How We Verify Labor Agency Information
A practical source hierarchy for labor-department content, including DOL, OSHA, state agencies, USA.gov and CareerOneStop.
Page sections
Official Source Hierarchy
| Priority | Source | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DOL.gov and DOL agency pages | Wage and Hour Division, EBSA, OWCP, ETA and official DOL program pages. |
| 2 | OSHA.gov | Workplace safety, OSHA complaint rights, worker protections and safety resources. |
| 3 | State labor/unemployment/workforce agencies | State wage rules, unemployment benefits, workers compensation and state complaint systems. |
| 4 | USA.gov and CareerOneStop | Federal navigation pages and official state benefit directory routes. |
| 5 | Court, statute or regulation text | Used carefully where legal detail is necessary; we still avoid personalized legal advice. |
Federal Source Rules
For federal wage, overtime and child-labor topics, we prioritize the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division. For workplace safety and health, OSHA.gov controls. For federal worker compensation programs, we look to DOL Office of Workers Compensation Programs. For unemployment navigation, we direct users to state portals and CareerOneStop because unemployment is generally administered by states.
State Source Rules
State agencies control many practical questions: state minimum wage, final pay, unemployment claim filing, workers compensation claims, workplace posters, state leave programs, local offices and appeals. When a page is state-specific, we use that state agency as the controlling source.
When Sources Conflict
If an unofficial source conflicts with a government agency, the official agency controls. If two official pages appear to conflict, we do not guess; we point readers to the current agency page or recommend calling the agency or speaking with a qualified professional.
Sources We Avoid for Controlling Claims
- Forum comments and social media posts.
- Old PDFs with no current agency confirmation.
- Copied snippets from third-party directories.
- AI summaries that do not cite official sources.
- Law-firm marketing pages as the only source for official process claims.
Official Sources Come First
Labor rights and benefit pages must be checked against the right agency, not guessed.
Open Official DOL Worker Rights Open USA.gov Labor Laws