case reports with witness statements and supporting documents. When back wages or penalties are unpaid, the investigator works with a supervisor, the Legal Affairs Division, and the Attorney General’s Office, as appropriate, to support litigation or other enforcement action. The Investigator I provides information and assistance to employers, employees, and the public to encourage voluntary compliance; maintains knowledge of applicable state and federal wage and hour laws and regulations; and develops a general understanding of other agencies responsible for employment-related enforcement. The role may also give public presentations about applicable laws and perform other duties as directed. Investigations may require driving a state-owned or privately owned vehicle; a current, valid driver’s license is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, or law enforcement from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of experience in work providing considerable understanding of wage and hour laws or involving advanced investigative techniques, auditing, or case management; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Current and valid driver’s license.
Considerable knowledge of the legal aspects of administering the North Carolina Wage and Hour Act and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), including relevant opinions and rulings and authority to subpoena records and conduct audits.
Knowledge of businesses subject to the Wage and Hour Act and the types of wages paid to their employees.
Ability to apply federal and state laws, rules, and regulations to inquiries and complaints.
Ability to identify contradictions in information gathered through observation, interviews, and employer-record reviews.
Ability to analyze diverse employer record-keeping systems and reconstruct records when records are absent to determine wage liabilities.
Ability to mediate claims and work toward satisfactory resolutions for all parties.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Ability to consult, train, and serve as a resource within the assigned service area.
Knowledge of administrative and judicial procedures in state and federal jurisdictions.
Demonstrated ability to plan, direct, and coordinate cases using effective case-management and time-management practices.
Demonstrated experience conducting investigations.
Demonstrated experience interpreting laws and statutes.

Nice To Haves

Fluency in speaking, reading, and writing in both English and Spanish; this is a Spanish-preferred position.
Knowledge of labor and employment laws related to the Bureau’s legislative mandates, particularly the Wage and Hour Act, Medical Payment Law, Controlled Substance Examination Regulation Act, Private Personnel Services Act, Job Listing Services Act, E-Verify Act, and Expunction of Criminal Records law.
Thorough knowledge of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), related federal regulations and court opinions, and methods, procedures, and practices for investigating alleged violations.

Responsibilities

Conduct investigations in the office and/or at business locations to assess compliance with applicable state employment laws.
Audit time and payroll records and review employment policies and practices, including promised wages and minors’ jobs and hours worked.
Interview employers, employees, and other witnesses to verify records, policies, and other information.
Evaluate investigative findings to determine compliance or identify violations.
Calculate wages due, negotiate payment of back wages, and work to ensure violations are corrected.
Prepare computer-generated case reports documenting findings, witness statements, and relevant documentary evidence.
Work with a supervisor, the Legal Affairs Division, and the Attorney General’s Office, as applicable, to support litigation or other enforcement action when wages or penalties are unpaid.
Provide information and assistance to employers, employees, and the public to promote voluntary compliance.
Maintain knowledge of applicable state and federal wage and hour laws and regulations and understand the roles of other employment-law enforcement agencies.
Provide oral presentations to the public on applicable laws when requested or assigned.
Perform other related duties as directed by management.