Wage Claims Investigator

Job Description and Duties

Under the direction of the Deputy Labor Commissioner Supervisor (DLC Supervisor/Senior Deputy), the Deputy Labor Commissioner I (DLC I) proactively investigates claims to evaluate compliance with the law. The DLC I interviews workers, holds settlement conferences to resolve disputes prior to adjudication of claims, and gathers relevant facts and applies theories of liabilities in order to assess violations. The DLC educates the public on labor laws and performs a wide variety of duties involving enforcement of wage and hour laws in the Wage Claim Adjudication (WCA) program.

This is a bilingual Spanish position.

Please ensure application is complete with detailed job descriptions/tasks performed, employment beginning and ending date information, and hours worked per week. Failure to provide this information may disqualify your application.

If you are using education to meet one of the patterns of the minimum qualifications, please upload a copy of your degree or transcripts with your application package.

This posting may be used to fill future vacancies in accordance with 2 CCR §249.3

To be considered for this Deputy Labor Commissioner I job opportunity, applicants must be either reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility or have reinstatement eligibility. To take the exam and gain employment list eligibility, please click here to access the exam bulletin: 

Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for hours in the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) per month. For more details, please click e to visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

This position is located at:

950 E. Blanco Rd., Suite 204

Salinas, CA 93901

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) fluency in the Spanish language. If the State of California does not have a current record documenting your fluency in this language, you will be required to successfully pass an approved language fluency test prior to being hired.

This is a bilingual Spanish position.

The incumbent must successfully pass a Spanish-language bilingual fluency certification prior to appointment.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Knowledge of:

- State and related Federal labor laws; orders of the Industrial Welfare Commission

- Principles, practices, and terminology of labor relations work

- Purposes, organizations, and trends of employee and employer organizations

- Terminology used in various occupations

- Labor and employment conditions and trends in California

- Industrial occupations and their requirements and employment procedures

- The law of contracts as it applies to the field of labor relations

- Court procedures and rules of evidence

Skills:

- Active listening and fact-gathering in order to achieve comprehensive investigation

- Questioning and clarifying skills to grasp both the facts and the areas of controversy

- Organization and time management in order to prioritize multiple cases and assignments

- Decision-making and problem-solving in order to investigate cases effectively and efficiently

- Critical thinking and application of law skills in order to analyze problems and successfully resolve claims

- Good judgment in order to maintain the integrity of the decision-making process

- Report writing and/or findings analytically and concisely

- Decorum in order to engage the parties productively and with respect

Ability to:

- Interpret and apply State and related Federal labor laws, and orders of the Industrial Welfare Commission

- Analyze testimony and other types of evidence and draw correct conclusions

- Hold investigatory hearings and resolve disputes

- Deal tactfully, effectively, and impartially with employers

- Conduct difficult investigations of alleged violations of labor laws and Industrial Welfare Commission orders

- Deal with law enforcement problems tactfully but effectively

- Analyze situations accurately and take effective action

- Analyze data

- Communicate effectively

- Work independently and communicate effectively with fellow staff and the public while adhering to and promoting the department's mission, vision, values, and goals

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Deputy Labor Commissioners are covered by the Unit 2 Memorandum of Understanding and are represented in bargaining by the California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges and Hearing Officers in State Employment (CASE). Incumbents will have the opportunity to contribute to CalPERS retirement, social security, and may participate additionally in both 401K and 457 deferred compensation plans.

While you work hard to provide economic justice for California workers, you secure economic security for your future.

Additional Information

Preference will be given to persons with State Restriction of Appointments (SROA) or Surplus status. Applicants must attach a copy of their most recently dated letter that specifies their designation as either SROA or surplus candidate as proof.

Qualified candidates must have eligibility in State employment, be in a reachable rank on an employment list for this classification, be currently in this classification, or have transfer eligibility to this classification.

If you do not hear from us in 4-6 weeks, you may assume the position has been filled by another applicant. Please note that all additional vacancies that become available may be added to this advertisement.

Please note that the Exam and Certification Online System (ECOS) does not allow you to resubmit your application once you withdraw it. If you have any updates to your online application, please contact the Personnel, Recruitment, & Hiring Unit at View phone number on us.fitly.work.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey: DIR Applicant Survey

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.