WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) today released its “Implementing Legal Requirements Regarding the Equal Opportunity Clause’s Religious Exemption” Final Rule, which will be published in an upcoming edition of the Federal Register. This rule will encourage the full and equal participation of religious organizations as federal contractors.

MARKSVILLE, LA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Shirley’s Crawfish Pad LLC and Crawfish Processing LLC – both owned by Shirley Bernard and co-located in Marksville, Louisiana – have paid $42,900 in back wages to 55 employees to resolve violations of the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor took a range of actions to aid American workers and employers as our nation combats the coronavirus pandemic.

Reopening America’s Economy:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today applauded the efforts of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection for combatting forced labor in China with the issuance of a withhold release order on cotton harvested or processed by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, including any products made from that cotton, such as apparel, garments and textiles. The order prevents the importation of these goods into the U.S.

MOMENCE, IL - The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a conciliation agreement with Baker & Taylor LLC to resolve allegations of race and gender-based hiring discrimination against Black and male applicants at the company’s Momence, Illinois, distribution facility. While not admitting liability in the investigation, Baker & Taylor LLC agreed to pay $127,375 in back pay and interest to 42 applicants to resolve alleged hiring discrimination at its Momence, Illinois, facility.

WASHINGTON, DC – Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Nov. 26, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations arising from 255 inspections for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $3,403,139.

OSHA inspections have resulted in the agency citing employers for violations, including failures to:

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement regarding the November 2020 Employment Situation Report:

WASHINGTON, DC – Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) Director Craig Leen issued the following statement regarding updates between OFCCP and Oracle America:

“After nearly four years of litigation and investing extensive resources, the Department of Labor has determined not to appeal the 278-page Recommended Decision and Order of the Administrative Law Judge in OFCCP v. Oracle America.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a national online dialogue intended to enhance the Department’s efforts and determine how to engage workers, advocates and other stakeholder groups to combat labor trafficking and forced employment more effectively.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and AT&T Services Inc. entered into an agreement that requires AT&T to pay $173,000 and provide other non-monetary relief to address pay disparities between male and female employees in California and Nevada. While not admitting liability in the investigation, AT&T has agreed to an early resolution conciliation agreement and to enhance future compliance proactively.

HUTTO, TX – ProDirt Services LLC – based in Hutto, Texas – has paid $1,680 in back wages for denying emergency paid sick leave to an employee who was instructed to self-quarantine by a healthcare provider for coronavirus-related reasons.

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) at five peanut industry employers in Texas and New Mexico resulted in the recovery of $172,264 in back wages for 127 employees to remedy violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

In the week ending November 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 712,000, a decrease of 75,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 9,000 from 778,000 to 787,000. The 4-week moving average was 739,500, a decrease of 11,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 2,250 from 748,500 to 750,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for up to $1,368,421 to train at least 200 displaced workers. An initial award of $800,000 will support disaster-relief jobs and provide employment services to eligible individuals in Minnesota communities affected by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced additional funding of $833,333 to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to continue to provide services to eligible individuals in communities across three counties significantly affected by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.

BALTIMORE, MD – In a consent judgment filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, a full-service family restaurant with establishments in the District of Columbia and Virginia will pay $848,006 in back wages and liquidated damages to 209 employees for Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the IRS and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) today released advance informational copies of the 2020 Form 5500 Annual Return/Report and related instructions – including the Form 5500-SF and the IRS released Form 5500-EZ, which now also appears on the EBSA website.

ORION TWP., MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Carrie Lee’s Orion Restaurant – based in Orion Township, Michigan – has paid $37,177 in overtime back wages to six kitchen staff employees.

OMAHA, NE – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), United Holdings Group LLC – operating as Pitch Pizzeria and based in Omaha, Nebraska – has paid 55 employees a total of $93,304 in back wages to resolve violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid a penalty of $2,049 for violating the child labor provisions of the FLSA.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – After an investigation by the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota issued a consent order and judgment requiring the fiduciaries of Minneapolis, Minnesota-based The Sartell Group Inc. to restore $13,193 to The Sartell Group 401(k) employee retirement benefit plan.