This story was produced by the Oregon Journalism Project , a nonprofit newsroom covering the state.

Secretary of State Tobias Read released results of a blistering audit Nov. 20 of the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries, the agency that serves as the state’s workplace watchdog.

“BOLI is an enforcement agency with an important role to protect Oregon’s workers,” state auditors wrote . “To be effective in this role, the agency must be efficient and timely with its services. Yet years of poor management and lack of staff left the agency struggling to keep up with demand.”

The consequence: Thousands of Oregon workers’ complaints have languished at the intake level without being moved toward investigation or remedy.

BOLI, led since January 2023 by Labor Commissioner Christina Stephe

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