HARTFORD, CT – The U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut has entered a consent judgment and ordered a Fairfield restaurant and its owner to pay $244,930 in back wages and liquidated damages to eight employees, as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.

BUFFALO, NY – On Jan. 20, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division will participate in a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Service Corps of Retired Executives’ (SCORE) event to provide information and resources to entrepreneurs and small business owners on starting or growing a small business. 

The “Straight Talk 2018” seminar, sponsored by the SBA’s Buffalo District Office and SCORE’s Buffalo Niagara chapter, will be held at Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, Convention Center Plaza, in Buffalo, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement today regarding President Trump’s remarks in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on tax reform legislation he signed into law last month:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of the HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration — an effort that will recognize up to 300 employers for their investments in recruiting, employing, and retaining our nation’s veterans.

In the week ending January 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 220,000, a decrease of 41,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 261,000. This is the lowest level for initial claims since February 24, 1973 when it was 218,000. The 4-week moving average was 244,500, a decrease of 6,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 250,750.

VIDALIA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division will host free compliance assistance seminars for Georgia agricultural employers and farm labor contractors to promote compliance with the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) and the labor provisions of the H-2A temporary worker program.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement regarding Martin Luther King, Jr., Day:

“Today, we honor the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his historic efforts to advance the fundamental American ideals of liberty and justice for all. As the Department of Labor observes Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, we remember Dr. King’s words: ‘Whatever your life’s work is, do it well.’” 

CHICAGO, IL – Following a U.S. Department of Labor investigation, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois entered a judgment requiring Michael Lewis, former president of Acme Orthotics and Prosthetic Laboratories Inc., to restore $128,535.75 in losses owed to the company’s Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan and Trust (“Plan”).

In the week ending January 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 261,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 250,000. The 4-week moving average was 250,750, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 241,750.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Following a U.S. Department of Labor investigation, a Riverside, California, company has paid $944,000 in back wages and damages to 1,069 employees working as drywall installers and painters. The investigation found that the employees routinely worked more than 40 hours per week without receiving any required overtime pay.

DENVER, CO – Parkside Landscape Inc. has paid $524,063 in back wages to 53 employees and $26,104 in penalties to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and H-2B non-agricultural visa program provisions. The violations were found during an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.

PENNSAUKEN, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Aruvil International Inc. for multiple safety violations at its Pennsauken facility. The chain-link fencing manufacturer faces $199,996 in proposed penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement today regarding President Trump’s remarks on encouraging rural prosperity:

SENOIA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Stalwart Films LLC for failing to protect employees from fall hazards while filming the television show, “The Walking Dead.”  

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today its decision for April 1, 2018, as the applicability date for employee benefit plans to comply with a final rule under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) that will give America’s workers new procedural protections when dealing with plan fiduciaries and insurance providers who deny their claims for disability benefits.

WASHINGTON, DC – On Dec. 19, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit became the fourth federal appellate court to expressly reject the U.S. Department of Labor’s six-part test for determining whether interns and students are employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 

WASHINGTON, DC – With this week’s massive winter storm and frigid temperatures severely impacting the East Coast, the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is urging all those involved in snow removal and cleanup to take precautions and focus on safety.

ANDOVER, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Schnabel Foundation Company for failing to protect employees against crushing hazards while they installed permanent foundation supports beneath the Woburn Public Library. The company faces $212,396 in proposed penalties.

On July 11, 2017, OSHA opened an inspection after learning that a 2,600-pound rock dislodged from the building’s foundation and fatally struck a Schnabel employee.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement on the December 2017 Employment Situation report:

“December’s jobs report shows steady growth with 148,000 jobs created.  The unemployment rate remains at 4.1%, a 17-year low.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Georgia are partnering to sponsor a week-long campaign to reinforce the importance of workplace safety during the winter months. The cold weather Safety Stand-Down is scheduled for the week of Jan. 22-26, 2018. Events will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. EST.