About Opinion Letters

The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to providing workers and businesses with the necessary tools for complying with the labor laws we enforce. As part of these efforts, we're increasing compliance assistance resources and tools like opinion letters to help the public more fully understand their rights and duties under federal law. Have a general question about federal labor laws? The best place to start is our toll-free hotline: 1-866-487-2365.

What is the purpose of an opinion letter?

Opinion letters are official written opinions on how a law we enforce applies to a specific workplace situation, providing practical answers to help the public understand their rights and responsibilities. They can be requested by anyone, including workers, employers, employment associations, lawyers, human resource professionals, unions and industry leaders. Generally, these letters concern matters where it is unclear how to apply existing regulations or guidance.

Tips for writing a request

Requesting an opinion letter can be quick and easy. These tips can help you present your question in a way that highlights for us why your request should be addressed.

• Reference any specific laws, regulations or other guidance that you think is relevant.

• Include an accurate and complete description of the facts, such as job duties, work schedules or pay structure.

• Confirm that the request is not related to an existing matter that requires the interpretation of federal law. Note that we do not issue letters for use in any investigation or litigation matter that existed before submitting your request.

• Do not include sensitive personal or confidential business information – responses may be published publicly on our website.

• Include your phone number in case we need to follow up.

Where to submit a request

Select a topic below to request a letter or explore existing guidance.