MONTGOMERY, AL – Ozark Safety Services LLC – based in Montgomery, Alabama – has paid a former employee $10,095 in lost wages after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the company violated the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

WHD investigators found Ozark Safety Services LLC discharged the employee for absences that qualified for FMLA-protected leave. Rather than categorizing the absences as allowed and covered under the FMLA, the company labeled them as unauthorized, and took improper disciplinary action.

ELLWOOD CITY, PA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Boehm Family Enterprises LLC – doing business as McElwain Brothers Paint and Collision in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania – has paid $33,731 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 12 mechanics and painters to resolve violations of the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

PROVIDENCE, RI – On September 24, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor will hold a public listening session in Providence, Rhode Island, to gather views on the Part 541 white-collar exemption regulations, often referred to as the "Overtime Rule."

RUTHERFORDTON, NC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has assessed D&M Logging Inc. a civil penalty of $9,112 for violating Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) child labor requirements after a minor suffered a hand injury while employed at the company’s sawmill in Rutherfordton, North Carolina. D&M Logging Inc. paid the civil money penalty. Additionally, D&M Logging Inc. paid $12,692 to 11 employees to correct the overtime violations.

LONG BEACH, CA – California Cartage Company LLC – based in Long Beach, California – will pay $3,573,074 to 1,416 employees after the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the company violated federal contract provisions of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

SEATTLE, WA – People Tech Group Inc. – a Redmond, Washington, information technology staffing company – will pay 12 employees $309,914 after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the company violated the labor provisions of the H-1B visa program by paying its guest workers far below the required wages, and sometimes not paying them at all. The Department also assessed the company $45,564 in civil penalties for the violations.

WASHINGTON, DC - To ensure compliance with federal wage laws, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting a nationwide initiative to strengthen compliance with the labor provisions of the H-2B temporary visa program in the landscaping industry. The initiative includes providing compliance assistance tools and information to employers and stakeholders, as well as conducting investigations of employers using this program.

KANSAS CITY, MO – On September 13, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CDT, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor will hold a public listening session in Kansas City, Missouri, to gather views on the Part 541 white-collar exemption regulations, often referred to as the “Overtime Rule.”

DENVER, CO – On September 14, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MDT, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor will hold a public listening session in Denver, Colorado, to gather views on the Part 541 white-collar exemption regulations, often referred to as the "Overtime Rule."

SUMMIT, MS – Kased Brothers Halal Meat Inc. – a slaughterhouse based in Summit, Mississippi – paid $14,768 in back wages to 12 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the company violated minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The company was assessed and paid a civil penalty of $8,368 for child labor violations.

SAN DIEGO, CA – Two San Diego-area massage parlor companies – Yuanjun International Inc. and Rama Thai Massage – will pay 17 employees a collective $61,317 after U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigations found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ORLANDO, FL – Loyal Source Government Services LLC – a medical and support staff contactor based in Orlando, Florida – will pay $574,989 to 4,047 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation determined the company violated the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

WHD investigators found Loyal Source Government Services LLC unlawfully deducted $10 per paycheck from each employee for the administration of employee health and welfare benefits.

WINTER GARDEN, FL – KBL Buildings Inc. – based in Winter Garden, Florida – will pay $111,197 in back wages to 100 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found that the metal framing construction company violated overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SEATTLE, WA – On September 11, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PDT, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor will hold a public listening session in Seattle, Washington, to gather views on the Part 541 white-collar exemption regulations, often referred to as the "Overtime Rule."

BETHEL PARK, PA – The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania has entered a consent judgment against Danny's Pizza Enterprises Inc. – a Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, quick-service restaurant doing business as Danny's Pizza & Hoagies – following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) that found the employer violated the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC - To ensure compliance with federal wage laws, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting a nationwide initiative to strengthen compliance with the labor provisions of the H-2B temporary visa program in the hotel industry.

SAN JUAN, PR – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has signed agreements with the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources, Labor Standards Division (PR-LSD), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (OCPR) to establish collaborative relationships to promote compliance with laws where the agencies have common interests.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced today that it has issued six new opinion letters. This release demonstrates the agency's continued commitment to providing meaningful compliance assistance to help employees understand their rights and ensure that employers have the information they need to comply with federal labor laws. The letters released today address compliance under both the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

LOS ANGELES, CA – Garment contractor SMT Apparel Inc. – based in Los Angeles, California – will pay 40 employees $51,840 after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that the company failed to pay minimum wage and overtime, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

CLINTON, NC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has debarred Ruben V. Serna – owner of Serna Harvesting, a farm labor contractor – from participation in the H-2A visa program for three years for violations of federal wage and H-2A program requirements. WHD found that Serna owed $194,109 in back wages to 181 employees certified to work at 15 North Carolina farms for which the contractor provides H-2A workers. WHD also assessed Serna a civil money penalty of $174,614 for the violations.