BRENTWOOD, CA – J. Carmen Mora – a Northern California farm labor contractor – has paid $143,078 in back wages to 199 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found multiple violations of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA). Additionally, WHD assessed the employer $23,048 in civil penalties.

FRESNO, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), M&L Plumbing Co. Inc. – a plumbing company based in Fresno, California – will pay $113,351 in back wages due to 39 employees for violating overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA).

DALTON, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Plaze Aeroscience – operating as Plaze GA – for exposing employees to fire and burn hazards at the company's facility in Dalton, Georgia. The specialty chemical manufacturer faces $107,164 in penalties.

GAINESVILLE, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Riverside Military Academy Inc. – a military college preparatory academy in Gainesville, Georgia – for exposing employees to trenching hazards. The company faces $381,882 in penalties, including citations for the maximum penalties allowed by law.

In the week ending April 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 230,000, an increase of 37,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 192,000 to 193,000. The 4-week moving average was 206,000, an increase of 4,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 201,250 to 201,500.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced Women's Bureau Director Patricia G. Greene will be returning to the private sector effective April 26, 2019.

"For a year and a half as Director of the Women's Bureau, Dr. Patti Greene has led the Women's Bureau mission to support America's working women, and ensure that they have access to good, family-sustaining jobs," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "We are grateful for her service, and wish her success in her future endeavors."

DALLAS, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) have renewed an alliance to help protect construction industry employees in the Rio Grande Valley.

LAFAYETTE, IN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana has issued a default judgment requiring the operators of the Quality Inn and Suites franchise in Lafayette, Indiana, to pay $16,660 in back wages and liquidated damages to 34 employees. The court judgment came after operators Gursahib S. Sekhon and Mehar Hotels Group of Indiana LLC failed to respond to the complaint or appear in U.S. District Court as ordered.

CHICAGO, IL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has entered a consent judgment ordering the owners and operators of two Illinois restaurants to pay $254,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 28 current and former employees.

BILLINGS, MT – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Nelcon Inc. - a highway contractor based in Kalispell, Montana - for exposing workers to burns and falls at a mobile asphalt-mixing plant in Laurel, Montana. The company faces $261,418 in penalties for 23 serious violations.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is partnering with the Associated General Contractors of Georgia Inc., and industry employers to sponsor safety stand-down events at worksites in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi, April 29-30, 2019, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. EDT.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor reminds the nation’s job creators they have one week left to submit their application for the 2019 HIRE Vets Medallion Award. The application period for the inaugural award closes on April 30, 2019.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $2 million in funds for the first year of a cooperative agreement for an employer-focused disability policy development and technical assistance center. The solicitation is a re-competition of an existing cooperative agreement. The deadline to apply is June 24, 2019.

ALLENTOWN, PA - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Alvin H. Butz Inc. have established a strategic partnership to promote workplace safety during an expansion project at B. Braun Medical Inc., a medical device manufacturer in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

WILMINGTON, DE – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware has ordered El Tapatio, Inc. - operator of El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant in Wilmington, Delaware - to pay $128,051 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 20 employees for violating the minimum and overtime wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ATLANTA, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Postal Fleet Services Inc. – based in Saint Augustine, Florida – will pay $329,057 in back wages and benefits to 53 employees for violating requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited UHS of Denver Inc. – doing business as Highlands Behavioral Healthcare System and based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado – for failing to protect employees from violence in the workplace. The company faces penalties of $11,934.

CONCORD, NH  – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited DCI Inc. for exposing employees to crushing and struck-by hazards at its Lisbon, New Hampshire, manufacturing plant. The furniture manufacturer faces a total of $378,488 in penalties after OSHA found 37 violations of workplace safety and health standards at the facility.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has approved additional funding for the Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) awarded to the Texas Workforce Commission in response to Hurricane Harvey.

MEMPHIS, TN – McKesson Specialty Distribution LLC – a California-based distributor for a federally funded children's vaccine program – will pay $1,650,452 in back wages and fringe benefits to 515 employees after discovering and self-reporting violations of the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA) to the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD).