WHAT IS THE ZIP CODE PROJECT?
The Zip Code Project sets up a district-wide “foot patrol” to educate employers and increase compliance with District labor laws and in particular the Wage Theft Prevention Amendment Act (WTPAA). The WTPAA went into effect February 26, 2015 and requires employers to post a WTPAA specific notice in the workplace and complete a wage profile for each employee.
EXPECT INSPECTIONS–
- Department of Employment Services (DOES) inspectors will inspect businesses in targeted zip codes following a checklist to ensure each business has all required postings displayed in conspicuous places for employees to read and the business is in compliance with current labor laws.
- Inspectors are also expected to randomly review business payroll records to ensure there are no violations of payroll recordkeeping obligations. The records must contain terms and computation of pay for each employee as well records of the precise time worked by each day by each employee.
- If violations are found, the inspectors will identify each of the violations on the checklist and will provide the establishment with a copy of the findings.
- DOES inspectors will follow up with the establishment regarding the violations within 30 days.
- Inspectors will also be able to answer compliance questions.
- The “Zip Code Project” will prioritize industries with historically high rates of labor-standards violations such as construction, food services, home health care, daycare and retail industries.
WHAT MUST BE POSTED?
- DC Wage Theft Prevention Amendment Act Summary Poster
- State postings, included on Compliance Poster Company’s DC All-On-One Labor Law Poster:
- Minimum Wage
- Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act
- Equal Employment Opportunity (includes Human Rights Act, DC FMLA and DC Parental Leave Act)
- Right to Breastfeed
- Unemployment Compensation
- Workers’ Compensation Notice of Compliance
- Federal postings, included on the DC All-On-One Labor Law Poster:
- OSHA Job Safety and Health — It’s the law!
- Federal Minimum Wage
- EEO is the Law
- Polygraph Protection Act
- Family and Medical Leave Act
- Living Wage Act Poster (where applicable)
- And a completed WTPAA Notice of Hire form for each employee (free download)
WHAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD DO –
Employers should ensure that the required posters are posted in an accessible location and that all employees have completed a Notice of Hire form no later than May 27, 2015. In addition, employers should consider performing an internal compliance audit and inform employees about what to do if an inspector arrives.