Labor commissioner touts safety and civility
Leslie Osborn, Oklahoma Labor Commissioner (Right), chats with Adam Bush (Left) and others last Thursday afternoon at the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce. Osborn spoke with local business leaders about her state agency, labor shortage and civility in politics. (Photo by Jeff Harrison)
Osborn visits Midwest City Chamber of Commerce
By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon
The head of the Oklahoma Department of Labor admits the name of her state agency is a bit of a misnomer.
Leslie Osborn, who has served as the state’s labor commissioner since 2018, said they have a lot of responsibilities that involve safety and none related to labor unions.
The Department of Labor enforces child labor law, ensures workplaces are safe and that wages are paid. Some of the safety measures include checking elevators and escalators, amusement park rides, hot water heaters and boilers, and CNG vehicle conversions.
“We make sure people are safe,” said Osborn who was the guest speaker Thursday afternoon at the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce.
Osborn has been touring the state and meeting with civic leaders and chambers to promote the agency and services they offer.
Leslie Osborn, Oklahoma Labor Commissioner spoke with local business leaders about her state agency, labor shortage and civility in politics. (Photo by Jeff Harrison)
Some of the free services include helping people who haven’t been paid by their employers, and assisting businesses in developing safety plans that meet OSHA standards.
Osborn also addressed a labor shortage in Oklahoma, particularly in the service industry. She said theories that people simply don’t want to work is untrue.
“A lot of people on Facebook say obviously everyone is lazy and they’re taking a government check,” Osborn said. “We’re one of the lowest unemployment states in the country at 3%, so that has been debunked.”
Osborn said the shortage is likely due to a combination of things. They include a low minimum wage, difficulty finding childcare, and the growing medical marijuana industry. She said many people who had been working in the service sector have been drawn to the medical marijuana industry by higher wages.
“The same time that COVID hit, the medical marijuana industry was ramping up and we didn’t necessarily correlate,” she said. “A lot of the jobs in medical marijuana industry don’t take much training and they sucked that out of the service industry.”
Osborn, who previously served in the Oklahoma House for 10 years, concluded her speech with a call for civility.
“The change in the tone of politics in the 13 years that I’ve been in it is absolutely unbelievable,” she said.
Osborn said misinformation, social media, and the national news cycle have created a hyper partisan climate that’s destroying relationship, families and society.
“Everyone says you must hate the other side,” she said.
Osborn encouraged people avoid negativity in the news and online, and to teach their children and grandchildren critical thinking skills and how to properly vet information.
“I hope you will consider turning off the national news and getting back to working together,” she said.
The event was sponsored by the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce and the Mid-Del Technology Center.
