October 19, 2018

U.S Department of Labor Cites Roofing Contractor After Accident at Florida Worksite

MAITLAND, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Kasper Roofing & Construction Inc. for exposing employees to fall and other hazards after an employee suffered fatal injuries at a Maitland, Florida, worksite. The Orlando, Florida-based roofing contractor faces $134,510 in penalties, the maximum allowed by law.

October 19, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Orders Massachusetts Railway to Pay $85,000 to Employee Subjected to Retaliation after Reporting Injury

BOSTON, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered Springfield Terminal Railway Inc. to compensate an employee who faced an investigative hearing with possible disciplinary action or termination for reporting an on-the-job injury at its facility in Andover, Massachusetts. OSHA ordered the company to pay the employee $10,000 in compensatory damages, $75,000 in punitive damages, and attorney’s fees.

October 19, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in San Diego Restaurant Paying $192,622 to 18 Employees to Resolve Wage Violations

SAN DIEGO, CA – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Sam Woo – a restaurant based in San Diego, California – will pay 18 employees $192,622 in back wages and liquidated damages for violating provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

October 19, 2018

Federal Court Orders Illinois Pension Plan to Restore $419,758 Following U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

CHICAGO, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into an agreement with the fiduciaries of the Neuroscience Center LLC Defined Benefit Pension Plan to restore $419,758 to the Deerfield, Illinois-based retirement plan. The agreed-upon restoration is part of a consent judgment approved by the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois.

October 19, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Tennessee Drywall Company Paying $103,300 in Back Wages and Liquidated Damages

HERMITAGE, TN – Vazquez Drywall has paid $103,300 in back wages and liquidated damages to eight employees after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the company violated overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). WHD also assessed the Hermitage, Tennessee, company a $2,424 civil penalty.

October 19, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor and Colorado Contractors Host Trench Safety Summit

DENVER, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the North American Excavation Shoring Association (NAXSA) hosted a Colorado Trench Safety Summit.

October 19, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor to Hold Educational Forum in Alpharetta, Georgia Forum Will Include Discussion of PAID Program

ATLANTA, GA - 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 (PAID) Program, in Alpharetta, Georgia, on October 24, 2018.

October 18, 2018

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending October 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 210,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 214,000 to 215,000. The 4-week moving average was 211,750, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 209,500 to 209,750.

October 17, 2018

Federal Court Appoints Successor Fiduciary to Oversee Distribution Of $46,371 to Participants of Abandoned Profit Sharing Plan

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina has appointed AMI Benefit Plan Administrators Inc. as the successor fiduciary for the James D. Blankenbeckler, DDS Profit Sharing Plan after the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) found violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

October 17, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Announces New Compliance Assistance Tools To Assist New and Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of the New and Small Business Assistance and the Compliance Assistance Toolkits webpages. These new online tools assist American small businesses and workers with simple, straightforward resources that provide critical Wage and Hour Division (WHD) information, as well as links to other resources.

October 12, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Urges Workers and the Public to be Vigilant And Mindful of Hazards Following Hurricane Michael

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) urges response crews and residents in the areas affected by Hurricane Michael to be aware of hazards created by flooding, power loss, structural damage, fallen trees, and storm debris.

October 12, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Pennsylvania Contractor After Employee’s Electrocution

HARMONY, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Insight Pipe Contracting LLC for workplace safety and health violations following an employee electrocution at a worksite in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The Harmony-based contractor faces $331,101 in proposed penalties.

October 11, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Initiative Focuses on Helping Restaurants In Wisconsin Comply With Wage Laws

MILWAUKEE, WI – To ensure compliance with federal wage laws, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting an education and enforcement initiative focusing on restaurants in Wisconsin's Fox Cities region and Milwaukee's East Side neighborhoods. The initiative includes providing compliance assistance tools and information to employers and industry stakeholders through educational outreach events.

October 11, 2018

U.S. Department Of Labor Recovers $300,000 for Pharmacy Technicians As Part of a Settlement Involving Pay Discrimination

DES PLAINES, ILThe U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement with Omnicare of Northern Illinois that requires the company to pay $300,000 in back pay and interest to 132 pharmacy technicians of Asian heritage to remedy pay discrimination violations identified at its Des Plaines, Illinois, facility.

October 11, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Awards $1.9 Million to Improve Apprenticeship Opportunities for Youth and Adults with Disabilities

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) today announced the award of a $1.9 million contract to develop pilot projects focused on apprenticeship opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities in high-growth industries.

October 11, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Stands Ready to Assist Georgia in Wake of Hurricane Michael

WASHINGTON, DC – As part of its commitment to state and local partners facing a serious impact by Hurricane Michael, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced it is ready to make available National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) funding to help Georgia assess its workforce needs.

October 11, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor and Jordan Foster Construction Partner To Enhance Workplace Safety and Health at El Paso Construction Project

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Jordan Foster Construction recently signed a partnership to help protect construction workers during construction of the Plaza Hotel and Parking Garage in El Paso, Texas.

October 11, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $54,638 in Back Wages for 101 Employees After Investigation Finds Violations at Three Indiana Restaurants

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A total of 101 current and former employees of Luciana's Mexican Restaurant and Cantina at three Indiana locations will receive $54,638 in back wages following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) that disclosed overtime and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

October 11, 2018

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending October 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 214,000, an increase of 7,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 207,000. The 4-week moving average was 209,500, an increase of 2,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 207,000.

October 10, 2018

South Carolina Merchant to Pay $63,568 in Back Wages and Damages after U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Overtime Violations

MYRTLE BEACH, SC – Prime Retail Management Group Inc. - operator of two "Beach Bums" locations in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - will pay $63,568 in back wages and liquidated damages to 41 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation determined the employer violated overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).