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Audit

Audit  Audit of the Department of Labor Relations

The audit found that in most public employee grievance cases before DLR the case was not completed within established timeframes. The audit period was July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2018.

Organization: Office of the State Auditor
Date published: May 15, 2019

Executive Summary

In accordance with Section 12 of Chapter 11 of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Office of the State Auditor has conducted a performance audit of the Department of Labor Relations (DLR) for the period July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2018. In this performance audit, we examined DLR’s administration of its dispute resolution case management activities.

Below is a summary of our findings and recommendations, with links to each page listed.

Finding 1
 

DLR did not have time standards for processing all cases.

Recommendations
 
  1. DLR should reexamine its case workflows and, where practicable, establish time standards for the processing of case phases and overall case life cycles. For cases where it is not feasible to establish time standards, DLR should establish check-in points to facilitate processing.
  2. DLR should establish monitoring procedures to ensure that cases adequately progress to closure or settlement.

Finding 2
 

DLR did not always meet its established time standards for completing certain case types.

Recommendation
 

DLR should develop monitoring controls regarding the completion of case phases and life cycles.

Finding 3
 

DLR did not submit at least one required annual report to the Legislature within the established timeframe.

Recommendation
 

DLR should develop policies and procedures to ensure that it files its annual report within 120 days of the close of its fiscal year.

Finding 4
 

There were deficiencies in DLR’s internal control plan (ICP).

Recommendations
 
  1. DLR should take the measures necessary to ensure that its ICP complies with the Office of the Comptroller of the Commonwealth’s Internal Control Guide.
  2. DLR should establish policies and procedures for the annual review of its ICP as well as monitoring controls to ensure that these policies and procedures are adhered to.

The audit of the Department of Labor Relations is available here.

Table of Contents

Downloads

Open PDF file, 992.65 KB,  Audit of the Department of Labor Relations (English, PDF 992.65 KB)

Contact

Phone

Main (617) 727-2075

Online

Auditor@MassAuditor.gov

Fax

(617) 727-3014

Address

Massachusetts State House
Room 230
Boston, MA 02133
Directions 

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