WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today approved funding of $467,540 in response to a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant application submitted by the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services on March 23, 2020. The funding will assist the state with disaster-relief efforts in northwest counties affected by severe storms in June 2019. 

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1,921,422 in National Dislocated Worker Grant funding to the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas Inc. The project will provide reemployment services to individuals affected by aviation industry layoffs, including approximately 2,800 workers affected by dislocations at Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement on the April 2020 Employment Situation report:

In the week ending May 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 3,169,000, a decrease of 677,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 7,000 from 3,839,000 to 3,846,000. The 4-week moving average was 4,173,500, a decrease of 861,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,750 from 5,033,250 to 5,035,000.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of six Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs) totaling $10,012,821 to help address the workforce-related impacts of the public health emergency related to the coronavirus. These awards are funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided $345 million for DWGs to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus.

TAMARAC, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Crown Roofing LLC for exposing employees to fall hazards at a residential worksite in Tamarac, Florida. The Sarasota, Florida-based contractor faces penalties of $134,937.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $637,596 in additional National Dislocated Worker (DWG) Grant funding to the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corp. (AAWDC). The funding will provide for the continuation of employment and training services to transitioning military service members stationed on Maryland military installations who are seeking to enter civilian employment.    

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against Advance Benefits Management Systems USA Inc. (ABMS), its founder and CEO C. Kenneth Johnson, and company President Randy Wright. In the suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the department asks the court to appoint an independent fiduciary to employee healthcare plans previously administered by ABMS, direct the independent fiduciary to marshal the plans’ assets, obtain insurance reimbursement and pay over $7,000,000 in unpaid claims.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a new video and poster for employers and workers on how to properly wear and remove a respirator.

For workers who may need to use respirators to protect themselves from coronavirus exposure, a properly worn respirator can help reduce the wearer’s risk of viral exposure and help prevent its spread to others.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) funding made available to states and territories to employ workers temporarily to respond to the coronavirus public health emergency can be used for contact tracing. Contact tracing is part of the process of supporting patients and warning contacts of exposure to stop chains of transmission.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor today responded to specific state requests seeking assistance to administer changes to unemployment insurance (UI) programs made by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Emergency Unemployment Insurance Stabilization and Access Act in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

NEWARK, NJ – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the owner of a Somerset County, New Jersey, construction company has pleaded guilty to one count of felony perjury brought by the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has translated and published its “Ten Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus” poster in 11 additional languages.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today issued additional guidance regarding Title II, Subtitle A of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This guidance concerns 100 percent federal reimbursement of certain state Short-Term Compensation (STC) payments, as well as other changes to STC programs.

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.

Engaging Stakeholders:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an alert with safety tips for restaurant, and food and beverage businesses to protect their workers from coronavirus exposure while they provide curbside pickup and takeout service.

OSHA recommends these businesses implement the following:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today issued Frequently Asked Questions under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and revised COBRA model notices.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of up to $312 million in funding aimed at creating job training and employment search services for older Americans.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor, in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), today announced the availability of approximately $29.2 million in a second round of grant funding for the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative. 

WASHINGTON, DC – The Secretary of Labor has reached an agreement with Wilmington Trust, N.A. – a Delaware-based bank and trust company – requiring Wilmington Trust to pay a combined $80 million to 21 employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) for which it served as trustee and $8 million to the government, and to reimburse plan sponsors of ESOPs for legal costs and expenses advanced in connection with the Secretary’s investigations and litigation.