LANSING, MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), and the 30th Circuit Court for Ingham County, Michigan, the Michigan Circuit Court for Ingham County has sentenced Allen G. Ollenburger – a resident of Lansing, Michigan – to serve 45 days in Jail, 60 months' probation, and ordered him to make $48,285 in restitution after he pleaded guilty to cashing General Motors' pension checks issued to his deceased mother.

TAMPA, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), El Grande Supermarket Corp. – operating as El Grande Supermarket in Tampa, Florida – will pay $198,039 in back wages and liquidated damages to 17 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

PENSACOLA, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), IV Wireless LLC – operating as Boost Mobile in Pensacola, Florida – will pay $27,514 in back wages and liquidated damages to 32 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

In the week ending February 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 234,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 253,000. The 4-week moving average was 224,750, an increase of 4,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 220,250.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN ­- 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 Program (PAID), in Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 21, 2019.

HAGATNA, GU – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Benson Guam Enterprises Inc. – based in Hagatna, Guam – for exposing employees to struck-by hazards after an employee suffered fatal injuries when several doors fell on him as he unloaded a shipping container.

BOSTON, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered Hermitage Club Realty LLC – a real estate company based in Wilmington, Vermont – to pay a former employee $22,693 in back pay and bonuses with interest, and $20,000 in compensatory damages.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of an enhanced electronic version of the Handy Reference Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This new online version of one of the Wage and Hour Division’s (WHD) most popular publications will assist American employers and workers with a simple, easy-to-follow resource that provides basic WHD information, as well as links to other resources.

NASHVILLE, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Om Shree Ganesha LLC – operating as the Scottish Inns in Nashville, Tennessee – will pay $58,894 in back wages to four employees for violations of the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement regarding President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union Address:

SEMINARY, MS – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), JLB Development LLC – based in Seminary, Mississippi – has paid $24,015 in back wages and liquidated damages to 25 employees for violating the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

KILLEEN, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Tap Rack Bang Indoor Shooting Range LLC - operating as The Gun Range - for exposing employees to unsafe levels of lead at its facility in Killeen, Texas. The employer faces penalties totaling $214,387.

JACKSON, MS – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed a strategic partnership with Mississippi State University's Center for Continuing Education Industrial Health & Safety Program and Brasfield & Gorrie LLC to promote worker safety and health at the Continental Tire Main Plant project in Clinton, Mississippi. The partnership seeks to prevent injuries and exposure to hazards during the construction of the 750,000 square-foot facility.

TAMPA, FL – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Environmental Construction Inc. – operating as ECI and based in Tampa, Florida – has paid $38,544 in back wages and liquidated damages to 16 employees for violating the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

PHOENIX, AZ – Sierra Verde Plumbing LLC – based in Phoenix, Arizona – will pay $29,753 in total back wages and liquidated damages to six employees after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the employer violated overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Additionally, WHD assessed the employer $5,184 in civil penalties.

LOS ANGELES, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has sentenced Sergio Amador – a member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Local 13 – to 12 months and one day in prison and ordered him to make $201,000 in restitution for defrauding the union’s Welfare Plan.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement regarding African American History Month:

"African American History Month affords us an opportunity to reflect upon the many important contributions African Americans have made to our communities, our economy, and our culture. This month is a tribute and a time to explore the deep-rooted history and the many sacrifices African Americans have made to help mold our nation into what it is today.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today issued the following statement regarding the January 2019 Employment Situation report:

"January's Job Report demonstrated the strength of the American economy, with 304,000 jobs added as private sector job creation continued to surge despite the partial government shutdown. Significant growth in the mining, construction, and transportation and warehousing sectors led the report.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, has ordered Brinker International Inc. – operating as Maggiano's Little Italy in Atlanta, Georgia – and its subsidiary, Brinker International Payroll Company LP, to pay $49,500 in back wages and liquidated damages to 70 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The action comes after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD).

NEW YORK – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has sentenced Sergio Acosta – the former president and a representative of United Auto Workers Local 2326 in Edison, New Jersey – to three years of probation, and ordered him to pay $32,000 in restitution for embezzling funds from the union's employee benefit plan.