ROME, GA – After a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Neaton Rome Inc. – an automobile parts manufacturer based in Rome, Georgia – has reinstated and paid an employee $13,133 in lost wages as WHD found the employer terminated the employee in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

In the week ending September 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 204,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 217,000 to 219,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,500, a decrease of 4,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 216,250 to 216,750.  

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the Connecticut Department of Labor for up to $4,757,845, with $1,585,948 released initially. This grant will provide disaster-relief jobs and employment services to eligible individuals in Connecticut affected by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.

COLUMBIA, MD – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and key stakeholders in the elevator industry have signed an alliance to protect industry employees and promote workplace safety and health nationwide.

FRANKLIN, OH ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Faurecia Emissions Control Systems NA LLC have reached an agreement that calls for the auto parts manufacturer – based in Franklin, Ohio – to abate hazards cited by OSHA in July 2019 and to pay penalties of $188,329. The company will remain in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

NEW YORK, NY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), E-Z Station Inc. - operator of a Mobil gas station in Long Island City, New York - has paid seven employees $129,722 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid $2,706 in penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it has issued three new opinion letters that address compliance issues related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA). An opinion letter is an official, written opinion by the Department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) on how a particular law applies in specific circumstances presented by the individual person or entity that requested the letter.

The opinion letters issued today are:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) Division of Federal Employees' Compensation (DFEC) has re-affirmed its award of a contract to Coventry Health Care Workers' Compensation Inc. that will allow the program to implement changes that improve and expand medication safety and quality initiatives for injured federal workers. The Department is committed to fighting the effects of opioid misuse for federal workers.

DENVER, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Kamphuis Pipeline Company – based in Grand Rapids, Michigan – have reached a settlement agreement that the excavating company will cease business operations and pay penalties of $509,071 for willful and serious violations of OSHA’s trenching and excavation standards.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed a two-year alliance with the Pennsylvania OSHA Consultation Program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry's Bureau of Workers' Compensation to provide employers and employees with information, guidance and access to training resources to promote safe and healthful workplaces.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) urges response crews and residents in areas affected by Hurricane Dorian to be aware of hazards created by flooding, power loss, structural damage, fallen trees, and storm debris.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) funding of $503,079, awarded to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to provide reemployment services to individuals impacted by the closure of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, owned by Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced actions it is taking to assist Americans in states affected by Hurricane Dorian.

"The U.S. Department of Labor is actively engaged in Administration-wide efforts to help those impacted by Hurricane Dorian," said Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella. "As Americans from across the country rally to help each other, the Department of Labor is committed to supporting recovery efforts."

U.S. Department of Labor actions taken regarding Hurricane Dorian include the following:

ARLINGTON, VA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has announced the award of $400,000 in funding through its Brookwood-Sago grant program to support education and training to help identify, avoid and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around the nation's mines. 

WASHINGTON, DC – Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella issued the following statement on the August 2019 Employment Situation report:

"America's economy continued to show strength in August. The 3.7% unemployment rate marks the eighteenth straight month the unemployment rate has been at or below 4%. Unemployment rates for African-Americans set a new record low at 5.5% and Hispanic-Americans matched a record low at 4.2%.

"Since January of 2017 more than 5.8 million jobs have been created including the 130,000 jobs created in August.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced guidance clarifying affirmative action program (AAP) development for academic institutions and other contractors with campus-like settings, and advancing the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded additional National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) funding to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to continue disaster-relief efforts in response to Hurricane Michael and to provide career and training services to individuals forced to relocate in the storm's aftermath.

PROVIDENCE, RI – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, three Rhode Island nursing care facilities have paid $192,622 in back wages and liquidated damages to 89 employees to resolve violations of the overtime and minimum wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The facilities also paid $68,796 in civil penalties, while their parent company has agreed to FLSA compliance at all its locations.

In the week ending August 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 217,000, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 215,000 to 216,000. The 4-week moving average was 216,250, an increase of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 214,500 to 214,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor released the following update regarding Senior Policy Advisor Leif Olson of the Wage and Hour Division.