WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) has published a final rule under the Black Lung Benefits Act conforming the Department's payment of medical benefits for disabled coal miners to industry standards and streamlining bill-processing procedures.

WASHINGTON, DC – Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and Brighthouse Life Insurance Company have agreed to work with the U.S. Department of Labor to determine whether more than 2,000 retirement plans in their custody are abandoned. If plans are found to be abandoned, the companies will submit them to the Department's Abandoned Plan Program (APP). This may result in distributions of up to approximately $116 million to 20,000 participants. Ascensus Trust Company will be submitting plans to the Abandoned Plan Program on behalf of MetLife and Brighthouse.

DARLINGTON, SC – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has resulted in the Darlington County, South Carolina, Sheriff's Office paying $48,229 in back wages to six deputies for violating overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

APPLETON, WI ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Appleton roofing contractor Hector Hernandez again after OSHA inspectors observed employees exposed to falls and other safety hazards at two Wisconsin job sites. OSHA proposed penalties of $120,320.

CHICAGO, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into an agreement with the fiduciaries of the National Allied Workers Union (NAWU) Local 831 Insurance Trust Fund to restore $1,113,636 to the Chicago-based health insurance trust fund after an investigation found violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The fiduciaries will make an immediate payment of $813,636 to the NAWU Local 831 Insurance Trust Fund – Claims Reserve Account and $300,000 to the NAWU Local 831 Insurance Trust Fund – Independent Fiduciary Payment Account.

ARLINGTON, VA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has announced the availability of $10,537,000 in state grant funding to provide federally mandated training and retraining of miners and mine operators working at surface and underground coal and metal and nonmetal mines.

DENVER, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited EnviroTech Services Inc. – based in Greeley, Colorado – after an employee died due to lack of oxygen while cleaning the inside of a railcar. A second employee who tried to rescue the co-worker was also overcome, but survived. EnviroTech Services Inc. faces $64,857 in proposed penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today released the following statement regarding the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) Contingent and Alternative Employment Arrangements survey (May 2017):

"The Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning released the results of its 2017 Contingent Worker Survey; BLS anticipates releasing the results of the Contingent Worker Supplement questions this September.

In the week ending June 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 222,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 221,000 to 223,000. The 4-week moving average was 225,500, an increase of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 222,250 to 222,750.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is currently engaged in an education and enforcement initiative to educate industry stakeholders, employers, and employees in the Southeast’s agricultural industry about federal wage laws, and to provide compliance assistance to employers. The initiative includes educational outreach events and investigations of employers.

WASHINGTON, DC – For the first time on record, the number of American job openings exceeds the number of job seekers – providing the latest indicator of continued job growth and economic strength under President Donald J. Trump.

SEATTLE, WA – Mt. Baker Roofing has paid a total of $63,486 to a former employee after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found that the employer violated requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and interfered with the employee’s ability to exercise his rights under that law. Mt. Baker Roofing paid $31,743 for lost wages and increased medical expenses incurred by the employee due to the loss of health benefits upon termination of employment, and also paid the employee an additional $31,743 in liquidated damages.

GRANT, MI – Michigan roofing and siding contractor American Classic Construction Inc. will pay $310,000 in back overtime wages and liquidated damages to 74 employees following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) in Grand Rapids that found the employer had violated overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  

PHILADELPHIA, PA – In an effort to help establish prevailing wage rates, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting a survey of heavy construction projects in Virginia to collect data on wages paid to workers, as required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts.

The survey includes wages paid on all heavy construction projects that occurred in Virginia between March 1, 2017, and February 28, 2018. The survey is not limited to federally funded construction projects.

CONCORD, NH – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited EWP Renewable Corp., doing business as Springfield Power LLC, for 25 safety violations after an employee suffered fatal injuries after he was pulled into a conveyor at the company’s Springfield plant in November 2017. The Mount Laurel, New Jersey, company faces $125,460 in proposed penalties.

BOSTON, MA – After multiple investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit ordered a Maine roofing contractor who has operated as Lessard Roofing & Siding Inc. and Lessard Brothers Construction Inc. to implement a comprehensive safety and training program after receiving repeated citations for exposing workers to falls.

SEATTLE, WA – Ecos Homecare Inc., owners of three Washington State residential home-care facilities, will pay $213,461 to 26 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found overtime and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

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

“With the unemployment rate falling to 3.8% in May, the lowest in over 18 years, America’s job market remains strong. The unemployment rates for African-Americans and Asian-Americans reached record lows. Adult women and adult men recorded the lowest unemployment rates since 2000, at 3.3% and 3.5% respectively.

In the week ending May 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 221,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 234,000. The 4-week moving average was 222,250, an increase of 2,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 219,750.

Read the full release.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a federal lawsuit seeking an injunction and payment of $131,508 – representing $65,754 in overtime back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages – for 25 employees of a Minneapolis flooring company.