High Hopes, Hazy Role for Labor Department’s Second-in-Command

The new occupant of the Labor Department’s No. 2 office is facing lofty expectations from the business community that may outweigh his actual influence.

Employers and conservatives are familiar with and optimistic about Patrick Pizzella, who was sworn in as deputy labor secretary April 17. Pizzella endeared himself to management lawyers while a senior DOL official in the George W. Bush administration and during his more recent term as a member of the panel that settles federal workforce labor disputes.

The business community is hoping that Pizzella’s arrival, after his nomination languished in the Senate for 10 months, produces revisions ...