WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor reminds the nation’s job creators they have one week left to submit their application for the 2019 HIRE Vets Medallion Award. The application period for the inaugural award closes on April 30, 2019.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $2 million in funds for the first year of a cooperative agreement for an employer-focused disability policy development and technical assistance center. The solicitation is a re-competition of an existing cooperative agreement. The deadline to apply is June 24, 2019.

ALLENTOWN, PA - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Alvin H. Butz Inc. have established a strategic partnership to promote workplace safety during an expansion project at B. Braun Medical Inc., a medical device manufacturer in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

WILMINGTON, DE – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware has ordered El Tapatio, Inc. - operator of El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant in Wilmington, Delaware - to pay $128,051 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 20 employees for violating the minimum and overtime wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ATLANTA, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Postal Fleet Services Inc. – based in Saint Augustine, Florida – will pay $329,057 in back wages and benefits to 53 employees for violating requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited UHS of Denver Inc. – doing business as Highlands Behavioral Healthcare System and based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado – for failing to protect employees from violence in the workplace. The company faces penalties of $11,934.

CONCORD, NH  – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited DCI Inc. for exposing employees to crushing and struck-by hazards at its Lisbon, New Hampshire, manufacturing plant. The furniture manufacturer faces a total of $378,488 in penalties after OSHA found 37 violations of workplace safety and health standards at the facility.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has approved additional funding for the Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) awarded to the Texas Workforce Commission in response to Hurricane Harvey.

MEMPHIS, TN – McKesson Specialty Distribution LLC – a California-based distributor for a federally funded children's vaccine program – will pay $1,650,452 in back wages and fringe benefits to 515 employees after discovering and self-reporting violations of the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA) to the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD).

APEX, NC – After an investigation by the a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), La Rancherita Inc. – operating as La Rancherita Mexican Restaurant in Apex, North Carolina – has paid $53,100 in back wages to 18 employees to resolve violations of the overtime, minimum wage, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

In the week ending April 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 192,000, a decrease of 5,000 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 1,000 from 196,000 to 197,000. The 4-week moving average was 201,250, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since November 1, 1969 when it was 200,500. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 207,000 to 207,250.

HUNTSVILLE, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed a strategic partnership with the University of Alabama Consultation Program, the United Association of Journeymen Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the U.S. and Canada Union, and Holder Construction to promote worker safety and health during construction of a Huntsville, Alabama, data center.

The partners seek to prevent injuries and exposure to hazards during the construction of a 416-acre data center.

MIAMI, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed a strategic partnership with the University of South Florida Safety and Health Consultation Program, and Shawmut Design and Construction Co. to promote worker safety and health during the construction of the 39,700-square-foot Ransom Everglades School development project in Miami, Florida. The project includes a drop-off loop, two parking lots, and meeting space for the science, technology, engineering, and math facility.

ALLENTOWN, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited framing contractor Navy Contractors, Inc. for willfully exposing employees to fall hazards at residential construction sites in Royersford, Collegeville, and Center Valley, Pennsylvania. The company faces $603,850 in penalties.

HAMBURG, PA - After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has awarded $40,000 for lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages to a former employee of Fairmount Foundry Inc. The employee claimed that the Hamburg, Pennsylvania, iron-casting company terminated him for reporting alleged safety and health hazards to OSHA.

MONTGOMERYVILLE, PA - A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has found that Lloyd Industries Inc. – a manufacturing company based in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania – and its owner William P. Lloyd unlawfully terminated two employees because of their involvement in a safety investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

HONOLULU, HI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the operators of five Goma Tei Ramen restaurants in Honolulu, Hawaii, will pay $190,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 49 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

THONOTOSASSA, FL – Orion Builders Service Inc. – based in Thonotosassa, Florida – has paid $265,001 in back wages to 67 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid $17,753 in civil money penalties for repeat violations.

MENDENHALL, MS – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the Simpson County Sheriff's Department – based in Mendenhall, Mississippi – has paid $51,389 in back wages to 43 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

OAK RIDGE, TN – The U.S. Department of Labor will host an event on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to discuss the benefits available to current and former nuclear weapons workers from covered facilities, and their families, under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. Representatives from the Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health will present information on their roles in the program.