Wage and Hour investigator inspired by her mother’s immigration journey

Victoria Gonzalez has been an investigator at the Wage and Hour Division for 16 years. In a recent interview, she discussed how her mother – an immigrant to the United States – still inspires her today.

What does your job entail?

I work in the Little Rock, Arkansas, district office and conduct investigations to obtain compliance with the different laws enforced by our agency.

Who inspired you to pursue the career you have today?

My mom inspired me. When I was six years old, I remember sleeping on a couch while she stayed late to finish work?at a processing plant. We were in a new country and did not know many people, and she always worked very hard to provide for us. Like many immigrants, she did not speak any English but that did not stop her from connecting with her mostly English-speaking coworkers. They loved my mom and so do the many other friends she made. Even though she went through many challenges, she was never discouraged. She is a generous person with a big heart who always tries to help others, even if her resources are limited.

The Wage and Hour Division gives me the opportunity to follow her example: to help the most vulnerable workers regardless of where they’re from.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone starting their career at the Wage and Hour Division?

Be patient with yourself. At the beginning of your career, you might face a steep learning curve but never be afraid to ask for help from others with more experience. They will be happy to share their knowledge.

All the hard work that you put in pays off when you see the happy faces of the most vulnerable workers you helped or when you hear their stories. The wages that you recover could pay for their groceries for the week, childcare, school supplies, next month’s rent or so many more needs.

What are the toughest challenges you’ve had at work?

Sometimes I cannot help all employees as I would like to because the issues they are experiencing are not related to the laws the division enforces.

What challenges have you personally faced and how did you overcome them?

The latest challenges I faced were related to my health. I was able to prevail thanks to my family’s support. They were with me every step along with my supervisors who made me feel that, as a valued employee, I could take leave and not have to worry about my duties.

Which accomplishments are you most proud of?

Finishing my master’s degree. It taught me perseverance as well as patience. When I started it, I had never written a college paper in English (Spanish is my first language). Little did I know that I had to write long papers every week!

Life was complicated as a single mom to a nine-year-old and working a full-time job. More than once, I wanted to quit and just forget about college, but I remembered my mom’s example. I decided to take it one day at a time, one semester at a time, and I was able to finish my master’s with excellent grades. Looking back, I can see how all my hard work and those long, sleepless nights have paid off.

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