September 17, 2020

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending September 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 860,000, a decrease of 33,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 9,000 from 884,000 to 893,000. The 4-week moving average was 912,000, a decrease of 61,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 2,250 from 970,750 to 973,000.

Read the full release.

September 16, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Massachusetts Dental Practice For Failing to Fully Implement Workplace Respiratory Protections

GEORGETOWN, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Georgetown Dental LLC for violating respiratory protection and other standards at the Georgetown, Massachusetts, location. OSHA cited the dental practice for six serious and one other-than-serious violations, with proposed penalties of $9,500. The company has paid the penalty in full and abated the citations.

September 16, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Court Ordering New York Horse Trainer to Pay $425,000 in Back Wages, Damages and Penalties

NEW YORK, NY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Weaver Racing Inc. and owner George R. Weaver paid a total of $425,000 in court-ordered back wages, liquidated damages and civil penalties for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the labor provisions of the H-2B visa program.

September 15, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Awards $32 Million in Grants To Workforce Information Grants to States

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a total of $32,000,000 in Workforce Information Grants to States (WIGS) for use by states and territories to support the development, management and delivery of workforce and labor market information.

September 15, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Awards Work Opportunity Tax Credit Grants

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of approximately $2,500,000 million in grants through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) that incentivizes workplace diversity and facilitates access to good jobs for American workers.

These awards will help state workforce agencies streamline their business processes and systems to reduce the processing backlog, including the number of accumulated certification requests that employers have submitted and await processing.

September 15, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Awards Nearly $11.2 Million in Dislocated Worker Grants in Response to Coronavirus Public Health Emergency

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of three Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs) totaling $11,150,278 to Oklahoma, Washington and Wisconsin, to help address the workforce-related impacts of the coronavirus public health emergency.

September 15, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Availability of $40 Million To Address Rural Healthcare Workforce Shortages

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the availability of up to $40 million in funding in the Rural Healthcare Grant Program to address rural healthcare workforce shortages in communities across the country.

September 15, 2020

Atlanta, Georgia, Consulting Company Pays $1,599 in Back Wages To Employee Instructed to Self-Quarantine Due to Coronavirus Concerns

ATLANTA, GA – Risk & Insurance Consultants Inc. – based in Atlanta, Georgia – has paid $1,599 in back wages after denying paid sick leave to an employee who received a healthcare professional’s instructions to self-quarantine due to coronavirus concerns.

September 14, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Awards $1 Million to Maryland to Provide Technical Assistance to Implement Workforce Innovation Programs

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a grant of $1,052,528 to the State of Maryland in a cooperative agreement to support Maryland’s Workforce Information Technology Support Center (WITSC).

September 14, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Continues Effort to Raise Awareness of Paid Sick Leave and Lawful Pay Requirements Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

WASHINGTON, DC – As part of its comprehensive response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor is educating workers with a public awareness campaign about workplace rights amid the coronavirus pandemic.

September 14, 2020

San Antonio, Texas-Area Restaurants Pay $71,899 in Back Wages To Employees After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

SAN ANTONIO, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), an enterprise operating three San Antonio, Texas, area restaurants has paid $71,899 in back wages to 327 employees to resolve violations of the tip-pooling requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

September 14, 2020

Guam Construction Company to Pay $109,112 in Back Wages and Penalties For Overtime Violations Found by U.S. Department of Labor

DEDEDO, GUAM – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Modern Konstrak – a construction company based in Dededo, Guam – will pay $85,993 to 75 employees for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime requirements. The employer will also pay $23,118 in penalties for the willful nature of the violations.

September 13, 2020

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.

Reopening America’s Economy:

September 11, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Cites New Jersey Hospital For Failing to Protect Workers from the Coronavirus

PARAMUS, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited CarePlus Bergen Inc., doing business as Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, for violating respiratory protection standards at its Paramus, New Jersey, location. OSHA cited the hospital for two serious violations, with proposed penalties of $9,639.

September 11, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Cites JBS Foods Inc. for Failing to Protect Employees from Exposure to the Coronavirus

GREELEY, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited JBS Foods Inc. in Greeley, Colorado, for failing to protect employees from exposure to the coronavirus. OSHA proposed $15,615 in penalties.

September 11, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Hackensack Meridian Health in North Bergen, New Jersey, For Failing to Protect Employees from Coronavirus

NORTH BERGEN, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Hackensack Meridian Health Residential Care Inc. OSHA issued two serious citations and one other-than-serious violation for failing to protect employees from exposure to the coronavirus at its North Bergen, New Jersey, facility. OSHA proposed a penalty of $28,070 for the violations.

September 11, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Revises Regulations to Clarify Paid Leave Requirements under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) today posted revisions to regulations that implemented the paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

September 11, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Partners with Brasfield & Gorrie LLC To Promote Workplace Safety at Construction Site

BIRMINGHAM, AL The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established a strategic partnership with Brasfield & Gorrie LLC to promote worker safety and health at the Protective Stadium project site in Birmingham, Alabama. The University of Alabama Safe State Consultation Program is also a signatory to this agreement and provides full support to ensuring worker safety.

September 11, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Offers Webinar for Iowa Business Owners, Employers and Other Stakeholders on Coronavirus-Related Paid Leave

DES MOINES, IA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the IRS and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are presenting a webinar on paid sick leave, and expanded family and medical leave requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) for Iowa’s employers and business owners.

September 11, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in St. Louis, Missouri-based Vape Shop Paying 55 Employees $123,422 in Back Wages

ST. LOUIS, MO – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), three vape product retail stores operated by Coughing Cardinal LLC in St. Louis, Missouri, and owner Marco DiMaiern will pay 55 employees $123,422 in back wages for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime and recordkeeping requirements.