January 27, 2022

Court orders Norfolk staffing agency to pay more than $7.2M in back wages, damages to 1,105 aides, nurses after federal investigation, litigation

NORFOLK, VA – A federal court in Virginia has entered a judgment ordering a Norfolk-based medical staffing agency, which intentionally violated federal laws and denied 1,105 certified nursing aides, licensed practical nurses and registered nurses their rightfully earned overtime wages, to pay more than $7.2 million in back wages and liquidated damages.

January 24, 2022

US Department of Labor commits to continuing the fight against human trafficking through collaboration, enforcement, outreach

WASHINGTON – As National Human Trafficking Prevention Month concludes, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division continues to support the updated U.S.

January 6, 2022

US Department of Labor, National Labor Relations Board, sign partnership agreement to enhance information sharing, enforcement, training, outreach

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board announced today that the department’s Wage and Hour Division and the NLRB have signed a Memorandum of Understanding strengthening the agencies’ partnership and outlining procedures on information-sharing, joint investigations and enforcement activity, as well as training, education and community outreach.

December 17, 2021

US Department of Labor offers virtual seminar to help employers comply with the $15 per hour federal contractor worker minimum wage

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Wage and Hour Division will present virtual compliance seminars for contracting agencies, contractors, unions, workers and other stakeholders to provide information on Executive Order 14026, “Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors.” The Federal Contract Minimum Wage Executive Order applies across the country and its territories and does the following:

November 23, 2021

US Department of Labor launches initiative to protect professional caregivers’ wages, rights; ensure industry employers comply with law

WASHINGTON – As the nation concludes National Home Care and Hospice Month, the U.S. Department of Labor’s work on behalf of the country’s professional caregivers continues with the launch of an ongoing education, outreach and enforcement initiative to ensure their employers pay them their rightful wages and honor all protections afforded them by law.

November 22, 2021

US Department of Labor announces final rule to increase minimum wage for workers on federal contracts beginning Jan. 30, 2022

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a final rule that implements Executive Order 14026 to increase the hourly minimum wage for employees on federal contracts beginning Jan. 30, 2022. President Biden signed the order on April 27, 2021.

November 22, 2021

US Department of Labor reminds employers to avoid compliance issues by ensuring worker safety, proper pay practices this holiday season

WASHINGTON – With the National Retail Federation expecting retailers to hire more than 500,000 seasonal workers and employers hopeful for a busy holiday season, the U.S. Department of Labor reminds them not to overlook their worker’s rights to a safe and healthy workplace and to be paid all of their legally earned wages.

November 16, 2021

US Department of Labor opens online dialogue with stakeholders to expand access among underrepresented communities to Registered Apprenticeships

WASHINGTON –The U.S. Department of Labor today launched an online dialogue with stakeholders to increase access to Registered Apprenticeships for job seekers in underrepresented communities.

Conversation and ideas shared will help develop and shape future Registered Apprenticeship programs and funding opportunities, and foster diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

November 2, 2021

Federal court finds Las Vegas company shortchanged employees, orders $1.4M in back wages, damages paid to 1,328 call center workers

LAS VEGAS A Las Vegas telemarketing enterprise that shortchanged more than 1,328 call center workers has been ordered to pay more than $1.4 million in back wages and liquidated damages by a federal court in San Francisco. The judgement follows a U.S. Department of Labor investigation that found Wellfleet Communications and its owners illegally misclassified employees as independent contractors, forcing them to unlawfully sign away their federal rights and paying them only when they made sales. 

October 1, 2021

Federal court enters judgment affirming US Department of Labor finding oil, energy services employer misclassified 700 Pennsylvania workers

PITTSBURGH – A federal court in Pittsburgh has entered a consent judgment in which a company that provided land services for the oil and gas industry admitted liability for more than $40 million in back wages and damages after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found Fair Labor Standards Act violations.

September 23, 2021

Final rule allows US Department of Labor to levy civil money penalties against employers who take workers’ tips

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a final rule that restores the department’s ability to assess civil money penalties against employers who take tips earned by their employees, regardless of whether those violations are repeated or willful.

September 20, 2021

US Department of Labor extends effective date of final rule to rescind March 2020 joint employer rule

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the extension of the effective date of a final rule to rescind an earlier rule, “Joint Employer Status under the Fair Labor Standards Act,” that took effect in March 2020. The original Sept.

September 15, 2021

US Department of Labor announces annual update to current minimum hourly wage rate for federal contract workers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today issued a Federal Register notice announcing an annual update to the current Executive Order 13658 minimum wage for workers performing work on or in connection with covered contracts.

July 29, 2021

US Department of Labor announces final rule to rescind March 2020 joint employer rule, ensure more workers minimum wage, overtime protections

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a final rule to rescind an earlier rule, “Joint Employer Status under the Fair Labor Standards Act,” that took effect in March 2020.

July 22, 2021

US Department of Labor to offer virtual seminars in August to help employers, workers, stakeholders with prevailing wage requirements

WASHINGTON, DC – To help employers, workers and others stakeholders understand federal standards for prevailing wages on federally funded construction and service contracts, the U.S. Department of Labor is offering virtual compliance seminars in August for contracting agencies, contractors, unions, workers and other stakeholders.

July 2, 2021

Statement by US Secretary of Labor Walsh on the June Jobs Report

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the June 2021 Employment Situation Report:

June 22, 2021

US Department of Labor announces dialogue to promote employment equity for women workers

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor announced today’s launch of a national online dialogue to gather ideas to improve labor outcomes for women, especially economically disadvantaged women. The dialogue will be open until July 9.