ROBBINSVILLE, NC – Lovin Contracting Co. Inc. – a landscaping company based in Robbinsville, North Carolina – will pay $1,277,550 to 231 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division investigation uncovered violations of the labor provisions of the H-2B temporary visa program and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced actions it is taking to assist Americans in states affected by Hurricane Michael.

"The Department of Labor is actively engaged in Administration-wide efforts to help those impacted by Hurricane Michael," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "As Americans come together to help each other, the Department of Labor is committed to supporting recovery efforts."

U.S. Department of Labor actions taken regarding Hurricane Michael include the following:

SULPHUR, LA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), temporary staffing company Coastal Staffing Services LLC – based in Sulphur – will pay $1,104,466 in back wages to 1,412 employees involved in post-Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts in Southeast Texas to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

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 Florida assess its workforce needs.

WASHINGTON, DC – With the start of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in October, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Compliance Initiatives (OCI) and its Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is helping raise awareness of disability-related nondiscrimination laws and regulations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recovered a record $304 million in wages owed to workers in Fiscal Year 2018. WHD also set a new record for compliance assistance events in FY 2018, holding 3,643 educational outreach events – including on the ground presentations and trainings – to help job creators understand their responsibilities under the law.

MENASHA, WI – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern Division of Wisconsin in Green Bay has awarded a machine operator $100,000 in back wages and compensatory damages after his employer Dura-Fibre LLC – based in Menasha, Wisconsin – terminated him for reporting injuries he and a co-worker sustained.

ELKHART, IN – Recreational vehicle parts manufacturer Lippert Components – based in Elkhart, Indiana – will pay $338,151 in overtime back wages and liquidated damages to 1,199 current and former employees following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) that found violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at 53 plants nationwide.

COLUMBUS, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and organizations representing many of Ohio's craft brewers have established a two-year alliance to help improve workplace safety in the industry.

HOWELL, NJ - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Hamiltime Herb Co. LLC after inspectors found employees exposed to safety and health hazards in a follow-up investigation at its Howell, New Jersey, facility in May 2018. OSHA proposed penalties totaling $152,829.

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

"In September, the unemployment rate fell to 3.7%, the lowest since 1969. 

SCHNECKSVILLE, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited KidsPeace Inc. for exposing employees to workplace violence hazards at two behavioral and mental health facilities in Orefield, Pennsylvania. The company faces proposed penalties totaling $29,010.

CHICAGO, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a motion to amend its complaint requesting that the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, include additional defendants and claims in its action seeking to pay more than $50 million in unpaid participant health benefit claims in the AEU Holdings LLC Employee Benefit Plan.

In the week ending September 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 207,000, a decrease of 8,000 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 207,000, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 206,250 to 206,500.

RALEIGH, NC – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina has signed a consent judgment approving a settlement between the U.S. Department of Labor and Reliance Trust Co. Inc. involving the Tobacco Rag Processors Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The consent judgment requires Reliance Trust Co. Inc. – an Atlanta, Georgia, company – to pay $4,545,454 back to the plan within 30 days. Once the payment is made, the Department will assess a civil penalty of $454,545 against Reliance Trust Co. Inc.   

MEDFORD, NJ - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited DuBell Lumber Company, of Medford, for exposing employees to combustible dust and other hazards. The company faces $106,432 in proposed penalties.

ELKINS PARK, PA – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has ordered SM Choi Inc. – which operates four fast-food establishments in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania – to pay $93,146 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 38 employees for willful violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Department also assessed the employer $26,121 in civil penalties.

AUSTIN, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for safety hazards after receiving a complaint of unsafe working conditions at an Austin, Texas, facility. The company faces proposed penalties totaling $224,585.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has added compliance assistance materials on Association Health Plans (AHPs) to its new Employer.gov website that will help job creators and plan sponsors understand their Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) obligations when setting up and managing AHPs.

FAYETTE, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Larose Industries LLC – which operates as Cra-Z-Art – for continuing to expose employees to amputation hazards. The Fayette, Ohio, art supply manufacturer faces proposed penalties totaling $152,441 for repeated and serious safety violations.