EL PASO, TX - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will present an educational forum about developments in its policies and regulations, and its Payroll Audit Independent Determination Program (PAID), in El Paso, Texas, on December 19, 2018.

NASHVILLE, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee has ordered Smiley Dental Associates Inc. – a dental practice based in Nashville, Tennessee – to pay $50,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 10 employees, for violations of minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

CHARLESTON, SC – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division, has ordered Señor Tequila Inc. and Señor Tequila of Summerville LLC to pay $279,269 in back wages and liquidated damages to 68 employees at three South Carolina restaurants. The employer was also assessed $52,615 in civil money penalties.

ST. LOUIS, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited World Wrecking and Scrap Salvage Services Inc. for failing to provide fall protection after two employees suffered fatal injuries at a demolition site in St. Louis, Missouri.

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Turnkey Construction Planners Inc. – a roofing contractor based in Melbourne, Florida – for exposing employees to fall hazards. The company faces $199,184 in penalties.

In the week ending December 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 206,000, a decrease of 27,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 231,000 to 233,000. The 4-week moving average was 224,750, a decrease of 3,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 228,000 to 228,500.

SAVANNAH, GA – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire Inc. – based in Savannah, Georgia – has paid $114,936 in back wages to 165 employees for violating provisions of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

NORCROSS, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Parts Authority LLC - a wholesale auto and truck parts distributor based in Norcross, Georgia - for exposing employees to fire, electrical shock, and struck-by hazards. The company faces $133,406 in penalties.

PHOENIX, AZ – A U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found that Yuma Regional Medical Center – based in Yuma, Arizona – failed to provide adequate breaks and accommodations for nursing mothers attempting to express breast milk while on the job, violating the Break Time for Nursing Mothers provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today visited California to discuss Administration efforts to assist American workers who are recovering from last month’s devastating wildfires. Secretary Acosta toured impacted areas of Paradise before participating in roundtable discussions in Chico with job creators, fire fighters, and public officials.

DORAL, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Nupress of Miami Inc. for exposing employees to amputation, electrical, and fall hazards. The Doral, Florida, commercial printer faces $71,139 in penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced additional incremental funding for a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the California Department of Employment Development to assess workforce needs in response to wildfires that affected the state in October and December 2017.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) has been approved for the California Department of Employment Development to assess workforce needs in response to November 2018 wildfires throughout California. The funding will assist the state in response to the Camp Fire in Butte County, which is now the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history.

MT. DORA, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), SOL Harvesting LLC – a Haines City, Florida, farm labor contractor – has paid $53,428 in back wages for violating labor provisions of the H-2A visa program.

SANFORD, FL – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Central Florida Bakery Inc. – based in Sanford, Florida – has paid $28,055 in back wages and liquidated damages to 18 employees for violating minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). WHD also assessed the company a civil money penalty of $5,455.

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

"President Trump's policies continue to fuel strong and steady job growth. Two full years since the President's election, 4.6 million jobs have been created, including 155,000 in November. Job gains were significant in manufacturing and transportation and warehousing.

DICKINSON, ND – Wyoming Casing Service Inc. – based in Dickinson, North Dakota – will pay $1,174,291 in back wages to 275 current and former employees after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) revealed violations of the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ST. LOUIS, MO ­- The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will present educational forums about developments in its policies and regulations, and its Payroll Audit Independent Determination Program (PAID), in Jefferson City and in St. Louis, Missouri, on December 11, 2018, and December 20, 2018, respectively.

LOS ANGELES, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor recovered more than $1.5 million in back wages and damages for 668 Southern California garment industry employees in investigations by its Wage and Hour Division (WHD) in Fiscal Year 2018.

WHD investigations found employers paid below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. WHD also determined that employers it investigated often failed to pay employees overtime at time-and-one-half of their regular rates of pay when they worked more than 40 hours in a week, as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

BRIDGEPORT, CT – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Lamar Outdoor Advertising Company have renewed an alliance to help protect the safety and health of employees in the outdoor advertising industry in Connecticut and western Massachusetts.