PHOENIX, AZ – The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a consent judgment against Austin Electric Services LLC and its president Toby Thomas that orders the Avondale, Arizona-based electrical contractor to pay $925,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 366 employees and $75,000 in civil money penalties for a number of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced updates to its procedures for processing H-2B applications. 

DUBLIN, OH – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Check Smart Financial LLC – based in Dublin, Ohio, and operator of 530 CheckCashing USA locations in 12 states – will pay $80,593 in unpaid wages to 474 current and former employees.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – After several investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Best One Tire Group – based in Monroe, Indiana – has agreed to pay $1,023,808 in overtime back wages and liquidated damages for 1,056 employees nationwide for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ATLANTA, GA – Five Kani House restaurants operating in the Atlanta, Georgia-area will pay $361,288 in back wages and liquidated damages to approximately 190 employees after the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia issued a consent judgment against the employer for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SUNRISE, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), J & J Inc. – a painting and water-proofing company based in Sunrise, Florida – will pay $86,530 in back wages to 25 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ODESSA, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has renewed an alliance with West Texas Safety Training Center to help protect the safety and health of oil and gas workers involved in service, transmission, exploration, and production throughout West Texas.

NORTH PLATTE, NE - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Western Engineering Company Inc. after an employee suffered fatal injuries after being pulled into an unguarded slat/drag conveyor at the company's North Platte, Nebraska, asphalt plant. OSHA proposed penalties totaling $89,032.

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta and Hubertus Heil, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, signed a Joint Declaration of Intent underlining the value of cooperation in various areas of international labor policy and practice between the two countries. 

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement regarding the selection of the Department's Continuous Process Improvement team for the Gears of Government Award:

BILLINGS, MT – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and general contractor Langlas & Associates Inc. have established a partnership to protect employees and enhance workplace safety and health at the Lockwood High School construction project in Billings, Montana.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Hilti Inc. – a hardware merchant wholesaler – for exposing employees to struck-by hazards after an employee was injured while operating a forklift at a distribution center in Atlanta, Georgia. The Plano, Texas-based company faces penalties of $164,802.

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has renewed an alliance with Teksolv-American Allied Safety Council (AASC), Southwestern Illinois Building Trades Council (SIBTC), and the Council of Owners and Construction Associates Inc. (COCA) to prevent exposures to hazards in the industrial and utility sectors.

In the week ending February 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 216,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 239,000. The 4-week moving average was 235,750, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 231,750. This is the highest level for this average since January 20, 2018 when it was 237,500.

NATCHEZ, MS – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited von Drehle Corp. – a paper products manufacturer – for several workplace safety hazards that put employees at risk of injury at its facility in Natchez, Mississippi. The paper manufacturer faces $303,657 in penalties, including one for the maximum amount allowed by law.  

LIGONIER, PA - After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Bethlen Home of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America – a continuing care retirement community based in Ligonier, Pennsylvania – paid $39,704 in back wages and liquidated damages to 92 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

BRISTOL, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Frizzell Construction Co. Inc. – based in Bristol, Tennessee – will pay $195,193 in back wages, and fringe benefits to 27 employees for violating requirements of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA), the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

CLEARWATER, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Advanced Marketing & Processing Inc. – a warrantee insurance company based in Clearwater, Florida – has paid $89,866 in back wages to 138 employees for violations of the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

JEFFERSON, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Hubbell Inc. – a lighting manufacturer based in Shelton, Connecticut – will pay $138,753 in back wages and liquidated damages to 829 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at its distribution facility in Jefferson, Georgia.

HONOLULU, HI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Edwin De Luz Trucking & Gravel LLC – a trucking company based in Waimea, Hawaii – has paid $59,888 in back wages and liquidated damages to 12 employees for violating overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).