FAIRBANKS, ALASKA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Alaska Commercial Company – an employer operating 33 grocery and general merchandise stores throughout Alaska – has been assessed $20,490 in civil penalties for widespread child labor violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WICHITA, KS – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Best Western Plus Wichita Hotel – based in Wichita, Kansas – has paid $5,693 in back wages for wrongly denying paid sick leave to 13 employees required to quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on how N95 respirators effectively protect wearers from coronavirus exposure.

HARTFORD, CT – The University of Connecticut will pay $249,539 to resolve alleged pay discrimination at its Storrs, Connecticut, campus following a routine compliance review by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY, KS – Leavenworth County, Kansas has agreed to pay an employee $4,998 in back wages after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) determined the employer wrongly denied the employee’s request for paid leave to care for their child whose school closed amid the coronavirus pandemic. WHD found the employer also wrongly terminated the employee for allegedly misrepresenting their spouse’s ability to care for the child during the school closure.

SUGAR HILL, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed a strategic partnership with Choate Construction Co. and the Associated General Contractors of Georgia to promote worker safety and health at the Dogwood Forest at Sugar Hill project site in Sugar Hill, Georgia. The Georgia Institute of Technology-Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program will also support this effort.

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor took a range of actions to aid American workers and employers as our nation combats the coronavirus pandemic.

Reopening America’s Economy:

WASHINGTON, DC – Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Oct. 8, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited 85 establishments for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $1,222,156.

OSHA inspections have resulted in the agency citing employers for violations, including failures to:

NEW YORK, NY – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York has ordered the trustees of four benefit plans for United Derrickmen & Riggers Association, Local Union 197, in Long Island City, New York, to restore $475,000 to the plans, pay a $95,000 penalty to the U.S. Department of Labor and take other corrective actions to resolve violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

LOUISVILLE, KY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), 4Bright Management LLC – operator of three Louisville, Kentucky-based McDonald’s franchise locations – will pay a civil money penalty of $16,994 for violating child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

LOUISVILLE, KY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky entered a consent order and judgment against the Kentucky Bankers Association (KBA), Participating Employer Committee (PEC), Association Healthcare Consortium Inc., and the current and former trustees of the Kentucky Bankers Association Health and Welfare Benefit Program and the KBA Benefits Trust holding them jointly and severally liable to pay $1,561,818 in losses to the Trust.

ATLANTA, GA – Windsor Over Peachtree – based in Atlanta, Georgia – has paid $1,153 in back wages to an employee after the condominium company wrongly denied emergency paid sick leave to the employee, who was unable to work while caring for a child when the family’s day care facility closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In the week ending October 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 898,000, an increase of 53,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 5,000 from 840,000 to 845,000. The 4-week moving average was 866,250, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,250 from 857,000 to 858,250.

Read the full release.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor and Comcast Corp. – headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – have entered into a conciliation agreement to resolve allegations of pay discrimination against African American and Hispanic employees identified by the Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor released the following statement:

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where he visited the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the Independent Electrical Contractors to meet with apprentices. Earlier in the day, Secretary Scalia joined Congressmen John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) and Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (PA-15) at JWF Industries in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to highlight workforce development and economic recovery.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where he joined Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) and Congressman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (PA-15) to highlight workforce development through apprenticeships. Secretary Scalia and the congressmen toured JWF Industries and met with company leadership and apprentices.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Steubenville, Ohio, where he delivered remarks at Franciscan University of Steubenville to commemorate Columbus Day as well as America’s national heritage.

The speech included the following excerpts:

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor took a range of actions to aid American workers and employers as our nation combats the coronavirus pandemic.

Reopening America’s Economy:

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered CSX Transportation Inc. – headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida – to reinstate and pay more than $95,000 in back wages to an employee terminated by the company for reporting an unsafe customer gate and an on-the-job injury. OSHA also ordered the rail-based freight transportation company to pay the employee $75,000 in punitive damages, $27,000 in compensatory damages, and attorney’s fees.