Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)

Last updated 02/03/2025

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Description

The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) was established in 1927. Its mission is to improve working conditions in California & advance opportunities for profitable employment. DIR administers & enforces laws on wages, breaks, retaliation, workplace safety & health, apprenticeship & claims for medical care for injured workers. DIR includes the Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH), also known as Cal/OSHA. The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), also known as the Labor Commissioner’s Office. The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC), the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) & the Office of Self-Insurance Programs (OSIP). DIR also includes the Commission on Health & Safety & Workers' Compensation (CHSWC), the Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board (OSHSB), the Occupational Safety & Health Appeals Board (OSHAB), the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB), the California Apprenticeship Council & the Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship


Services

California Paid Sick Leave (PSL)

In California, most workers earn Paid Sick Leave to take time off work to care for themselves or a family member. Read about the different types of Paid Sick Leave below. Paid Sick Leave (PSL) is a permanent law in California that requires employers to provide paid time off to workers for treatment, diagnosis or preventative care for themselves, a family member or a designated person. Starting January 1, 2024, employers must provide at least 40 hours or five days off each year to most workers. This includes full-time, part-time and temporary workers who meet these qualifications: - Work for the same employer for at least 30 days within a year in California, and - Complete a 90-day employment period before taking any paid sick leave


Certified Payroll Reporting

Contractors and subcontractors on most public works projects are required to submit certified payroll records (CPRs) to the Labor Commissioner using DIR's Public Works Website Services. Use this service to report online to the DIR.


Find an apprenticeship

The California Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) consults with employers to develop a skilled workforce with viable career pathways to increase productivity and strengthen our economy. If you are interested in becoming an apprentice, use this service.


Worker Rights and Employer Responsibilities

California’s labor laws protect all workers, regardless of immigration status. The Department of Industrial Relations serves all workers in multiple languages and our team does not ask about/track immigration status. If you need to leave California or the United States, you can still contact our office to file a claim. If you are employed in California, your employer must provide a safe workplace and pay all the wages you are owed. If you think an injury or illness is work-related, you may be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits from your employer to pay for medical care and partial wages. Your labor rights allow you to ask your employer about your pay and working conditions. When you exercise your labor rights, it is against the law for your employer to retaliate against you.


Worker Safety Wildfire Cleanup and Rebuilding

The work to cleanup and rebuild after wildfires must be done in compliance with California's labor laws and workplace safety and health regulations. California's robust worker protections apply to every workplace in the state: - Cal/OSHA workplace safety and health standards requiring employers to identify hazards, train workers on how to prevent unsafe working conditions, provide proper personal protective equipment and injury/illness prevention planning. - Labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, prevailing wage on public works projects, meal & rest breaks, and unfair immigration related practices. - Workers' compensation for work related injuries & illnesses including paid medical treatment and benefits for temporary/permanent disabilities.