In the week ending December 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 231,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 5,000 from 216,000 to 221,000. The 4-week moving average was 218,750, a decrease of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,250 from 218,000 to 219,250.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the resignation of Assistant Secretary of Labor for Public Affairs Jeffrey Grappone, effective January 3, 2019.

"Jeff Grappone came to the Department of Labor in 2017 as an Assistant Secretary and helped to build and enhance the communication of the Department's work on behalf of America's workforce," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "Assistant Secretary Grappone is highly talented and will ably lead communications at the Senate Republican Conference."

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the resignation of Bryan Jarrett, Acting Administrator for the Wage and Hour Division, effective January 5, 2019.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited roofing company Aspen Contracting Inc. – based in Lee’s Summit, Missouri – and subcontractor J Cuellar LLC – based in West Bend, Wisconsin – for exposing employees to dangerous fall hazards at a Fountain, Colorado construction site. The companies face proposed penalties totaling $147, 998.

In the week ending December 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 216,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 214,000 to 217,000. The 4-week moving average was 218,000, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 222,000 to 222,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta and Idaho Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter today announced a Job Corps Demonstration Project that will make Idaho the first state in the nation to assume operational control of a Job Corps center and the responsibility to provide skills instruction to Job Corps students.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor and the Florida Department of Military Affairs today announced a new Job Corps demonstration project to serve at-risk youth with job skills instruction through an expansion of the Florida National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program at Camp Blanding near Starke, Florida.

WICHITA, KS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Midwest Drywall Company Inc. for safety violations after part of a forklift fatally crushed an employee at the company’s Wichita, Kansas, facility.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of SeasonalJobs.dol.gov, a mobile-friendly online portal that is designed to help Americans identify and apply for open seasonal and temporary jobs. The site is a complete redesign of the Office of Foreign Labor Certification’s (OFLC) Public Job Registry, which has served as a repository for seasonal and temporary jobs.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it has issued two new opinion letters. These letters demonstrate the Department’s commitment to providing meaningful compliance assistance to help employees understand their rights and ensure that employers have the tools they need to comply with federal labor law.

The letters released today address the following compliance issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA):

NEW YORK, NY -The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the New Jersey State Industrial Safety Committee have entered into an alliance to raise awareness of the value of workplace safety and health programs for New Jersey businesses.

NEWARK, NJ – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Sinai Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare LLC – a nursing and rehabilitation center in Newark, New Jersey – will pay $130,000 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 174 employees to resolve violations of overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

In the week ending December 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 214,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 206,000. The 4-week moving average was 222,000, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 224,750.

NEW YORK, NY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York has ordered the operators of three Queens, New York, hotels to pay $360,543 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 83 employees to resolve violations of the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The operators will also pay $28,914 in civil penalties and $625 in post-judgment interest.

DURHAM, NC – Duke Patient Revenue Management Organization - operating as Duke University Health System - has paid an employee $9,066 in lost wages and reinstated the employee after a U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded more than $50 million in new funding to non-governmental organizations and a range of organizations to promote labor law enforcement and help end exploitative labor practices in 13 trade partner countries. The funds will support projects to combat abusive labor practices, including the use of child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking. New technical assistance will also support trade partners’ compliance with the labor requirements of U.S. trade agreements and preference programs.

MOUNT HOLLY, NC – Stanton Enterprise Inc. – a McDonald’s franchisee in Mount Holly, North Carolina – has paid a civil penalty of $5,517 following a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation that found the fast-food restaurant violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) child labor requirements after a 15-year-old employee suffered a burn to her arm.

CHICAGO, IL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), a federal court has ordered Great Lakes Lumber and Pallet Inc. – based in Chicago, Illinois – and owner David Radzieta to pay $124,370 in overtime wages and liquidated damages to 20 employees for failing to pay overtime wages. The court also ordered the employer to pay $15,120 in civil money penalties for willfully violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

CLEARWATER, NE – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Thiele Dairy for failing to develop and implement safety and health programs related to grain bin entry after an employee suffered fatal injuries.

MIAMI, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida has sentenced Lawrence Michael Weisberg – President of Weisberg & Associates PA in Boca Raton, Florida – to 6 months in prison and 12 months of supervised release, ordered him to pay a $7,500 fine, and forfeit $41,234 for his role in a healthcare fraud-related money laundering scheme.