What Happens When Oklahoma Workers Aren’t Protected? A Look at What’s at Stake

Most people do not think about the Oklahoma Labor Commissioner’s office until something goes wrong. A paycheck that never arrives. A workplace injury that was entirely preventable. A small business owner who did not realize they were out of compliance until they were already facing penalties. That is exactly the problem.

When the office that is supposed to protect workers and support businesses is not functioning at its full potential, the consequences are real. They are felt in living rooms, on job sites, and inside the small businesses that make up the backbone of Oklahoma communities. And too often, by the time someone realizes they needed help, it is too late.

I’m running for Oklahoma Labor Commissioner because I believe this office should be proactive, not just reactive. It should prevent harm before it happens, not only respond after the damage is done. Understanding what is at stake when workers are not protected is the first step toward building something better.

Wage theft is more common than most people realize

When people hear the phrase “wage theft,” they often picture dramatic fraud. But most wage theft is quieter than that. It looks like a worker who clocks out on paper while still finishing up for the night. It looks like a tip pool managed in ways that benefit the employer more than the employee. It looks like misclassification, where a worker is called an independent contractor to avoid paying overtime or benefits they have legally earned.

These situations are not rare. They affect workers across industries, and they disproportionately impact people who are already in vulnerable positions. Workers who depend on every dollar, who cannot afford to lose a shift or a paycheck, and who may not know where to turn when something feels wrong.

The Labor Commissioner’s office has a role to play here. But that role is most effective when people know the office exists, know their rights, and trust that the office will actually respond when they reach out. Accessibility and communication are not just nice-to-haves. They are essential to whether working Oklahomans can get the help they deserve.

Unsafe workplaces do not fix themselves

Workplace safety is one of those issues that tends to stay invisible until something terrible happens. But the conditions that lead to accidents, injuries, and worse do not appear overnight. They build over time, often in environments where workers feel they cannot speak up without risking their jobs.

Every Oklahoman deserves a workplace that is safe. That is a basic standard, and it is one worth defending plainly and without apology. A Labor Commissioner who takes workplace safety seriously does not just process complaints after the fact. They communicate clearly about expectations, engage with employers before problems escalate, and make it easier for workers to report concerns without fear of retaliation.

When workers feel they have no voice, unsafe conditions persist. When employers are unclear about standards, compliance becomes inconsistent. The office should reduce both of those problems by being present, being clear, and being a resource rather than a last resort.

Small businesses pay the price too

There is a version of this conversation that treats worker protection and business success as opposing forces. I do not believe that. As a small business owner myself, I know that most employers in Oklahoma want to do the right thing. They want to pay their people fairly. They want safe workplaces. They want to comply with labor law.

But when labor law feels unclear, when guidance is hard to find, and when the only interaction a business has with the Labor Commissioner’s office is enforcement after a violation, something has already broken down. Good employers should not be left guessing. And they should not be competing against bad actors who cut corners on wages or safety to get ahead.

A strong labor environment protects ethical businesses. When the office holds everyone to the same standard, businesses that do right by their workers are not being undercut by those who do not. That is a practical argument for enforcement, not just a moral one.

My campaign has been clear about my approach: education and support before penalties. Help businesses get it right. Make the rules clear. Treat compliance as a shared goal. But also hold the standard, because that standard protects everyone.

Young Oklahomans are entering a workforce that is not always ready for them

One of the parts of this race I feel most personally connected to is workforce development for young people. Oklahoma has a generation of young workers who are ready to contribute, but who are not always connected to the right training, mentorship, or pathways into stable employment.

That matters in the context of worker protection because young workers are among the most vulnerable to exploitation. They may not know their rights. They may be entering industries with steep learning curves and limited oversight. They may be in their first jobs, working for the first time without any framework for what a fair workplace looks like.

Investing in youth workforce development is not separate from protecting workers. It is part of the same commitment. When young Oklahomans enter the workforce informed, skilled, and connected to real opportunity, they are less likely to end up in situations where exploitation is possible and more likely to build careers that last.

The stakes are not abstract

It can be easy to talk about labor issues in terms of policy. But these are not abstract questions. They are about whether a single mother gets paid what she earned this week. Whether a construction worker goes home at the end of the day. Whether a young man who made a mistake in the past can find employment that gives him a real chance at stability. Whether a small business owner who is trying to build something can trust that their competitors are being held to the same standard.

Those are the stakes. And they are why the Labor Commissioner’s office matters, not just in theory, but in the everyday lives of people across this state.

I have spent more than a decade working inside Oklahoma communities, supporting workforce development, helping second-chance programs connect formerly incarcerated individuals to employment, and serving organizations that work at the intersection of work, family, and opportunity. I did not come to this race from the outside. I came to it from the work itself.

Protecting workers is protecting Oklahoma

A state with a strong, fair, and well-supported labor environment is a state where businesses can grow, workers can thrive, and communities can build something lasting. That is not a partisan idea. It is a practical one.

The Oklahoma Labor Commissioner should be a leader who understands that worker protection and business success are not in competition. They are connected. When we get this right, everyone benefits. When we neglect it, everyone pays a price.

That is why I’m running. And that is what I intend to do something about.

AUTHORIZED AND PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF LISA JANLOO 2026