WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the awarding of 20 grants totaling nearly $24 million as part of the Job Corps Scholars Program, a new national demonstration project aimed at providing at-risk youth with job skills instruction, educational opportunities and individualized employment counseling.

In the week ending May 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 2,123,000, a decrease of 323,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 8,000 from 2,438,000 to 2,446,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,608,000, a decrease of 436,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 2,000 from 3,042,000 to 3,044,000.

JACKSONVILLE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Jax Utilities Management Inc. for exposing employees to cave-in hazards at a Jacksonville, Florida, worksite. The construction contractor faces $56,405 in penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of four Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs) totaling $23,823,000 to help address the workforce-related impacts of the public health emergency related to the coronavirus. These awards are funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided $345 million for DWGs to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.

HOUSTON, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited TPC Group LLC for exposing employees to workplace safety and health hazards after a fire and explosion at the Port Neches, Texas, plant in November 2019. The company faces $514,692 in fines.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) determined that the Georgia Department of Human Services wrongly denied emergency paid sick leave to an employee who needed to miss work to care for a child whose school closed due to the coronavirus. As a result, the employer paid $848 in back wages as required under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a webpage with coronavirus-related guidance for construction employers and workers. The guidance includes recommended actions to reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

BRAZIL, IN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Clay County, Indiana, Circuit Court Judge Robert Pell has sentenced Larry Morse – the owner of Western Indiana Logistics Inc. in Brazil, Indiana – to a suspended term of 180 days incarceration and 180 days probation.

Morse pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of deception.

STARKVILLE, MS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Pegasus Tower Co. for exposing employees to falls after a fatality at a Starkville, Mississippi, worksite. The tower building company faces $140,720 in penalties.

DES MOINES, IA – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa has issued a consent order and judgment requiring the fiduciaries of the Shinn 401(k) Retirement Plan to restore $35,032 to the Eddyville, Iowa-based Ben Shinn Trucking Inc.’s employee benefit plan.

SANTA FE, NM – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the New Mexico Human Services Department will pay $1,411 in back wages after initially refusing to provide paid sick leave to an employee who took leave to care for her three young children whose school closed due to coronavirus. The leave is permitted under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA).

SAN ANTONIO, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) Food Management Partners – based in San Antonio, Texas – has paid $1.3 million to 3,000 employees for violations of the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).   

EAU CLAIRE, WI – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Wisconsin Agri-Business Association (WABA), and Wisconsin On-Site Consultation Program have signed a two-year alliance to address safety and health hazards employees face at Wisconsin grain-handling sites.

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:

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement today regarding Memorial Day:

“Memorial Day is a most solemn day on which we honor the Americans who gave their lives in service in the United States Military. The freedom we enjoy today was secured by their sacrifice.”

NORTH MIAMI, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited two contractors for failing to protect employees from fall hazards at a construction worksite in North Miami, Florida. Prestige Estates Property Management LLC of North Miami and Jesus Balbuena of Miami, Florida, face $44,146 in penalties.

SPARKS, MD – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement agreement with the board of trustees of the Food Employers Labor Relations Association (FELRA) and United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association (VEBA) Fund, a multi-employer welfare benefit fund. The agreement requires the trustees of the Sparks, Maryland-based fund to pay $431,818 in previously denied severance benefits to 32 former employees of SuperFresh grocery stores. 

SAN JOSE, CA – The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in San Jose, California, will pay $3,680 to one employee after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found the employer repeatedly failed to provide paid sick leave benefits for time the employee spent home caring for her child whose school closed due to coronavirus.  

SOMERTON, AZ – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has led the Somerton School District to pay $1,000 in back wages to an employee who needed to spend five weeks at home caring for her children whose school closed due to the coronavirus.

JACKSONVILLE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Flat Glass Distributors Inc. for exposing employees to unguarded machinery and electrical hazards at the Jacksonville, Florida, fabrication and distribution facility. The custom glass shaping and cutting distributor faces $121,446 in penalties.