Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
John D. Nibbelin, County Attorney
Steve Wagstaffe, District Attorney
Shireen Malekafzali Taidi, Chief Equity Officer and Director of Economic Opportunity and Labor Standards
Subject: Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement Year 1 Report
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Receive and accept the Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement’s Year 1 Report, covering the period of July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026.
body
BACKGROUND:
In December 2023, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to establish the Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement (OLSE) to help address wage theft in our county (Resolution No. 080073). After a planning period focused on community input, best practice research, partnership development, and assembling the team, OLSE officially launched in July 2025. After more than a year in operation, OLSE presents the Board with a report highlighting its first year delivering on its mission.
DISCUSSION:
OLSE is a collaborative effort of the County Executive’s Office, County Attorney’s Office, and District Attorney’s Office. Together, we are working to build a San Mateo County where all workers are paid fairly and treated respectfully, and responsible employers are not undercut by competitors who don’t follow the law.
Highlights from OLSE’s inaugural year include:
• Updates to the County’s Minimum Wage Ordinance to establish OLSE’s enforcement authority and set penalties for violations;
• Partnerships with 7 local cities to support enforcement of their minimum wage ordinances;
• 159 outreach events reaching thousands of workers, small businesses, and other community stakeholders, including over 1,800 businesses canvassed and 475 participants in OLSE presentations;
• 298 intakes and inquiries handled;
• Over $235,000.00 recovered for workers.
OLSE’s Year 1 report is available on the Office’s website at smcgov.org/OLSE in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
OLSE is committed to learning from the knowledge and experience gained in Year 1 while continuing to grow its efficacy. Looking ahead, OLSE will work to support the strengthening of local minimum wage laws, expand our outreach capacity through community partnerships, and continue to serve as a resource for employees and employers in the County.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Low-wage workers often struggle to make ends meet given the high cost of living in San Mateo County. Wage theft exacerbates this economic insecurity, while undermining fair competition to the detriment of law-abiding small businesses. OLSE’s educational efforts combined with the establishment of local labor standards enforcement mechanisms protect vulnerable populations and support fair competition.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact.