Oregon labor bureau faces massive backlog of wage claims

The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries is facing a massive backlog of wage theft complaints. According to its annual report, the agency saw a 208% increase in wage claims from 2020 to 2024. In response, the agency implemented an income threshold for investigations, meaning investigators are not following up on any claims from workers who make more than $25.34 an hour. BOLI officials say the agency’s staffing hasn’t kept up with the growth of Oregon’s workforce, and they are asking lawmakers to fund more than 70 new positions. Christina Stephenson is the state labor commissioner. She joins us with more details on the agency’s nearly $18 million budget request.