Institute of Politics

Overview of Organization:

The mission of the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) is to protect and promote the wages, welfare, working conditions, and safety of Illinois workers by enforcing State labor and employment laws, providing compliance assistance to employers, and increasing public awareness of workplace protections.

Internship Summary:

As a Fair Labor Standards intern, you’ll help to ensure Illinois are protected by core labor laws, such as minimum wage and over time, meal and rest breaks, and timely payment of wages.

Responsibilities:

Potential projects may include:

• Conduct research and write memos on labor policies and enforcement strategies
• Track instances of multiple complaints against the same employer
• Support with tracking and analysis of cases referred to the Attorney General’s Office for enforcement
• Support with data analysis and reporting on case numbers and outcomes
• Develop outreach and engagement materials (flyers, posters, social media content) to educate the public about their labor rights

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Interest in labor laws and worker rights
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and research methods
• Experience with outreach and engagement strategies

About the Supervisor:

Your supervisor will be Margaret Decker. Margaret Decker currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the Illinois Department of Labor. She was previously with the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office, where she worked on a variety of projects related to violence prevention and community development. Margaret holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Michigan and a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Chicago. She was selected as a member of the 2024 Black Bench Chicago cohort 2020 New Leaders Council Chicago cohort.

Location, Modality, and Commute:

The office is located at 160 N. LaSalle Street, 13th floor, Chicago, IL 60601. The team is primarily in person. There may be an option for the intern to work remotely 1 day per week.

Start and End Date:

Summer internships will take place during the period of June 10 - September 27, with specific dates to be determined by the employer partner and intern during the interview process.