Guidance Search
The Department of Labor provides this guidance search tool as a single, searchable location where users may search for guidance issued by any of the Department’s agencies, including significant guidance documents under Executive Order 12866. Individual guidance documents are maintained on the various agency websites, and if you know what agency you are looking for, you may also find guidance by navigating directly to that agency’s website.
The Code of Federal Regulations and the Federal Register, which are not maintained by the Department, also include some of the Department’s interpretations of law and similar material.
The Department and its agencies issue guidance to provide clarifying information and technical assistance to the public on existing statutory and regulatory rights and obligations, inform the regulated community about best practices, and provide other useful information. The contents of these documents do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way, except as authorized by law or incorporated into a contract, cooperative agreement, or grant. DOL may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on this site, except to establish historical facts.
Members of the public may petition the Department to modify or withdraw specific guidance documents. To petition for withdrawal or modification of a particular guidance document, email the Department of Labor.
Petitions to Modify or Withdraw a DOL regulation may also be submitted by mail at the address below. Petitions should identify the specific guidance document by name and include your reason(s) for requesting withdrawal or modification.
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of the Executive Secretariat
200 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20210
On August 28, 2020, the Department published its Promoting Regulatory Openness through Good Guidance (PRO Good Guidance) Final Rule. Under the Department’s new Rule on Guidance, the Department will publish a quarterly list of guidance issued, modified, or withdrawn. View the list of guidance documents issued or modified in the 4th quarter of fiscal year 2020.
Search Tips
- If you are searching using an acronym, try a second search with the acronym spelled out. For example, if you are searching for guidance related to the Davis-Bacon Act, try searching "Davis-Bacon Act" as well as "DBA".
- For more specific results, use quotation marks around phrases.
- For more general results, remove quotation marks to search for each word individually. For example, minimum wage will return all documents that have either the word minimum or the word wage in the description, while “minimum wage” will limit results to those containing that phrase.
This letter provides guidance on siblings using FMLA leave, as in loco parentis, and the need to provide parental care for a son or daughter 18 years or older.
This handbook sets forth the procedures to be followed in writing and issuing citations and orders for health, safety, training, and documentation violations at coal and metal and nonmetal mines.
Addressing whether certain distributors of a manufacturer's food products are employees or independent contractors under the FLSA.
Addressing whether the FLSA's "retail or service establishment" exemption applies to staffing firms that recruit, hire, and place employees on assignments with clients.
Addressing whether requiring tractor-trailer truck drivers to implement safety measures required by law constitutes control by the motor carrier for purposes of their status as employees or independent contractors under the FLSA, and whether certain owner-operators are properly classified as independent contractors.
Addressing whether certain local small-town and community news source journalists are creative or learned professionals under Section 13(a)(1) of the FLSA.
Addressing whether a restaurant may institute a tip pool under the FLSA that includes both servers, for whom the employer takes a tip credit, as well as hosts and hostesses, for whom a tip credit is not taken.
Addressing the proper calculation of overtime pay under the FLSA for tipped employees receiving tips and amounts charged as automatic gratuities or service charges.
Addressing whether certain entities satisfy the "establishment" requirement under Section 13(a)(3) of the FLSA, and whether an accrual method of accounting may be used to satisfy the "Receipts Test" under Section 13(a)(3)(B).
This handbook sets forth general procedures for conducting inspections of impoundments and tailings dams at coal and metal and nonmetal mines consistent with Section 103(a) of the Mine Act.