ELKHART, IN – Recreational vehicle parts manufacturer Lippert Components – based in Elkhart, Indiana – will pay $338,151 in overtime back wages and liquidated damages to 1,199 current and former employees following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) that found violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at 53 plants nationwide.

COLUMBUS, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and organizations representing many of Ohio's craft brewers have established a two-year alliance to help improve workplace safety in the industry.

HOWELL, NJ - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Hamiltime Herb Co. LLC after inspectors found employees exposed to safety and health hazards in a follow-up investigation at its Howell, New Jersey, facility in May 2018. OSHA proposed penalties totaling $152,829.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today issued the following statement regarding the September 2018 Employment Situation report:

"In September, the unemployment rate fell to 3.7%, the lowest since 1969. 

SCHNECKSVILLE, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited KidsPeace Inc. for exposing employees to workplace violence hazards at two behavioral and mental health facilities in Orefield, Pennsylvania. The company faces proposed penalties totaling $29,010.

CHICAGO, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a motion to amend its complaint requesting that the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, include additional defendants and claims in its action seeking to pay more than $50 million in unpaid participant health benefit claims in the AEU Holdings LLC Employee Benefit Plan.

In the week ending September 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 207,000, a decrease of 8,000 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 207,000, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 206,250 to 206,500.

RALEIGH, NC – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina has signed a consent judgment approving a settlement between the U.S. Department of Labor and Reliance Trust Co. Inc. involving the Tobacco Rag Processors Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The consent judgment requires Reliance Trust Co. Inc. – an Atlanta, Georgia, company – to pay $4,545,454 back to the plan within 30 days. Once the payment is made, the Department will assess a civil penalty of $454,545 against Reliance Trust Co. Inc.   

MEDFORD, NJ - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited DuBell Lumber Company, of Medford, for exposing employees to combustible dust and other hazards. The company faces $106,432 in proposed penalties.

ELKINS PARK, PA – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has ordered SM Choi Inc. – which operates four fast-food establishments in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania – to pay $93,146 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 38 employees for willful violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Department also assessed the employer $26,121 in civil penalties.

AUSTIN, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for safety hazards after receiving a complaint of unsafe working conditions at an Austin, Texas, facility. The company faces proposed penalties totaling $224,585.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has added compliance assistance materials on Association Health Plans (AHPs) to its new Employer.gov website that will help job creators and plan sponsors understand their Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) obligations when setting up and managing AHPs.

FAYETTE, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Larose Industries LLC – which operates as Cra-Z-Art – for continuing to expose employees to amputation hazards. The Fayette, Ohio, art supply manufacturer faces proposed penalties totaling $152,441 for repeated and serious safety violations.

WASHINGTON DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division will host a public listening session in Washington, D.C., to gather views on the Part 541 white-collar exemption regulations, often known as the "Overtime Rule," on October 17, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. EDT.

SUPERIOR, WI – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Superior Refining Company LLC – based in Superior, Wisconsin – for failing to control the use and release of highly hazardous chemicals after an explosion and fire injured several employees. The company faces $83,150 in proposed penalties.

Investigators cited the refinery for eight serious violations of OSHA's process safety management procedures.

CHATTANOOGA, TN – A Tennessee poultry processing facility has paid $36,038 in back wages to 69 employees and a civil penalty of $7,469 after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found Koch Foods Inc. violated the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ARLINGTON, VA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has awarded $10,537,000 in grant funding to support safety and health courses, and other programs. MSHA awarded grants to 46 states, the Navajo Nation, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will offer a compliance seminar for contractors, unions, workers and other interested parties to provide information on the rules governing federal prevailing wage requirements.

WHD will offer the training on October 24, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Ivy Tech Community College Culinary and Conference Center, 2820 North Meridian St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46208.

CHARLESTON, SC – The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of South Carolina has ordered Hugo Villalpando, the owner of La Carreta Mexican restaurants in Charleston and Summerville, South Carolina, to pay $190,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 58 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The action comes after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD).

NORWALK, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited American Excelsior Company – based in Norwalk, Ohio – for machine guarding hazards after an employee required hospitalization when he suffered a crushed arm. Proposed penalties total $213,411.