June 17, 2022

US Department of Labor finds Illinois mine operator tried to conceal underground fire, endangered miners, misled probe; proposes nearly $1.2M in civil penalties

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration has proposed nearly $1.2 million in civil penalties to M-Class Mining LLC, a Macedonia, Illinois, coal mine operator. MSHA cited the operator for continuing to operate the mine without evacuating miners with a fire underground and failing to notify MSHA of the fire. The fire broke out on a longwall section on Aug. 13, 2021.

June 17, 2022

US Department of Labor announces $11.7M funding availability of Susan Harwood Training grants for workplace safety, health hazards training

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a funding opportunity for $11.7 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to support the delivery of training and education to help workers and employers identify and prevent workplace safety and health hazards.  

June 16, 2022

US Department of Labor issues guidance on law limiting subminimum wages for workers with disabilities, takes decisive action to enforce the law

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced new guidance published today by the department’s Wage and Hour Division on important limitations on the payment of subminimum wages under Section 511 of the Rehabilitation Act, which applies to certified employers otherwise authorized to pay subminimum wages to workers with disabilities under specific requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.  

June 16, 2022

US Department of Labor awards $11.4M in funding to help ensure workers have equitable access to states’ unemployment insurance systems

WASHINGTON – To improve the delivery of unemployment insurance services to people faced with obstacles to accessing state systems and benefits in Maryland, Nebraska and South Dakota, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $11,406,000 in equity grants.

June 16, 2022

US Department of Labor announces nearly $201.8M in funding to support employment training, services, wage subsidies for workers hurt by foreign trade

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $201,798,000 in funding to provide training, employment services in 45 states and Puerto Rico to eligible workers affected adversely by foreign trade.

June 16, 2022

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending June 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 229,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 229,000 to 232,000. The 4-week moving average was 218,500, an increase of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 215,000 to 215,750.

June 16, 2022

US Department of Labor recovers $34K in back wages for 47 Charlotte delivery service workers denied overtime

Employer:                    Riverstone Logistics LLC

Investigation site:       13860 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Charlotte, NC 28277

June 15, 2022

US Department of Labor recovers nearly $9K in back wages as Lake City senior assisted living facility denies overtime, wrongly terminates worker

LAKE CITY, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor recovered a total of $8,931 in back wages for two workers of a Lake City assisted living facility after its investigation found the employer denied paying them overtime wages they earned and illegally terminated one of the workers after they exercised their right to federally protected medical leave. 

June 15, 2022

El Departamento de Trabajo recupera $276,000 en salarios atrasados de una cadena de pizzerías en Carolina del Norte que negó el salario mínimo y las horas extras a 63 trabajadores

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Las prácticas de pago de una cadena de pizzerías de Carolina del Norte negaron a 63 trabajadores sus salarios completos en tres sucursales en Clemmons, Greensboro y Winston-Salem. El empleador pagaba solo $1.19 por hora como salario en efectivo a los trabajadores, lo cual los obligaba a depender casi exclusivamente de las propinas para obtener ingresos, según descubrió una investigación federal.

June 15, 2022

US Department of Labor announces inaugural Enterprise Data Strategy, harnessing data to advance opportunity, equity for nation’s workers

WASHINGTONThe U.S. Department of Labor today released its inaugural Enterprise Data Strategy, a three-year plan by the department’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy that will guide department efforts to improve its data collection, management and use and enhance its ability to share data to advance opportunity and equity for the nation’s workers. 

June 15, 2022

US Department of Labor cites Robbinsville frozen food manufacturer after investigation into worker’s fatal fall from scissor lift

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation into the fatal fall of a contractor at a Robbinsville frozen food manufacturer identified a wide range of potentially fatal workplace hazards at CJ TMI Manufacturing America LLC, leading the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue the employer citations for 36 violations and propose $368,513 in penalties.

June 15, 2022

US Department of Labor recovers $276K in back wages from North Carolina pizza chain that denied minimum wage, overtime to 63 workers

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – A North Carolina pizza chain’s pay practices denied full wages to 63 workers at three locations in Clemmons, Greensboro and Winston-Salem. The employer paid as little as $1.19 per hour as a cash wage to workers, which forced them to rely almost entirely on tips for their income, a federal investigation has found.

June 14, 2022

US Department of Labor, West Texas Safety Training Center renew alliance, commit to keeping Permian Basin workers safe

Participants:      U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational

                                   Safety and Health Administration

                                  West Texas Safety Training Center Inc.

June 14, 2022

US Department of Labor recovers $106K in back wages for 16 Harrisburg restaurant workers after finding minimum wage, overtime pay violations

HARRISBURG, NC – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has recovered $106,613 in back wages and liquidated damages for 16 workers after finding a Harrisburg restaurant’s pay practices denied them federally required minimum wage and overtime pay.

June 14, 2022

Violations found at five locations prompt Wendy’s franchisee to take corrective actions at its 83 Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey restaurants

ALLENTOWN, PA – A Wendy’s restaurant franchisee who endangered minor-aged workers and permitted them to work more hours than the law allows at five Pennsylvania locations has taken steps to correct those violations, and to ensure future compliance at all of the restaurants it operates in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.

June 14, 2022

US Department of Labor reminds Great Lakes region’s employers that workers need protection from dangers of heat illness: indoors, outdoors

CHICAGO – As Midwest temperatures rise, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration reminds employers and workers not to ignore the dangers of working in hot weather – indoors and out – and remember “Water. Rest. Shade.” can be the difference between ending the workday safely or suffering serious injuries or worse.

June 13, 2022

US Department of Labor reminds Midwest employers that workers need protection from dangers of heat illness: indoors, outdoors

KANSAS CITY, MO – As Midwest temperatures rise, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration reminds employers and workers not to ignore the dangers of working in a hot environment – indoors and out – and remember “Water. Rest. Shade.” can be the difference between ending the workday safely or suffering serious illness or death.

June 13, 2022

US Department of Labor reminds Dakota employers that workers need protection from the dangers of heat illness: indoors, outdoors

SIOUX FALLS, SD – As Midwest temperatures rise, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration reminds employers and workers not to ignore the dangers of working in a hot environment – indoors and out – and remember “Water. Rest. Shade.” can be the difference between ending the workday safely, suffering serious injuries or worse.

June 13, 2022

US Labor Department announces alliance with Kansas City Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Committee to promote workplace safety

KANSAS CITY, MO ‒ Recognizing the need for developing safe electrical work practices at the start of a career, the Kansas City Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee – a training apprenticeship program for electricians – has signed an alliance with the U.S.

June 10, 2022

Statement by Secretary Walsh on the International Labor Organization’s recognition of occupational safety, health as a fundamental right

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement after the International Labor Organization today recognized occupational safety and health as a Fundamental Principle and Right at Work:

“The U.S. Department of Labor commends the International Labor Organization for recognizing for the first time the right to a safe and healthy working environment in the framework of the ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work at the 2022 International Labor Conference.