Gov. Pritzker Announces Agency Leadership Transition

CHICAGO – Today, Governor Pritzker announced the departure of Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) Director Jane Flanagan. Having overseen a period of growth and reinvestment in the agency, Flanagan will depart at the end of October.

Governor Pritzker appointed Mike Lazzeri to lead the department, effective Nov. 1 and pending Senate approval. With over 20 years of government experience, Lazzeri will bring a specialized expertise in regulatory compliance, data innovation, and labor and employment law enforcement to the IDOL.

“The Illinois Department of Labor defends Illinois’ strong workforce and ensures they understand and receive their rights at work. Director Flanagan not only led the agency in carrying out these important functions but also helped expand protections for Illinois’ workers. I am deeply grateful for her years of service to the State of Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “As we look ahead, I am excited to appoint Mike Lazzeri to lead the agency. Lazzeri brings a depth of knowledge and range of hands-on experience in labor law and policy enforcement, and has the expertise needed to lead our state’s vital labor protection work moving forward.”

Under Flanagan’s leadership, IDOL experienced significant staffing growth and more than tripled the amount of unpaid wages collected annually for workers. Flanagan also helped craft and implement landmark state legislation, including the Paid Leave for All Workers Act and several amendments to the Equal Pay Act, along with overhauling and strengthening the Illinois Child Labor Law. In addition to labor law enforcement, Flanagan prioritized community partnerships, leading quarterly roundtable meetings with community groups, legal aid providers, workers’ centers, and state and local labor enforcers. She is the 2026 recipient of the Illinois AFL-CIO's Margaret Blackshere Award for Outstanding Women in Leadership and was selected as the 2025 Workforce Innovation Fellow by the American Swiss Foundation. ​

“It has been my honor and privilege to serve Governor Pritzker and the people of Illinois,” said Director Jane Flanagan. “I leave IDOL with full confidence that the important work of protecting Illinois workers’ rights will continue and that the Department will have the leadership necessary to continue building on the progress we have made together over the past 4+ years.”

Lazzeri will join IDOL after serving as Regional Administrator (RA) of the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage Hour Division for the Midwest, overseeing the enforcement of over a dozen laws and regulations across 10 states. During his tenure as RA, Lazzeri developed a highly skilled team that led the largest and most impactful child labor investigations in the history of the division, earning them the Federal Employees of the Year award in 2024 by the Partnership for Public Service. ​

“I’m grateful to Governor Pritzker for the opportunity to serve in this important role,” said Mike Lazzeri. “I look forward to collaborating with the IDOL team and all of our partners to ensure Illinois workers receive the wages they are owed, and that Illinois continues to be a great place to work.” ​

Lazzeri brings over 20 years of experience in the federal government, including five years in the Office of Management and Budget under the Bush and Obama Administrations and 15 years in the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. In these roles, Lazzeri oversaw the budget for several labor law enforcement programs and served as a legal and policy expert on employment law for the agency.

Lazzeri received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Fordham University and his Juris Doctor from New York Law School. His appointment pends confirmation by the Illinois Senate. ​

###