Authored by Alex Passantino

Nearly six years after the last confirmed Administrator left office, President Obama announced today his intention to nominate David Weil to serve as the Administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.  This will be the President’s third nomination for the position, coming after the previous two nominees were withdrawn, the last more than two years ago.  

Dr. David Weil currently is Professor of Markets, Public Policy and Law and the Everett W. Lord Distinguished Faculty Scholar at Boston University School of Management.  He is also Senior Research Fellow and Co-Director of the Transparency Policy Project at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

 Dr. Weil likely will face difficult questioning in connection with his nomination — as have all recent nominees for the Administrator position.  Of particular note will be Dr. Weil’s role as Principal Investigator on Improving Workplace Conditions through Strategic Enforcement: Report to the Wage and Hour Division [here]. This document served as a roadmap of sorts for WHD’s enforcement efforts over the past several years, including the controversial fissured industry initiative [here].  

Given his involvement in Strategic Enforcement, Dr. Weil almost certainly will continue WHD’s focus on directed investigations – i.e., investigations targeted in specific industries.  As a result, industries employing vulnerable, low-wage workers will remain under scrutiny, as will the “fissured” industries, including hospitality, restaurants, and construction.

We will keep you updated as additional information becomes available about Dr. Weil and his nomination.