SAN DIEGO, CA – Twenty-five El Pollo Loco restaurants in San Diego County – operated by Pel/Lion LLC of Oceanside, California – will pay 35 employees $31,939 after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

LOS ANGELES, CA – Templar Transportation Corporation – based in Burbank, California – will pay $80,140 to 26 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Department also assessed the company $12,163 in civil penalties.

GREELEY, CO - The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and JBS USA have entered into a consent decree resolving allegations of hiring discrimination at the company's beef processing facilities in Hyrum, Utah, and Cactus, Texas.

In the week ending November 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 216,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 214,000. The 4-week moving average was 215,250, an increase of 1,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 213,750.

GRAND ISLAND, NE – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Rivera Agri Inc. – a provider of temporary agricultural labor – for failing to protect employees working in excessive heat after a farmworker succumbed to apparent heat-related symptoms while working in a cornfield near Grand Island, Nebraska.

ROME, GA – Crothall Laundry Services Inc. has agreed to pay $72,000 in back wages after a routine compliance evaluation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) found alleged systematic hiring discrimination violations at its Rome, Georgia, worksite.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) today released advance informational copies of the 2018 Form 5500 Annual Return/Report and related instructions. The "Changes to Note" section of the 2018 instructions highlights important modifications to the Form 5500 and Form 5500-SF, and their schedules and instructions. Modifications are as follows:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant (NHE DWG) award to the California Department of Employment Development to provide employment services to eligible individuals in rural California counties impacted by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.  

NEW FRANKEN, WI – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Anna's Healthcare Inc. will pay $113,701 in overtime back wages to 114 current and former employees at both of its Wisconsin residential healthcare facilities in New Franken and Sturgeon Bay. Violations of the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) were identified.

MONTGOMERY, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Sabel Steel Service Inc. – based in Montgomery, Alabama – for exposing employees to amputation, fall, and other hazards at four of the company's facilities. The manufacturer faces $320,261 in penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today announced the start of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW). This year’s theme – Apprenticeships: Creating Tomorrow – celebrates the impact apprenticeship programs have in helping Americans learn skills for jobs in growing industries. NAW will continue through November 18.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today issued the following statement regarding Veterans Day:

DETROIT, MI – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan has sentenced three defendants as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into a multi-year scheme in which Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA) executives made payoffs to senior United Auto Workers International Union (UAW) officials involved in collective bargaining agreements between the union and the company. 

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Georgia have joined for a Winter Weather Safety Stand-Down scheduled to take place November 5-9, 2018, to stress the importance of working safely outdoors during the winter months.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Tom Krips Construction Inc. and Etherna Services Inc. after an employee suffered crushing injuries at a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, worksite.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it has issued four new opinion letters that demonstrate its commitment to providing meaningful compliance assistance to help employees understand their rights and ensure employers have the tools they need to comply with federal labor law. The letters released today address compliance under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other laws.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced recipients of the 2018 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Award, recognizing job creators for their leadership in recruiting, employing, and retaining America's veterans. Honorees include small businesses, community-based nonprofits, and national companies.

WASHINGTON, DC – To make it easier for Americans to find and fill open jobs, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced a proposal for employers seeking temporary labor certifications through the H-2B and H-2A visa programs to advertise jobs online. 

In the week ending November 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 214,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 214,000 to 215,000. The 4-week moving average was 213,750, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 213,750 to 214,000.

LAS VEGAS, NV – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited the United States Postal Service (USPS) $129,336 after investigators determined the employer failed to provide proper safety measures to a Las Vegas, Nevada, mail carrier hospitalized for heat exposure.