ICYMI: U.S. Department of Labor Acts to Help American Workers and Employers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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.

Keeping America’s Workplaces Safe and Healthy:

• U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA Announces $3,504,345 In Coronavirus Violations – Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Dec. 3, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued citations arising from 263 inspections for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $3,504,345.

Defending Workers’ Rights to Paid Leave and Wages Earned:

• U.S. Department of Labor Recovers Back Wages for 55 Workers After Louisiana Seafood Processor Fails to Provide Required Sick Leave – After an investigation by the Wage and Hour Division, a Louisiana seafood processor has paid $42,900 in back wages to 55 employees to resolve violations of the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

• Texas Cabinet Manufacturer Pays Back Wages to Employee Wrongly Denied Paid Leave to Care for Child During Pandemic – After an investigation by the Wage and Hour Division, a cabinet manufacturer based in Taylor, Texas has paid an employee $3,736 in back wages for wrongly denying leave under the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

• Pasadena, Texas, Employer Pays Back Wages to Employee Wrongly Denied Paid Sick Leave After Doctor’s Order to Quarantine – After an investigation by the Wage and Hour Division, a testosterone replacement center in Pasadena, Texas has paid back wages of $3,432 to an employee to whom it wrongly denied emergency paid sick leave and terminated despite a doctor’s order for the employee to quarantine with coronavirus symptoms.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Labor is focused on protecting the safety and health of American workers, assisting our state partners as they deliver traditional unemployment and expanded unemployment benefits, ensuring Americans know their rights to new paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave, providing guidance and assistance to employers, and carrying out the mission of the Department.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.