Investigation of Worker Protection Ordinance Violations.
Philadelphia Code § 9-6603
in effect§ 9-6603. Investigation of Worker Protection Ordinance Violations.
(1) The Enforcement Agency is authorized to take such steps as it deems appropriate to resolve complaints and enforce any Worker Protection Ordinance, including, but not limited to, establishing a system to receive complaints regarding non-compliance with any Worker Protection Ordinance, investigating alleged violations in a timely manner, and resolving complaints through mediation.
(2) Upon receiving a complaint alleging a violation of a Worker Protection Ordinance, the Enforcement Agency shall investigate such complaint and, if appropriate, attempt to resolve it through mediation. The Enforcement Agency may designate representatives to inspect worksites and access records required to be maintained under the Worker Protection Ordinances. The Enforcement Agency shall keep Complainants reasonably notified regarding the status of their complaint and any resulting investigation and shall notify Complainants of any determination of the Enforcement Agency, including any mediation result, with respect to the complaint.
(3) The Enforcement Agency has the authority to open an investigation on its own initiative, absent a formal complaint, when it has reason to believe that a violation of a Worker Protection Ordinance has occurred or will occur, or when circumstances show that violations are likely to occur within a business or class of businesses.
(4) The Enforcement Agency has authority to expand the scope of any investigation beyond a single individual’s claims to include all workers at an employer’s business in situations including, but not limited to, when the Enforcement Agency has reason to believe that multiple workers have or are likely to have experienced violations of a Worker Protection Ordinance, when a complaint alleges or suggests that the employer may be engaged in a pattern or practice of violations against multiple workers, or when requested by the Complainant.
(5) Power to Subpoena Records and Testimony. Pursuant to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter Sections 8-409 and 4-2300, the Enforcement Agency may issue subpoenas for records or testimony. If a recipient of the subpoena fails to timely respond to a subpoena or if the response is deficient, the Enforcement Agency may refer the subpoena to the City of Philadelphia Law Department to initiate proceedings to enforce the subpoena in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(6) Failure to Respond. If a Respondent fails to timely respond to a subpoena or any other investigative request from the Enforcement Agency, or fails to appear at a mediation, the Enforcement Agency may proceed to consider the allegations contained in the complaint as uncontested and enter a Determination that the Respondent has violated the applicable Worker Protection Ordinance(s) based on the available information.
(7) Prior to the issuance of a determination, or during mediation, the Enforcement Agency may encourage the parties to settle the Complaint on terms that are mutually agreeable. Where settlement is successful, the terms of the settlement agreement shall be reduced to writing and signed by the parties.
Source: City of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-307539Fetched: 10/27/2026