June 10, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds General Motors Owes Employee $12,265 After Violating Family and Medical Leave Act

FORT WAYNE, IN After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), General Motors Co. (GM) has paid $12,265 in back wages to an employee of its Fort Wayne, Indiana, assembly plant who received disciplinary suspensions for absences allowed by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

June 9, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor to Offer Families First Coronavirus Response Act Webinars to Educate Employees and Employers

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will offer two joint webinars on June 10, 2020, to educate employers and employees in the Southeast on the paid sick leave, and expanded family and medical leave benefits available under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and whistleblower protections.

June 8, 2020

Georgia Company Pays Employee Back Wages After Wrongly Denying Emergency Paid Sick Leave in Families First Coronavirus Response Act

WEST POINT, GA – A West Point, Georgia, custom machine and fabrication company has paid $1,060 to an employee after the U.S. Department of Labor determined the employer wrongly denied emergency paid sick leave for a qualifying reason covered under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

June 8, 2020

Contractor Reinstates, Pays Back Wages to Employee After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Violation of Families First Coronavirus Response Act

WHITE PLAINS, MD – A Maryland electrical contractor has reinstated an employee after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the employer denied paid sick leave under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

June 8, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Offers Webinar on Coronavirus-Related Paid Sick Leave Requirements for Business Owners, Employers and Other Stakeholders

CHICAGO, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) in Chicago, is joining with the IRS and the U.S. Small Business Administration to discuss paid sick leave requirements, tax relief and other coronavirus-related information critical for employers and business owners during a webinar on June 12, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to noon, CDT.

June 5, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Offers Webinar for Garment Employees and Employers on Impacts of Families First Coronavirus Response Act

WEST COVINA, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor will offer a webinar on June 9, 2020, – in Spanish – for garment industry employees and employers in Southern California on the impacts of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

May 29, 2020

Minnesota City Pays Back Wages to Employee Wrongly Denied Paid Sick Leave After Healthcare Provider Recommends Quarantine

NORTH BRANCH, MN An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has led the City of North Branch, Minnesota, to pay $1,696 in back wages to an employee denied paid sick leave after her healthcare provider recommended a 14-day quarantine for reasons related to coronavirus.

May 29, 2020

Iowa Restaurant Pays Back Wages After Failing to Pay 14 Employees for Payroll Earned Before Coronavirus Closing

DES MOINES, IA – BAH Brazilian Steakhouse has paid 14 employees $3,059 in back wages after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the Des Moines, Iowa, restaurant failed to pay employees for the last payroll period worked prior to the restaurant’s closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

May 27, 2020

Georgia Department of Human Services Pays Employee Denied Emergency Sick Leave Allowed by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) determined that the Georgia Department of Human Services wrongly denied emergency paid sick leave to an employee who needed to miss work to care for a child whose school closed due to the coronavirus. As a result, the employer paid $848 in back wages as required under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

May 26, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $1.3 Million in Wages for 3,000 Employees After Restaurant Management Company Misses Payroll

SAN ANTONIO, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) Food Management Partners – based in San Antonio, Texas – has paid $1.3 million to 3,000 employees for violations of the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).   

May 26, 2020

New Mexico Human Services Department Pays Back Wages to Employee Denied Sick Leave Allowed by Coronavirus-Related Circumstances

SANTA FE, NM – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the New Mexico Human Services Department will pay $1,411 in back wages after initially refusing to provide paid sick leave to an employee who took leave to care for her three young children whose school closed due to coronavirus. The leave is permitted under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA).

May 21, 2020

U.S. Postal Service in San Jose to Pay Back Wages to Employee Denied Paid Sick Leave to Care for Child Whose School Closed Due To Coronavirus

SAN JOSE, CA – The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in San Jose, California, will pay $3,680 to one employee after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found the employer repeatedly failed to provide paid sick leave benefits for time the employee spent home caring for her child whose school closed due to coronavirus.  

May 21, 2020

Arizona School District Pays Back Wages After Denying Paid Sick Leave To Worker Caring for Children at Home While Coronavirus Closes School

SOMERTON, AZ – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has led the Somerton School District to pay $1,000 in back wages to an employee who needed to spend five weeks at home caring for her children whose school closed due to the coronavirus.

May 20, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Final Rule To Expand Access to Bonuses for American Workers

WASHINGTON DC The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) today announced a final rule that allows employers to offer bonuses or other incentive-based pay to employees whose hours vary from week to week.

May 18, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule to Simplify Retail or Service Establishment Exemption

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a final rule to provide greater simplicity and flexibility to retail industry employers.

Provisions in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) allow employers in retail and service industries to exempt certain employees paid primarily on a commission basis from overtime.

May 15, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor to Offer Families First Coronavirus Response Act Webinars to Educate Employees, Employers, State and Local Governments

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will offer three webinars the week of May 18, 2020, for employees, employers and state and local governments in the division’s Southeast region to educate them on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). 

The webinars will provide information on the requirements of the law including eligibility, coverage, qualifying reasons, duration of leave and calculation of pay.

May 14, 2020

Arizona Company to Pay Back Wages After Denying Paid Sick Leave To Employee Whose Doctor Ordered Coronavirus Quarantine

PHOENIX, AZ – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Pueblo Mechanical and Controls LLC – an HVAC and plumbing company in Phoenix, Arizona – will pay one employee $1,000 for failing to provide him paid sick leave after a healthcare provider ordered him to self-quarantine for coronavirus-related reasons.

May 13, 2020

Hawaii Food Retailer to Pay Back Wages to Employee Wrongly Denied Paid Sick Leave to Care for Child After Coronavirus Closes School

HONOLULU, HI – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has led a Maui, Hawaii, retail store specializing in grocery, household, health and beauty products to pay $800 in back wages to an employee denied paid leave to care for their child whose school closed due to the coronavirus.

May 12, 2020

West Texas Paving Company to Pay Back Wages to Worker Denied Paid Sick Leave Despite Doctor’s Order for Coronavirus Quarantine

WOLFFORTH, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), West Texas Paving – a road construction company based in Wolfforth, Texas – will pay an employee $1,200 in back wages after failing to provide them paid sick leave under the newly passed Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), after healthcare providers ordered the employee with potential coronavirus symptoms to self-quarantine.

May 12, 2020

Indiana Trucking Company Pays Back Wages to Worker Denied Paid Sick Leave While Experiencing Coronavirus Symptoms and Seeking Diagnosis

AVON, IN –A truck driver has received $3,017 in back wages after being denied emergency paid sick leave while he was experiencing coronavirus symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found the employer – Mahant Trucking based in Avon, Indiana – violated the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).