United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General
Encyclopedia
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) conducts audits and evaluations to review the effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and integrity of all DOL programs and operations, including those performed by its contractors and grantees. This work is conducted in order to determine whether: the programs and operations are in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations; DOL resources are efficiently and economically being utilized; and DOL programs achieve their intended results.
In addition, the OIG is unique among Inspectors General because it has an “external” program function to conduct criminal investigations to combat the influence of labor racketeering
and organized crime in the nation’s labor unions. The OIG conducts labor racketeering investigations in three areas: employee benefit plans
, labor-management relations, and internal union affairs.
In addition, the OIG is unique among Inspectors General because it has an “external” program function to conduct criminal investigations to combat the influence of labor racketeering
Racket (crime)
A racket is an illegal business, usually run as part of organized crime. Engaging in a racket is called racketeering.Several forms of racket exist. The best-known is the protection racket, in which criminals demand money from businesses in exchange for the service of "protection" against crimes...
and organized crime in the nation’s labor unions. The OIG conducts labor racketeering investigations in three areas: employee benefit plans
Employee benefit
Employee benefits and benefits in kind are various non-wage compensations provided to employees in addition to their normal wages or salaries...
, labor-management relations, and internal union affairs.