San Francisco's Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) is raking in millions for workers' rights, snapping up over $21 million in back wages, penalties, and other benefits in 2023. This marks the most significant haul for the office since it kicked off operations in 2001. The impressive figure represents a lifeline to over 14,000 workers in the city, courtesy of 400 resolved cases, according to a report by the San Francisco government news outlet.
The OLSE has long been on the front line, fighting to ensure employees in the Bay Area get a fair shake. The hefty $21 million pot includes a mix of back pay, and benefits whispered away by employers, with a hefty chunk coming from healthcare rights enforcement and prevailing wage payments on city construction projects. The City Administrator, Carmen Chu, lauded the OLSE's efforts, saying, "Over $20 million in restitution was recovered this year alone for San Francisco workers as a result of the hardworking team at the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement," in a statement obtained by San Francisco's government news platform.
Mayor London Breed sang praises for the OLSE's steadfast dedication to protecting workers' rights, emphasizing how preventing wage theft is key to supporting lower-wage earners and maintaining the city's economic vitality. "Protecting the rights of working people is part of our daily work and I want to thank the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement for their commitment to fulfilling that mission," Breed told the San Francisco government news outlet.
On OLSE's hit list this fiscal year were some heavy hitters - putting in place a Public Health Emergency Leave Ordinance, ensuring up to 80 hours of paid leave for employees rocked by COVID-19, and rolling out the Military Leave Pay Protection Act, which mandates employers to supplement the income of military personnel for up to 30 days. Leading by example, San Francisco continues to provide supplemental compensation to employees impacted by various emergencies and service commitments. Patrick Mulligan, the director of OLSE, expressed his pride in his staff for creating a strong labor compliance atmosphere, in his words to the San Francisco government news site, "successfully establishing a strong atmosphere of labor compliance, ultimately protecting workers and leveling the playing field for employers."
