Proactive Investigations and Enforcement Unit

Oregonians can make anonymous complaints or complaints on behalf of someone else to the PIE unit at pie@boli.oregon.gov. If something doesn’t seem right, please reach out.

PIE uses strategies like unannounced site visits to ensure that employers are following Oregon laws regarding minimum wages, overtime, rest breaks and meal periods, final paychecks and sick time. The PIE Unit may respond to a complaint; they may also identify industries and geographic areas where wage theft is prevalent and audit a selection of employers from that industry or area.

Wage theft is when an employer does not pay workers their earned wages. This might include paying less than the minimum wage, not paying overtime, not paying sick time, requiring employees to work without being clocked in, misclassifying employees as independent contractors or not allowing employees to take breaks and meal periods as required by Oregon law.

If you think you might be a victim of wage theft or if you know someone who is, please contact the PIE unit at pie@boli.oregon.gov.

First, members of the PIE Unit will identify themselves. They may hand the employer an introductory letter or a copy of the statute (ORS 651.120) authorizing them to enter the workplace.

One or more members of the unit will want to meet with a representative of the company such as a manager, accountant, or human resources officer, whoever is knowledgeable about the timekeeping and payroll practices.

The PIE Unit may request records such as contact information for all employees or time and payroll records for a set period of time. These records are required by rule and statute to be maintained and produced upon request (ORS 653.045; OAR 839-020-0080 and -0083).

During or after this meeting, members of the PIE Unit will meet with employees and go through a brief questionnaire. Whenever possible, they will try to meet with employees in such a way as to disrupt business as little as possible. If necessary, they will work with the employer to meet with employees in a safe and private location.

The PIE Unit has members who speak Spanish; they also have access to interpreter services for almost any language.

Sometimes it is useful for the PIE Unit to do a brief tour of the facility. It may be necessary for the PIE Unit to take photographs during the tour. The PIE Unit may also ask to see and photograph the required worksite posters and child labor certificate, if applicable.

After the site visit, the case will be assigned to one of the members of the unit who may get in touch if they have questions about the records provided or anything that comes up in the investigation. If records were provided, a thorough audit will be completed to verify compliance.

However, the employer may receive a letter outlining areas of non-compliance that were discovered as part of the investigation. The PIE Unit will work with the employer to bring them into compliance with Oregon wage and hour laws. This may include performing a self-audit for unpaid or miscalculated wages, demonstrating that the business has updated its non-compliant policies, training on Oregon wage and hour laws, and/or signing an agreement committing to future compliance.

Under Oregon law, discrimination or discharge of an employee for participating in BOLI’s review of wages and working conditions is prohibited and constitutes an unlawful employment practice. A person who is unlawfully discriminated against may file a complaint with our agency.

Read more about BOLI investigations.