Six Federal Agencies Launch Self-Audit Programs to Strengthen Compliance with the Law

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Patricia Tsipras

August 4, 2025

On July 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) launched self-audit programs from six agencies.  The programs are designed to assist employers, unions, and pension plans in voluntarily assessing their operations and improving their compliance with federal labor laws:

1. The Wage and Hour Division is restarting its Payroll Audit Independent Determination program, allowing employers to self-identify and resolve minimum wage, overtime, and leave violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
2. The Employee Benefits Security Administration offers two programs: (a) the Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program allows plan officials to correct violations and avoid excise taxes for prohibited transactions under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA); and (b) the Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program gives plan administrators a way to avoid higher civil penalties in connection with ERISA’s annual reporting requirements if they satisfy the program’s requirements. You can learn more about the two programs on the DOL’s website here.
3. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration expanded its Voluntary Protection Program to allow businesses to undergo regular self-evaluations and avoid routine inspections. OSHA also increased its efforts to support voluntary compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act through its On-Site Consultation Program, which offers no-cost and confidential safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses.
4. The Office of Labor-Management Standards administers a Voluntary Compliance Partnership program to help unions assess their compliance with the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. You can read a Fact Sheet on the program on the DOL’s website here.
5. The Veterans’ Employment and Training Service launched a new program, SALUTE: Support and Assistance for Leaders in USERRA Training and Employment, to help employers proactively review their policies and practices under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
6. The Mine Safety and Health Administration offers a Compliance Assistance in Safety and Health program. The program features resources on safety and health topics and access to safety and health specialists to assist mining operations with compliance with the Mine Safety and Health Act.  You can review the resources here.

Employers:  Review the available resources and work with legal counsel to determine your business’s eligibility, whether the applicable program is a good option for you, and to handle the submission(s).

This article is designed to provide one perspective regarding recent legal developments, and is not intended to serve as legal advice.  Always consult an attorney with specific legal issues.