May 14, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in San Diego Window Company Paying $45,257 to Resolve Overtime Violations

SAN DIEGO, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Window Restoration Acquisition Corp. – based in Los Alamitos, California – has paid $45,257 in back wages and liquidated damages to seven employees for violating the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

May 14, 2019

Federal Court Grants Motion Sanctioning Missouri Child Care Centers for Failing to Comply with U.S. Labor Department Subpoena

ST. LOUIS, MO – The U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Missouri has ordered Kinder Kidz LLC and Teach Me Kidz Academy LLC – based in St. Louis, Missouri – to pay a $50 daily fine for failing to comply with the Court’s Orders requiring them to respond to federal subpoenas from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) to determine compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

May 14, 2019

Federal Ruling Issued Against Kentucky Tobacco Farmer after U.S. Department of Labor Finds Wage and Visa Program Violations

LEBANON, KY – The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) has issued a decision against James L. Brady Sr. – a tobacco farmer based in Lebanon, Kentucky – after an investigation by the Department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found he violated provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA), and the H-2A visa program.

May 14, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Three San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants Paying $243,086 to Resolve Wage Violations

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A restaurant enterprise with three locations in the San Francisco Bay Area will pay $224,465 in back wages to 25 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employers willfully violated the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Additionally, WHD assessed the enterprise $18,621 in civil penalties for the willful nature of the violations, and for a child labor recordkeeping violation.

May 14, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Silicon Valley Company Paying $942,548 in Back Wages, Damages, and Penalties

SAN JOSE, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Yaana Technologies – a Silicon Valley data collection services company based in Milpitas, California – will pay $910,878 in back wages and liquidated damages to 34 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Additionally, WHD assessed $31,670 in civil penalties because of the repeat nature of the violations found.

May 14, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Chief of Staff Nicholas Geale Leaving Department at the End of May

WASHINGTON, DC  - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the upcoming resignation of Chief of Staff Nicholas Geale effective May 31, 2019.

"I want to thank the dedicated and professional staff of the Department of Labor for helping to do so much good work for our nation," said Geale. "I am very excited to spend time with my new family and take on the next challenges of our journey."

May 14, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor to Award $5 Million Grant to Economically Empower Vulnerable Women and Girls in the Agriculture Sector in Colombia

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its intent to award a $5 million grant for a project to economically empower vulnerable women and girls in the agricultural sector in Colombia, as part of the administration's support of the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP).

May 14, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor will Award $4 Million Grant to Assist Workers in Colombian Export Sectors to Enforce Labor Rights

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its intent to award up to $4 million in grant funding to assist workers in priority sectors of Colombia in exercising their labor rights. Grant activities will focus on developing centers that educate workers on their rights, train them to identify potential labor law violations in workplaces, and assist workers to submit and track well-supported, well-articulated claims to initiate labor inspections and pursue legal remedies. 

May 13, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $342,334 After Investigation Finds Virginia Company Violated Contract

RALEIGH, NC - Kingfisher Systems Inc. – a federal contractor that provides information technology support at two North Carolina military installations, and based in Falls Church, Virginia – has paid $342,334 in wages and fringe benefits to 45 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

May 13, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Auto Repair Shop Paying $35,542 in Back Wages, Damages and Penalties

WEST MIFFLIN, PA - After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Leschak Automotive Inc. – an auto repair shop based in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania – has paid $15,445 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 10 employees to resolve violations of federal overtime requirements. WHD also assessed a $4,652 civil money penalty due to the willful nature of the violation.

May 13, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Iowa U.S. Postal Office For Blocked Exits and Failing to Train on Emergency Plan

ANKENY, IA ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for obstructing exit routes and failing to train employees at the postal facility in Ankeny, Iowa. OSHA proposed $184,694 in penalties.

OSHA inspected the facility after receiving a complaint from the National Association of Letter Carriers. OSHA cited USPS for blocking exit routes with mail hampers, tubs, and packages, and failing to train employees on emergency action procedures.

May 10, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Oregon Construction Contractor Paying $98,461 to 51 Employees to Resolve Overtime Violations

PORTLAND, OR – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), TT& L Sheet Metal Inc. – based in Beaverton, Oregon – will pay $98,461 in back wages to 51 employees for violating overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

May 10, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites New Jersey Roofing Contractor

WOODLAND PARK, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Eastern Contractors LLC for exposing employees to falls and other safety hazards at a worksite in Paterson, New Jersey.

May 9, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Joins Partnership to Promote Workplace Safety During Construction of Georgia Tech Student Center in Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) signed a strategic partnership with Gilbane Building Co. to promote worker safety and health during construction of a 216,484 square-foot student center at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia.

May 9, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Awards $3 Million in National Dislocated Worker Funding to Iowa for Storm Recovery Activities

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today approved a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) awarded to Iowa Workforce Development to assess workforce needs in response to recent storms and floods affecting more than half of the state. On March 12, 2019, a major storm system, described as a “bomb cyclone,” brought heavy rains and unusually warm temperatures after a winter of substantial snow and cold temperatures, resulting in historic flooding.

May 9, 2019

Erica Clayton Wright Named Acting Director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced Erica Clayton Wright has been named Acting Director of the Women's Bureau.

May 9, 2019

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending May 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 228,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 230,000. The 4-week moving average was 220,250, an increase of 7,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 212,500.

May 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Kansas Aircraft Manufacturer For Exposing Employees to Known Carcinogen

WICHITA, KS ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Spirit Aerosystems Inc. – based in Wichita, Kansas – for exposing employees to carcinogen hazards. The company faces penalties of $193,218 for two repeated and four serious violations.

May 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Conducting Wage Survey of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Construction Projects

GUAYNABO, PR – The U. S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting a survey of all building, highway, residential, and heavy construction projects active in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico that occurred between July 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018. The purpose to establish prevailing wage rates as required under the Davis Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA). This survey is not limited to federally funded construction projects. 

May 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $2,772,977 For 6,450 Disaster Recovery Workers

PHILADELPHIA, PA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), WSP USA Services Inc. - based in Winchester, Virginia, and doing business as WSP USA Inspection Services, Inc. - has paid $2,772,977 in back wages to 6,450 employees for violating the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).