Minnesota Department Of Labor And Industry Actions Lawyer

Department of Labor and Industry Actions Attorney in Minnesota

The state of Minnesota boasts a thriving construction industry, from the skyscraper buildings in downtown Minneapolis to the residential builds in St. Paul or St. Cloud. Construction professionals—including contractors, subcontractors, engineers, and material suppliers—may face scrutiny from the Minnesota Department of Labor. During these investigations, you need a Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry lawyer who can review your case.

At Minnesota Construction Law Services (MNCLS), our attorneys have the experience necessary to defend construction professionals from these investigations. As former business owners, we know how disruptive an investigation can be—from interrupting daily operations to threatening your professional reputation and license.

When you work with MNCLS, we focus on clear guidance and practical strategies to help you avoid drawn-out legal complications.

Legal Representation for DOLI Investigations in Minnesota

Contractors facing a Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry (DOLI) investigation should not navigate the process without legal representation. If not handled properly, DOLI has the authority to take away a residential contractor’s license, destroying their business and livelihood. It is critical to work with a legal partner when navigating Department of Labor enforcement actions so you are able to effectively resolve the issue and protect your license.​

MNCLS not only assists with active DOLI investigations but also helps clients stay aligned with Minnesota’s construction regulations to reduce the risk of future violations. We help ensure your business stays compliant with Minnesota’s regulatory standards so you can keep projects moving without interruption.

Labor Law and Violations in Minnesota

Most Department of Labor & Industry investigations are grounded in Minnesota state laws. The most common of these laws include the following:

• Overtime. All non-exempt workers in Minnesota, from Minneapolis to St. Cloud, must receive 1.5 times their regular rate for all time worked over 40 hours per week.
• Minimum wage. As of January 1st, 2025, the minimum wage in Minnesota has been set at $11.13 an hour. Cities such as St. Paul and Minneapolis have increased their minimum wage to much higher rates. Failure to comply with these laws can result in a DOLI investigation.
• Wage theft. In Minnesota, employers are required to pay their employees within 15 days of their work and provide detailed statements regarding all earnings. Any alleged violations of this law, such as overtime construction work going unpaid in Rochester, could lead to back wages, liquidated damages, and even felony charges if the wage theft totals over $1,000.

What is Our Process?

Step One: Understanding your case

When assisting you through a DOLI investigation, the attorneys at MNCLS first work to understand your case and the unique position you find yourself in. Whatever the investigation entails, we can listen to your side of the story and explore all your legal options. Our goal is to seek the most favorable outcome possible in your case.

Step Two: Discovery

The discovery process occurs when all the involved parties work to collect and exchange information pertinent to the case. This can allow your attorneys to further build and execute the necessary strategy to defend you and your rights in a DOLI investigation.

Step Three: Settlement conference

You and your attorneys, along with the DOLI and any other party involved in the investigation, then typically enter into a settlement conference to explore options to settle the situation outside of court.

Step Four: Mediation

At MNCLS, we are registered mediators and can use our skills to work toward a case outcome without having to go to court. We can work to negotiate a settlement or outcome that works in your favor through the legal act of mediation.

Step Five: Court hearing

Should a settlement conference or mediation prove to be unfruitful, your attorney from MNCLS is here to represent you in a formal court hearing, or trial, before an administrative law judge. Should your case progress to this step, it is vital to have an attorney on your side who can ensure your situation is explained and fought for and your rights are defended in a DOLI investigation.

Common Issues in Department of Labor & Industry (DOLI) Actions

MNCLS actively works to protect contractors against the risks of a Minnesota DOLI investigation by putting in precautionary measures and reviewing contracts and procedures for regulatory compliance. We represent contractors who receive Department of Labor notices to avoid potential personal and business damages, including the loss of a license. In fact, MNCLS is actively involved in trade associations advocating for contractors to reduce the burdensome and disproportionate rules and regulations.

Why Choose Minnesota Construction Law Services?

When you learn that you are facing an investigation from the Department of Labor, the first thing you need to do is contact an attorney. At Minnesota Construction Law Services, we have the experience necessary to build you a solid defense strategy. With over a decade spent helping clients just like you, our attorneys are here to walk you through every step of the legal process. When you work with MNCLS, we can offer you the following:

• Help with the overall investigation. When you work with our firm, we can guide you through all the aspects of a Department of Labor & Industry investigation. With our support and guidance, we can help you reduce hundreds of thousands of dollars in penalties if such penalties apply to your case.
• Strategies regarding compliance. Your attorney can review all contracts and procedures to help ensure that you are compliant with all Minnesota state laws in order to prevent you from facing harsh regulatory penalties for construction projects in places like Edina or Plymouth.
• Settlement negotiation. Your attorney can enter into negotiations with DOLI and work to seek a settlement and a favorable end to the investigation.
• Local know-how. When you work with the lawyers at Minnesota Construction Law Services, we understand what it is like owning and operating a business in the state and the kinds of challenges that investigations can create. Even in cases of false accusations, your entire career can become derailed. Our attorneys know the DOLI investigators and administrative law courts and can use this knowledge to streamline their defense of you.

How to Strengthen Your Defense Against a DOLI Investigation

When you are under investigation by the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry, there are five things you can do to help strengthen your defense. These things include the following:

• Educate yourself. First and foremost, when you learn you are under a DOLI investigation or action, it is vital to educate yourself on their investigative process.
• Investigate and gather evidence regarding your wage practices, hours, and other conditions or practices of your employment
• Question your employees or individuals who have received your work
• Enter and inspect your place of business or a job site and make copies of all your records
• Look into all facts, practices, conditions, or matters that DOLI deems necessary in order to determine if a violation of law has occurred

In this investigation, it is also important to understand the steps of the DOLI investigation itself. These steps include:

• The DOLI investigators will introduce themselves and provide their credentials.
• The investigator will then describe to you the process of the investigation and what records you will need to provide them with.

• They will then review these records in order to determine what laws or exemptions may apply to your situation. These records might include payroll records, timesheets, and more.
• They will then interview your employees.
• If they believe they have found a DOLI violation in your company, you may face certain penalties.
• However, you will have the chance to provide a factual defense for the investigator to take into consideration.
• Audit your internal practices. If you find yourself facing a DOLI investigation, it is wise to conduct an internal audit regarding all your pay practices with the help of your attorney from MNCLS.

• Maintain proper records. When an employer, such as a construction company owner, does not maintain proper employment records, this could expose you to unnecessary risk. This is why maintaining proper records of all your employees and their hours is vital.
• Provide proper training to employees. It is vital that you provide the necessary training to all your employees as stated or required by law. In the construction world, ensuring you have hired people with the right licenses and certificates is vital. If you do not double-check this, you could be opening yourself up to legal risks.
• Consult with skilled legal representation. In a DOLI investigation or action, now is not the time to cut legal corners. Having an experienced lawyer on your side is vital in order to protect your business, your livelihood, and your reputation.

FAQs

Speak With an Experienced Minnesota Department of Labor Actions Lawyer Today

Finding that you are under investigation by DOLI can pose substantial risks to your construction business. Whether you are a contractor or subcontractor or you are an engineer or architect, a DOLI investigation has the potential to result in the revocation of your business licenses, which can ruin your future.

With so much at stake, it is essential to speak with the team at MNCLS. Contact our offices today to schedule a consultation.