Zach Conine for Nevada Attorney General

Workers

Every Nevadan deserves a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.

Nevada’s workers form the backbone of our state’s economy, from hospitality and construction to health care and logistics. Yet too often, they face unsafe working conditions, wage theft, scams, and unfair treatment without a strong advocate in state government. To ensure every Nevadan has a fair chance to work with dignity and security, the Attorney General’s Office will establish a Division of Workers’ Rights.

This new division will serve as a watchdog, legal resource, and partner to workers, employers, and state regulators. It will focus on protecting workers from exploitation, ensuring compliance with labor and safety laws, and resolving disputes before they escalate. By rooting this division in the Attorney General’s Office, we ensure it has the independence, authority, and enforcement tools necessary to stand up for working families.

The Problem

Wage Theft & Exploitation

National studies estimate workers lose billions to wage theft annually. In Nevada's service, hospitality, and construction sectors, underpayment and misclassification remain widespread.

Workplace Safety

Heat exposure, unsafe equipment, and environmental hazards -- especially in construction and outdoor industries -- place Nevada workers at risk.

Labor Disputes

Workers often lack affordable legal representation to resolve disputes, forcing them to accept unfair outcomes.

Fragmented Enforcement

While Nevada has a Labor Commissioner and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), these agencies are often underfunded and lack direct legal muscle to pursue complex or large-scale cases.

The Solution: Division of Workers' Rights

The Division will be housed within the Nevada Attorney General's Office and will:

1. Enforce Workers' Rights

Pursue wage theft, misclassification, and fraud cases through civil enforcement actions.
Investigate unfair business practices that target workers, such as predatory payday lending tied to paychecks.
Partner with federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and OSHA to coordinate enforcement.

2. Support State Agencies to deliver results for working people

Provide dedicated legal staff to assist the Nevada Labor Commissioner in enforcing wage and hour laws.
Offer legal guidance on compliance with heat, water, and environmental safety regulations, especially in high-risk sectors like construction and mining.

3. Resolve Disputes quickly and efficiently

Create a mediation program within the AG's Office to resolve labor disputes quickly, avoiding lengthy and costly lawsuits for workers and employers.
Provide neutral, accessible forums where both sides can come to the table.

4. Educate and Empower workers and businesses

Launch a Workers' Rights Hotline for Nevadans to report violations and get resources.
Develop public education campaigns on wage theft, workplace safety, and worker protections.
Offer guidance to responsible employers on compliance, helping to level the playing field against bad actors.