WASHINGTON — Fulfilling a promise by President Obama to ensure that direct care workers receive a fair day's pay for a fair day's work, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule today extending the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage and overtime protections to most of the nation's workers who provide essential home care assistance to elderly people and people with illnesses, injuries or disabilities.

US Labor Department finds clubhouse and administrative workers not paid properly

WASHINGTON — —The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division announced today that T.G.I .Fridays, a subsidiary of Minnesota-based Carlson, has agreed to change its leave policy to be in compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act. The move affects employees at its 272 company-owned locations. The company has also agreed to correct violations of the FMLA found during an investigation of one of its restaurants in Shreveport, La., and pay an employee $1,455 in back wages.

WASHINGTON — As part of the 75th anniversary of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is challenging innovative minds to develop a smartphone application that will transform the way the public is able to use departmental enforcement data. By providing consumers with information at their fingertips about which businesses have treated their workers fairly and lawfully, the creator of this application will help empower consumers to make informed choices about where to bring their business.

Wage and Hour Division refers case to US Justice Department

Conferences to be held in New York and New Jersey

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division today announced that it will host two conferences in areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy to provide information and training on the rules concerning prevailing wage requirements under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts and the Service Contract Act. The conferences are a key component of the Wage and Hour Division's efforts to increase compliance with federal prevailing wage requirements.

Consent judgment also includes order to pay $50,000 in lost wages to former employee

HYDRO, Okla. — Rigid Oil Field Services LLC has agreed to pay $51,839 in overtime back wages to 28 current and former employees following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, which found violations of the overtime and record-keeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The company misclassified its employees as independent contractors.

Agreement covers Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri

NUEVA ORLEANS — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division and the consulate general of Honduras today in New Orleans signed an agreement of understanding to combine resources and coordinate efforts to inform employers about the laws enforced by the department and to educate Honduran nationals working in Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri about their rights under United States law.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division and the franchisor of the world's largest restaurant chain are collaborating to increase compliance with federal labor laws at SUBWAY locations nationwide. Although these restaurants are independently owned and operated, the franchisor is providing a forum and resources to assist the division in educating franchisees.

BROUSSARD, La. — Hutco Inc., a major industrial services employment agency, has agreed to pay $1,916,850 in back wages to 2,267 employees assigned to client work sites throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. An investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that the company utilized improper pay and record-keeping practices that resulted in employees being denied overtime compensation in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Driver and family lost income, critical health care coverage when company changed hands

PHOENIX — A U.S. district court judge in Phoenix by a consent judgment has ordered that an Arizona delivery driver be offered reinstatement and receive back pay and reimbursement of medical expenses under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Recovery is among largest in department's history

LOS ANGELES — U.S. District Court Judge Margaret Morrow has ordered Los Angeles-based apparel retailer Forever 21 to produce documents demanded by an administrative subpoena issued by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. The order is the latest in a series of actions to arise from the department's continuing effort to address widespread violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping provisions in the Southern California apparel industry.

Company agrees to extensive monitoring program to ensure future FLSA compliance

MADISON, N.J. — Daniyal Enterprises LLC and owner Waseem Chaudhary, and other companies owned and operated by Chaudhary, have agreed to pay $2 million in overtime back wages and an additional $1 million in liquidated damages to 417 workers employed at 72 of Chaudhary's New Jersey gas stations after investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

GREENFIELD, Wis. — Meyer's Family Restaurant has agreed to pay $116,102 in back wages to 38 employees following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division that disclosed violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime pay and record-keeping provisions.

Ongoing initiative strengthens labor law compliance in Floridas agricultural industry

PLANT CITY, Fla. — San-Way Farms Inc. and owner Wayne Moss have paid $53,800 in back wages to 391 employees after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division disclosed significant violations of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. The department assessed the employer an additional $35,000 in civil money penalties, which have also been paid in full.

Patrick Lyons to alert fellow restaurateurs of need to pay proper wages

Investigation found employee terminated for refusing to return wages earned

SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Diamond Tree Experts Inc. after an investigation by the Wage and Hour Division found that the company violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by discriminating against employees for exercising their rights under the law.

Company misclassified employees as independent contractors; failed to pay minimum wage

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A federal judge has ordered kgb USA Inc., the world's largest independent provider of directory assistance and enhanced information services, to pay $1.3 million in minimum wage compensation to 14,568 of its current and former employees nationwide for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.