December 1, 2020

Housing Company Pays Back Wages to Georgia Employee Denied Paid Family Leave to Care for Child During Pandemic

SAVANNAH, GA – Atlantic Housing Foundation – a non-profit operator of affordable housing communities in Savannah, Georgia – has paid $3,920 in back wages. The company wrongly denied paid leave under the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA) to an employee who missed work to care for a child whose school closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

December 1, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Debars Florida H-2A Labor Contractors For Violating Guest Worker Visa Requirements

LABELLE, FL The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has debarred Flo-Ag LLC – a farm labor contracting company based in Labelle, Florida – and its principals Jose Flores and Juan Flores from applying for certification to request temporary foreign workers under the H-2A agricultural worker visa program for two years.

December 1, 2020

Car Dealership Pays Back Wages to Employee Wrongly Denied Paid Family Leave to Care for Child Amid Pandemic

DECATUR, GA Lamar Ferrell Chevrolet Inc. – a car dealership based in Decatur, Georgia – paid $7,880 in back wages for wrongly denying paid leave under the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA) to an employee who missed work to care for a child whose place of care closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

December 1, 2020

Military Subcontractor Pays $108,002 in Back Wages After Prevailing Wage Violations Found in Nevada Projects by U.S. Department of Labor

LAS VEGAS, NV After an investigation by the  U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Vectrus Inc – based in Colorado Springs, Colorado – has paid $108,002 in back wages and fringe benefits to 69 employees. WHD investigators found the construction contractor violated the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA), the Service Contract Act (SCA) and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA) during work performed under a U.S.

December 1, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $90,508 in Back Wages for California Trucking Company Employees After Overtime Violations Found

WEST COVINA, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Kal Freight – an Ontario, California-based trucking company – has paid $90,508 in back wages to 16 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime requirements.

November 30, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Two Wage and Hour Opinion Letters

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced two opinion letters that address compliance issues related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). An opinion letter is an official, written opinion by the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) on how a particular law applies in specific circumstances presented by the person or entity that requested the letter.

The opinion letters issued today are:

November 30, 2020

Productor Agrícola, Transportista en Idaho Pagará $68,848 por Violaciones Salariales Descubiertas por el Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU.

BOISE, ID – Después de una investigación del Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU., un productor agrícola y transportista de patatas de American Falls, Idaho pagará $ 68.848 en salarios atrasados a 66 trabajadores para resolver violaciones de la Ley de Normas Laborales Justas (FLSA), disposiciones laborales del programa H-2 de trabajadores agrícolas temporales, y la Ley para la Protección de Trabajadores Agrícolas Migratorios y de Temporada (MSPA).

November 30, 2020

Seminole, Florida, Company Pays $10,125 in Back Wages to Employees After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Uncovers Overtime Violations

TAMPA, FL After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Jenergy Air Services, LLC – a heating, ventilation and air conditioning company based in Seminole, Florida –   has paid $10,125 in back wages to 10 employees to settle overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

November 30, 2020

Idaho Grower, Transporter to Pay $68,848 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Wage Violations

BOISE, ID After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), an American Falls, Idaho, agricultural grower and potato transporter will pay $68,848 in back wages to 66 workers to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the labor provisions of the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program and the Migrant Seasonal Worker Protection Act (MSPA).

November 30, 2020

ICYMI: U.S. Department of Labor Acts to Help American Workers And Employers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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.

Keeping America’s Workplaces Safe and Healthy:

November 27, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces WIOA Guidance on Priority of Service for Americans in Need

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor released a Training and Employment Guidance Letter today announcing its vision for a priority of service in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult program and explaining how the Department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) expects states to implement the priority requirement. 

November 27, 2020

CORRECTED: U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA Announces $3,301,932 In Coronavirus Violations

WASHINGTON, DC – Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Nov. 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations arising from 244 inspections for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $3,301,932.

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

November 25, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces OSHA’s Return To Normal Enforcement Operations After Hurricane Zeta

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced today the resumption of normal enforcement operations in Mississippi’s Hancock and Harrison counties following Hurricane Zeta.

November 25, 2020

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending November 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 778,000, an increase of 30,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 6,000 from 742,000 to 748,000. The 4-week moving average was 748,500, an increase of 5,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,500 from 742,000 to 743,500.

November 24, 2020

Southern California Manufacturer Pays Back Wages, Restores Sick Leave To Dozens of Workers During Coronavirus Pandemic

LOS ANGELES, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Delta Fabrication – a sheet metal parts manufacturer based in Canoga Park, California – will pay $19,694 in back wages to 71 employees. The company wrongly paid workers only two-thirds of their regular rates when they took coronavirus-related sick leave, a violation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

November 23, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $24,823 in Back Wages After Investigation Finds Contractor Violated Federal Requirements in Florida

SANFORD, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Trinity Technology Group Inc. – a federal contractor based in Manassas, Virginia – has paid $24,823 in back wages to 102 employees to resolve violations of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) for work performed at the Orlando/Sanford International Airport in Sanford, Florida.

November 23, 2020

ICYMI: U.S. Department of Labor Acts to Help American Workers and Employers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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:

November 20, 2020

U.S. Secretary of Labor Scalia Highlights Workforce Development At Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tennessee

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he visited the Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant. During his tour, Secretary Scalia learned about the Volkswagen Academy, which offers a combination of classroom and hands-on instruction for careers in the Volkswagen plant.

November 20, 2020

Suwannee, Georgia, Dunkin Pays Back Wages to Employee Wrongly Denied Paid Sick Leave after Coronavirus Diagnosis

SUWANEE, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Boston Coffee Inc. – the operator of a Suwanee, Georgia, Dunkin’ location – has paid $1,040 in back wages after wrongly denying emergency paid sick leave to an employee who self-quarantined after receiving a coronavirus diagnosis.