The officer might offer to mediate the issue between an employee and employer or to facilitate a settlement. If the matter is not settled, the officer will decide whether the employee has a valid complaint. If the officer decides that the complaint is not valid, he or she must serve the employee with notice of the decision, unless the complaint has been withdrawn. A matter can be found invalid if the employee refuses or fails to participate in the investigation and reasonable effort is made to contact the employee . The employee can appeal the decision to the Director of Employment Standards within 21 days. If an officer decides that wages are due to the employee and is not able to settle the matter between the employer and employee, whether or not a complaint has been made, and the matter is not settled, they can order the employer to pay the employee, or the Director to pay on behalf of employee the earnings they are entitled and specify the date by which the order must be complied with. This decision can be appealed by the employer or employee to the Director of Employment Standards. If the officer decides that the employee was suspended, terminated, or inappropriately laid off for a reason set out above, and the matter has no been settled, the officer must refer the complaint to the Director of Employment Standards. Last Reviewed: August 2019