October 30, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Updates to H-1B Labor Condition Application and Worker Complaint Form

WASHINGTON, DC – As the U.S. Department of Labor continues efforts to confront visa program fraud and abuse, the Department announced that it will publish updates to the H-1B Labor Condition Application (Form ETA-9035) and worker complaint form (Form WH-4). These changes are intended to improve H-1B program compliance and promote greater transparency regarding the employment of foreign temporary workers.

The Labor Condition Application form updates will require employers to provide more detailed information about H-1B worker employment conditions, including:

October 17, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Announces New Compliance Assistance Tools To Assist New and Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of the New and Small Business Assistance and the Compliance Assistance Toolkits webpages. These new online tools assist American small businesses and workers with simple, straightforward resources that provide critical Wage and Hour Division (WHD) information, as well as links to other resources.

October 9, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Record $304 Million in Recovered Wages for Workers in Fiscal Year 2018

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recovered a record $304 million in wages owed to workers in Fiscal Year 2018. WHD also set a new record for compliance assistance events in FY 2018, holding 3,643 educational outreach events – including on the ground presentations and trainings – to help job creators understand their responsibilities under the law.

October 2, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor to Host Proposed Overtime Rule Listening Session

WASHINGTON DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division will host a public listening session in Washington, D.C., to gather views on the Part 541 white-collar exemption regulations, often known as the "Overtime Rule," on October 17, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. EDT.

September 26, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Proposal to Allow Younger Americans to Safely Develop Skills for Careers in Healthcare

WASHINGTON, DC – With over 1.1 million jobs currently open in healthcare and social assistance, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced a proposal to allow younger Americans to safely develop critical skills for fast-growing jobs in healthcare – which are expected to add 2.4 million jobs, more than any other occupation, through 2026.

September 12, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Protects American Workers With H-2B Education and Enforcement Initiative in the Landscaping Industry

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.

September 5, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Protects American Workers With H-2B Education and Enforcement Initiative

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.

August 28, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Issues New Wage and Hour Opinion Letters

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).

August 27, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor to Host Listening Sessions About Proposed Overtime Rule

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division announced today that in the upcoming weeks it will hold public listening sessions to gather views on the Part 541 white-collar exemption regulations, often referred to as the “Overtime Rule.”

July 13, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guidance for Seasonal Recreational Services

WASHINGTON, DC – To prevent job losses and ensure affordable guided tours on federal lands, President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order exempting seasonal outdoor guides and outfitters from Executive Order 13568 issued in 2014. Today, the U.S. Department of Labor issued guidance to contracting agencies and the public regarding the President's action.

April 27, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Enforcement Initiative Results in New Jersey Gas Station Owners Paying $2,088,572 in Back Wages, Damages and Penalties

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – An education and enforcement initiative conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has recovered $2,079,596 in back wages and liquidated damages for 87 attendants working at 25 southern New Jersey gas stations since January 2017. This payment resolves violations found during a series of investigations by the WHD.

April 23, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Acts to Protect Individuals with Disabilities From Workplace Exploitation

CHICAGO, IL – Consistent with its mission to protect the American workforce, the U.S. Department of Labor has revoked Rock River Valley Self Help Enterprises, Inc.’s certificate under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) after finding nearly 250 workers with disabilities were being exploited.

April 12, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Issues New Wage and Hour Opinion Letters

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced today that it has issued three new opinion letters.

April 9, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Field Assistance Bulletin Regarding Tip Pools and New Authority to Prevent Tip Theft

WASHINGTON, DC – With the inclusion of key provisions related to America’s tipped workers included in the recently passed Consolidated Appropriations Act, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has issued a Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) to address WHD’s enforcement of tip credit rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 27, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Provides Tools to Ensure American Workers Are Protected and Employers Are Equipped to Comply with Wage Laws

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has developed a series of helpful instructional videos that provide valuable assistance to employers and further ensure compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to the benefit of the American workforce.

March 6, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Announces New Program To Expedite Payment to American Workers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor is announcing a new pilot program, the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program, which expedites resolution of inadvertent overtime and minimum wage violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

March 5, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds $13.9 Million Due to Thousands of Chinese Employees Working on Saipan Casino and Hotel

HONOLULU, HI – The U.S. Department of Labor has finalized a series of settlements with contractors on Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that will pay a collective $13.9 million in back wages and damages to thousands of employees who came from China to build the Saipan Casino and Hotel on the island.

January 5, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Clarifies When Interns Working at For-Profit Employers Are Subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act

WASHINGTON, DC – On Dec. 19, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit became the fourth federal appellate court to expressly reject the U.S. Department of Labor’s six-part test for determining whether interns and students are employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 

December 12, 2017

U.S. Department of Labor Reminds Employers of Need to Comply With Federal Labor Laws During Holiday Rush

WASHINGTON, DC – As retailers and other businesses temporarily increase staffing levels to accommodate heightened seasonal consumer demand, the U.S. Department of Labor reminds employers of the necessity of complying with federal labor laws related to safety, pay, and benefits.

December 4, 2017

U.S. Department of Labor Proposal Gives Freedom to Share Tips Between Traditionally Tipped and Non-Tipped Workers

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the tip regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  Under the proposed rule, workplaces would have the freedom to allow sharing of tips among more employees.  The proposal would help decrease wage disparities between tipped and non-tipped workers – an option that is currently restricted by a rule promulgated in 2011 that has been challenged in a number of courts.