The US Department of Labor (DOL) assists workers and their employers with complying with the federal employment laws of the country. The DOL refers to this service as "compliance assistance", and is an important part of its attempts to protect American workers' wages, health benefits, retirement, employment rights, safety, and health. In 2002, the DOL established the Office of Compliance Assistance Policy, whose goals are to educate the public regarding laws enforced by the DOL, to make sure that employees and employers are aware of how to comply with these laws, and to develop new strategies for education. This office frees up the DOL's resources to pursue the relatively few employers who knowingly violate the law. The DOL requires that posters describing labor laws are displayed in easily-accessible areas; these posters educate both workers and employees regarding their rights and responsibilities in the workplace.