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

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 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 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

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).

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 11, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Secures $1,149,965 in Back Wages In Bankruptcy Court for Hair Salon Workers in 15 States

VIENNA, VA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland has ordered Creative Hairdressers Inc. – an operator of unisex hair salons in 15 states and the District of Columbia – to pay $1,149,965 in back wages to more than 7,500 employees.

April 29, 2020

Southern California Tire Company to Pay Back Wages After Denying Paid Sick Leave To Worker Whose Doctor Ordered Coronavirus Quarantine

SAN DIEGO, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Discount Tire Centers will pay an employee $2,606 in back wages for refusing to provide sick leave under the newly passed Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPLSA), after his healthcare provider advised that he self-quarantine while awaiting a family member’s test for coronavirus.

April 24, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Extends Deadline for Wage Survey of Building Construction Projects in Missouri’s Metropolitan Counties

ST. LOUIS, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is extending the deadline for contractors and other interested parties to submit data to complete a wage survey of building construction projects through June 30, 2020, in Missouri’s metropolitan counties.

April 23, 2020

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

TUCSON, AZ – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Bear Creek Electrical – an electrical company based in Tucson, Arizona – will pay one employee $1,600 for refusing to provide him sick leave under the newly passed Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act after health care providers ordered him to self-quarantine with potential coronavirus symptoms.

April 20, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Ends Temporary Non-Enforcement of Paid Leave Protections to Help American Workers During Coronavirus Pandemic

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the end of the temporary period of non-enforcement of paid leave protections under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

April 7, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division Announces Job Openings

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that the department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is hiring 45 additional investigators to conduct investigations to determine employers’ compliance with applicable federal labor laws.

New recruits will join a busy and productive team, including 45 new investigators and 15 Wage and Hour Technicians the hired earlier this year.

April 3, 2020

U.S. Department Of Labor Announces Additional Guidance Following Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave Implementation

WASHINGTON, DC Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced more guidance to provide information to workers and employers about how each will be able to take advantage of the protections and relief offered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which went into effect April 1, 2020.

April 1, 2020

U.S. Department Of Labor Announces New Paid Sick Leave And Expanded Family and Medical Leave Implementation

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced new action regarding how American workers and employers will benefit from the protections and relief offered by the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted a temporary rule issuing regulations pursuant to this new law, effective today, April 1, 2020.