April 6, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Uncovers Healthcare Fraud, Leads to 71-Month Sentence for Florida Recovery Residence Owner

BOYNTON BEACH, FL – Following a U.S. Department of Labor investigation, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida has sentenced Albert Samukia Jones-Saye, the owner of a substance abuse recovery residence, to 71 months in prison and three years of supervised release. The sentencing is in addition to $2,071,406 in court-ordered restitution by Jones-Saye following a previous guilty plea to conspiring with others to commit healthcare fraud.

April 6, 2018

Mine Safety and Health Administration Publishes Final Rule on Examinations of Working Places in Metal and Nonmetal Mines

ARLINGTON, VA – As the U.S. Department of Labor works to protect the safety and health of America’s miners, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced that it will publish its Final Rule on Examinations of Working Places in Metal and Nonmetal Mines in the Federal Register on April 9, 2018.

April 6, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Seeks to Prevent Georgia Roadway Worksite Injuries Through Safety Stand-Down Events

ATLANTA, GA – The Federal Highway Administration, the state of Georgia, local government organizations, and employers are partnering with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to sponsor events to train road workers on the dangers from roadway work activities, during National Highway Work Zone Awareness Week, April 9-13.

April 6, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor to Host Event in Iowa for Ames Lab Workers

AMES, IA – The U.S. Department of Labor will host an outreach event in Ames on April 17, 2018, for former and current nuclear weapons workers and their survivors. Federal representatives from the Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (DEEOIC) will discuss the new Special Exposure Cohort class of employees at the Ames Laboratory.

April 6, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Announces the Availability of $12 Million In Grants to Help Veterans Overcome Homelessness and Secure Employment

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) announced today the availability of approximately $12 million in Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) grants to provide veterans with job-driven training to help them successfully transition from homelessness to sustainable housing and good civilian jobs.

April 6, 2018

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Acosta on the March Jobs Report

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

April 5, 2018

Grain-Handling Industry and Safety Professionals Announce ‘Stand-Up for Grain Engulfment Prevention Week,’ April 9-13

KANSAS CITY, MO ‒ To raise awareness about grain engulfment prevention and other hazards in the grain handling industry, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) formed an alliance to provide information, guidance, and access to resources to help protect employees.

April 5, 2018

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending March 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 242,000, an increase of 24,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 215,000 to 218,000. The 4-week moving average was 228,250, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 224,500 to 225,250.

Read the full release.

April 4, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Investments to Help Americans Successfully Transition From Incarceration Into the Workplace

WASHINGTON, DC – President Donald J. Trump’s Administration is committed to reducing recidivism and breaking the cycle of crime to make American communities safer.  As part of that effort, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $82.5 million investment to help Americans exit incarceration and integrate into the workforce.

April 3, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Omaha Company for Exposing Workers To Trenching Hazards, Proposes $38,061 in Penalties

OMAHA, NE – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Omaha-based plumbing contractor Gavrooden Inc. for the second time in less than six months for failing to protect its workers from excavation collapse hazards. Gavrooden Inc., doing business as Mr. Rooter Plumbing, faces proposed penalties of $38,061.

April 3, 2018

Florida Roofing Companies to Pay $239,893 in Back Wages To 259 Employees Following Hurricane Irma Rebuilding Efforts

TAMPA, FL – Investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division into rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma have resulted in 11 roofing companies paying $239,893 in back wages to 259 employees for violations of the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

April 2, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $5 Million in Back Wages and Damages for 1,471 Restaurant Employees in New Jersey and New York

CAMDEN, NJ – Two companies that operate 17 Houlihan’s franchisee restaurants in New Jersey and New York and their owner Arnold Runestad will pay $5,000,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 1,471 current and former employees to resolve a U.S. Department of Labor lawsuit alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The agreement is part of a consent judgment filed on April 2, 2018, that is pending review and approval by the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

March 30, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Sues Hair Salon for Firing Stylist Following Reports of Health and Safety Hazards

KENNETT SQUARE, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Blown Away Dry Bar and Salon and its owners, Jennifer and Rand Singer, for allegedly terminating a hairstylist whose husband reported hazards to the Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

March 30, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in General Foreman at Port Elizabeth Being Sentenced to Two Years in Prison and Paying $749,000 in Restitution for Salary Fraud

NEWARK, NJ – After a U.S. Department of Labor investigation, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has sentenced Paul Moe, Sr., a member of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and general foreman for a Port Elizabeth terminal operator, to 24 months in prison for fraudulently collecting a nearly $500,000 annual salary, much of which was for work he never performed. The court also sentenced Moe to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $749,000 in restitution.

March 30, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Oahu Restaurant Owner Paying $60,721 in Overtime to 62 Employees

HONOLULU, HI – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, the owners of four Ichiriki Japanese Nabe Restaurants on Oahu will pay $60,721 in overtime owed to 62 employees to resolve pay violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 30, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Restaurant Operator Paying Employees $144,884 in Back Wages and Damages

LUMBERTON, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, a U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina has ordered Del Sol Partnership 2 Inc. and its owner, Pablo Salgado, to pay $144,884 in back wages and liquidated damages to 15 employees for violating the overtime, minimum wage, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 29, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Court Order Requiring Concrete Company to Pay Employees $412,000 in Back Wages and Damages

WESTBURY, NY – After an investigation and litigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York has ordered Casa Concrete Inc., a provider of concrete services, and its officers, Alice Fernandes and Manuel Fernandes, to pay $412,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 20 employees for violating the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 29, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites New Jersey Construction Company Following Employee Fatality

BLACKWOOD, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Blackwood-based AP Construction Inc. for safety violations after an employee suffered fatal injuries while working on a Camden waterfront construction project.

March 29, 2018

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending March 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 215,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since January 27, 1973 when it was 214,000. The previous week's level was revised down by 2,000 from 229,000 to 227,000. The 4-week moving average was 224,500, a decrease of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,250 from 223,750 to 225,000.

March 29, 2018

CORRECTED: U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Federal Contractor Paying $354,978 in Back Wages to 14 Employees

ATLANTA, GA – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation, Insight Global LLC will pay $354,978 in back wages to 14 employees for violating provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA). The Atlanta-based staffing and consulting company committed the violations during performance as a subcontractor to Hewlett Packard on an information technology contract with the U.S. Department of the Navy.