WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today published a final rule amending its regulations regarding the adjudication of temporary and seasonal need for employers seeking herding or production of livestock on the range job opportunities. The rule appears in today’s Federal Register.

In the week ending December 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 206,000, an increase of 18,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 4,000 from 184,000 to 188,000. The 4-week moving average was 203,750, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since November 15, 1969 when it was 202,750. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,000 from 218,750 to 219,750.

DALLAS – Many home healthcare workers performed their jobs heroically in the face of challenges and risks presented by the global pandemic. Yet, their efforts were undercut by industry employers who failed to pay them for the essential, sometimes life-saving work performed. A recent federal investigation found the operators of two related Garland home care agencies underpaid workers in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

CINCINNATI – A federal judge in Cincinnati sentenced Ron Craig Estes to 18 months in prison on Dec. 14 after the Cincinnati businessman pleaded guilty to one count of theft or embezzlement from an employee benefit plan and one count of mail fraud.

JACKSON, AL – On Aug. 8, a 61-year-old maintenance employee of iSpice LLC in Jackson had part of his finger amputated while adding wrapping material to a machine that started and trapped his hand. His employer failed to ensure proper guarding was installed. The incident occurred less than six months after the U.S.

BILLINGS, MT – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Langlas & Associates Inc. have signed a strategic partnership to prevent serious hazards, and enhance workplace safety and health practices for workers on the Rocky Vista University construction project in Billings.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $3 million cooperative agreement to the International Labour Organization to improve compliance with international labor standards in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The project will seek to strengthen the ability of governments, employers and workers to improve work conditions related to wages and hours and workplace safety.

MADISON, WI – A U.S. District Court judge in Wisconsin has held a Madison business owner in civil contempt of court after he failed to comply with a March 2021 consent order and judgment requiring him to restore $53,122 to the Thunderbird Engineering Inc. company’s 401(k) Plan.

SANTA FE, NM – In the nation’s third largest market for fine art, industry employers must meet exacting standards to safeguard and transact their clients’ work. Ironically, a recent federal investigation found the operator of a Santa Fe art delivery service was far less careful when it came to paying all of the wages earned by seven of its drivers.

PETAL, MS – The operator of two Mississippi auto service and repair shops has come into compliance after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation recovered $90,068 in back wages for 33 workers and determined the employer failed to pay them overtime as the law requires.

BELLEVUE, WA – A federal investigation has uncovered overtime pay violations at a Bellevue restaurant that state labor investigators in Washington cited in 2020 for underpaying workers.

MOBILE, AL – As the nation’s largest discount retailer, Dollar General stores are widely known by shoppers in 46 states for their low-price merchandise. At the U.S. Department of Labor, the company is recognized for its long history of violations and repeated failures to protect its workers from on-the-job hazards.

WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris administration today released its semi-annual agenda of regulations required by Executive Order 12866. The agenda provides a listing of all regulations and ensures public engagement in the process of establishing regulations under active consideration by the Department of Labor during the coming one-year period.

SUGAR HILL, GA – Una empresa de paisajismo de Sugar Hill violó los requisitos de los programas federales de trabajadores agrícolas temporarios H-2A con respecto a las horas, los salarios, los costos de transporte y las tareas, según determinó una investigación del

ORLANDO, FL – Three Florida beekeeping farms felt the sting of civil money penalties for failing to comply with federal laws regarding pay practices and the employment of migrant and seasonal workers.

SUGAR HILL, GA – A Sugar Hill landscape company violated requirements of the federal H-2A temporary agricultural worker programs related to hours, wages, transportation costs and work assignments, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor determined.

NUEVA YORK - Tres empresas de suministro y construcción de hormigón de Bellport y su propietario, que durante tres años no pagaron las horas extras a 99 obreros, han sido condenados a pagar a los trabajadores un total de $987,591 dólares en concepto de salarios atrasados y daños y perjuicios, más intereses, en una sentencia acordada dictada por el Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito Este de Nueva York.

NEW YORK – Three Bellport concrete supply and construction companies and their owner, who schemed for three years to deny overtime pay to 99 laborers, have been ordered to pay the workers a total of $987,591 in back wages and liquidated damages, plus interest, in a consent judgment entered in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

In the week ending December 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 184,000, a decrease of 43,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since September 6, 1969 when it was 182,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 5,000 from 222,000 to 227,000. The 4-week moving average was 218,750, a decrease of 21,250 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 7, 2020 when it was 215,250. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,250 from 238,750 to 240,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and U.S Department of Justice today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to reaffirm their commitment to administer and enforce the protections afforded to military service members and veterans by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994.