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Compensation and Working Conditions
The Department of Labor fosters and promotes the welfare of job seekers, wage earners and retirees by improving their working conditions, advancing their opportunities, protecting their retirement and health benefits and generally protecting worker rights and monitoring national economic measures.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2007, the Office of Compensation Levels and Trends within the Office of Compensation and Working Conditions published approximately 138 bulletins, news releases, and articles. Titles of these publications are included in the literature below. The National Compensation Survey (NCS) produces data on wages, salaries, and employee benefits from an integrated survey design. During 2007, the program completed transitioning to new industry and occupational classification systems and began using a new sample and revised definitions of metropolitan areas. The Occupational Safety and Health Statistics program produces data that allow for State publications, and provides tools for the States to conduct research and outreach. In 2007, the program continued to release data earlier in the year and produced nonfatal injury and illness rates for demographic characteristics for the first time. BLS provides establishments the option of responding to the Survey Occupational Injuries and Illnesses via the internet and now collects a significant portion of its annual data using this method.
Uses and Use Restrictions
This program provides the following information: (A) trend data on employee wages and compensation; (B) occupational wage data in about 150 localities nationwide and studies of employee benefits plans; (C) national and State data on occupational injuries, illness and fatalities; and (D) information on work stoppages.
It also makes available funds in the form of cooperative agreements to State agencies or designated local governments for collection of data on occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
The Occupational Safety and Health Statistics program authorizes funds on a matching basis to States or local governments to assist them in developing and administering programs.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
State agencies or designated local governments are eligible to apply for cooperative agreement funding to share costs in operating statistical programs dealing with occupational safety and health statistics.
Request for copies of published studies and reports may be made by the general public.
Beneficiary Eligibility
General public.
Credentials/Documentation
None for the general public requesting data; OMB Circular No. A-87 requirements apply as well as agency regulations implementing OMB Circulars No. A-102 and No. A-110 requirements, to State and local governments.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
In early summer, BLS begins discussions with existing and potential agencies concerning the next fiscal year's cooperative agreement, and provides them the appropriate application materials.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Requests for information may be made to the nearest regional office of the Bureau of Labor Statistics listed in Appendix IV of the catalog. Applications for cooperative agreement funding are submitted to the appropriate regional office of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Award Procedures
Upon submission of an acceptable application and after negotiation of specific program deliverables and costs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics awards cooperative agreement funding to the State or local government.
Deadlines
Cooperative agreements which cover a given Federal fiscal year are executed prior to the beginning of the fiscal year (October 1).
Authorization
Public Laws 62-426, 71-537, 91-596 and 94-206, 29 U.S.C. 1-2; 29 U.S.C. 2b; 29 U.S.C. 4; 5 U.S.C. 5305; 29 U.S.C. 651; 29 U.S.C. 673.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
The typical process would include guidelines and application material being mailed to State or local government in early summer, with initial drafts required by mid- summer, and final applications due by late summer. Cooperative agreements are executed by early-September and become effective October 1.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Each fiscal year the Bureau of Labor Statistics enters into new cooperative agreements with appropriate State or local governments.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
The Federal share for each State's or local government's statistical program may be up to 50 percent of the State's or local government's total cost.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Cooperative agreement funding generally is for a single fiscal year.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Cooperative agreements with State or local government specify quarterly financial reports and periodic program reports.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, in Federal Register June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards shall have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Recordkeeping is in accordance with 29 CFR 97 (implementing OMB Circulars No. A-102 and No. A-110).
Financial Information
Account Identification
16-0200-0-1-505.
Obigations
(Salaries and Expenses) FY 07 $81,595,015; FY 08 est $82,251,000; and FY 09 est $86,281,000. (Grants) FY 07 $5,812,910; FY 08 est $6,339,000; and FY 09 est $6,574,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
The size of each cooperative agreement reflects the staff and nonpersonal resources required to operate the program. The range of awards in fiscal year 2007 is from $4,100 (Idaho) to $630,900 (California). The average is $111,787.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
NCS - Regional Wage Data for each of the nine Census Divisions (web only); National Compensation Survey - National bulletin, National summary, Locality bulletins and summaries; NCS: Employee Benefits in Private Industry - National bulletin, National summary, and News Releases; "Employment Cost Index"; "Employer Costs for Employee Compensation"; Major Work Stoppages - monthly news releases (web only) and annual summary; "Occupational Injuries and Illnesses: Counts, Rates, and Characteristics" (Annually); "Fatal Workplace Injuries: A Collection of Data and Analysis" (Annually); "Workplace Injuries and Illnesses," "Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Requiring Days Away from Work," and "National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries" (annual news releases); "Major Programs of the Bureau of Labor Statistics"; "Bureau of Labor Statistics Customer Service Guide"; "BLS Handbook of Methods."
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Contact the appropriate regional office of the Bureau of Labor Statistics listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
None.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Acceptable application and specific program deliverables and cost.
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