The US Department of Labor’s (DOL) challenge winning smartphone app, Eat. Shop. Sleep., is one way the DOL is sharing information with the public. Last July, the DOL launched its mobile app challenge, “informAction”, on the US Government’s website Challenge.gov. Challenge.gov is a crowd sourcing website set up so that the public and government can solve problems together.
The informAction challenge is an example of how the DOL is using technology to increase public awareness of the laws enforced by the DOL. With this challenge, the DOL also wanted to ensure fair and safe workplaces using inspection and compliance data from the hotel, motel, restaurant and retail industries.
The winner: Eat. Shop. Sleep.
The app is a tool that uses the DOL’s data to help consumers make informed decisions about the hotels, motels, restaurants, and retail outlets they choose to patronize. The app cleverly combines OSHA and Wage and Hour Division (WHD) inspection and enforcement data with consumer rating sites like Yelp and other tools like Google maps. App users can view their current location, or any location in the United States, on Google maps, and then search for places to eat, shop and sleep. Nearby hotels, restaurants or retail stores being investigated by the DOL are “flagged.” When users click on a “flag,” they can learn, for example, the number of wage and hour or safety and health violations the establishment committed, as well as any back wage or penalties owed. This information is conveniently packaged with reviews of the establishment.
With the Eat. Shop. Sleep. app, consumers are informed about worker safety and wage violation records when they consider whether or not they wish to patronize a particular establishment. Consumers help workers and employers in their communities by rewarding businesses that treat workers safely and fairly. The app also helps support the decision-making of applicants for employment at a particular business.
The app is currently available for download for free for iPhone and iPad on iTunes. What do you think of the new Eat. Shop. Sleep. app?