WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Le Center, Minnesota, where he joined Congressman Jim Hagedorn (MN-01) to highlight safely re-opening America’s economy. Secretary Scalia and the Congressman toured the candy-making company Maud Borup, where they met with employees and company leadership. The Secretary then participated in a roundtable with the Congressman and local Minnesota business leaders.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement regarding the strong economic data released today:

“This morning’s economic news shows sustained momentum and confirms that our nation is bouncing back from the coronavirus pandemic faster than predicted. 

In the week ending October 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 751,000, a decrease of 40,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 4,000 from 787,000 to 791,000. The 4-week moving average was 787,750, a decrease of 24,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,000 from 811,250 to 812,250.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant for up to $3 million, awarded to Iowa Workforce Development, in response to the severe storms of August 2020. 

MANCHESTER, NH – The U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire has ordered C & C Flooring LLC and owner Christopher Coburn to pay 33 current and former employees a total of $240,000 in back wages and liquidated damages and $10,000 in punitive damages, to resolve violations of the overtime and anti-retaliation provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The defendants have also paid a civil money penalty of $13,688 for the willful nature of the violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor is providing $1.5 billion in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult and Dislocated Worker program funds to states and territories.

These investments will help states and local areas provide services to businesses and job seekers and support the public workforce system in filling 6.6 million existing job postings.[1]

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement on International Religious Freedom Day:

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued its fiscal year (FY) 2020 enforcement fact sheet highlighting the Agency’s recovery of over $3.1 billion in direct payments to plans, participants and beneficiaries in FY 2020.

HONOLULU, HI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), The Miranda Group – a landscaping company based on Kauai, Hawaii – has paid $83,192 to 48 employees to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime requirements.

ATLANTA, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia has sentenced Carrie N. Harris – former Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Plan Administrator for the Southern Pan Services Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – after she made more than $1 million in fraudulent withdrawals from the company’s bank accounts to pay charges to Harris’ and her husband’s personal and business credit cards.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has entered into conciliation agreements with Hewlett Packard Inc. (HPI) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to resolve allegations of systemic pay discrimination against 391 female employees in several states. While not admitting liability, the California-based federal technology contractors agreed to pay $1,450,000 in back pay and interest to settle the allegations.

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’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has released an updated tool to help employers comply with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and related requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has entered into a conciliation agreement with B. Braun Medical Inc. – a federal contractor based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania – to resolve allegations of discrimination against female employees.

WASHINGTON, DC – Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Oct. 15, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited 112 establishments for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $1,603,544.

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

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has entered into an early resolution conciliation agreement with Newport News Shipbuilding – a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries – to resolve allegations of systematic hiring discrimination and to enhance future compliance proactively.

LUBBOCK, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), M & US Concrete Inc. – based in Lubbock, Texas – has paid $43,216 in back wages to nine employees for violating the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA).

LOUISVILLE, KY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky has sentenced Candi Fluhr, a former controller in Bullitt County, Kentucky, to 94 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered her to pay $838,804 in restitution.

LUBBOCK, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Armstrong Mechanical Inc. – based in Lubbock, Texas – has paid $115,113 in back wages to 20 employees for violating the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA).

TULLOS, LA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), LaSalle Corrections – based in Ruston, Louisiana – has paid $125,516 in unpaid fringe benefits to 122 employees to resolve violations of the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).