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:

PARAMUS, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited CarePlus Bergen Inc., doing business as Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, for violating respiratory protection standards at its Paramus, New Jersey, location. OSHA cited the hospital for two serious violations, with proposed penalties of $9,639.

GREELEY, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited JBS Foods Inc. in Greeley, Colorado, for failing to protect employees from exposure to the coronavirus. OSHA proposed $15,615 in penalties.

NORTH BERGEN, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Hackensack Meridian Health Residential Care Inc. OSHA issued two serious citations and one other-than-serious violation for failing to protect employees from exposure to the coronavirus at its North Bergen, New Jersey, facility. OSHA proposed a penalty of $28,070 for the violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) today posted revisions to regulations that implemented the paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

BIRMINGHAM, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established a strategic partnership with Brasfield & Gorrie LLC to promote worker safety and health at the Protective Stadium project site in Birmingham, Alabama. The University of Alabama Safe State Consultation Program is also a signatory to this agreement and provides full support to ensuring worker safety.

DES MOINES, IA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the IRS and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are presenting a webinar on paid sick leave, and expanded family and medical leave requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) for Iowa’s employers and business owners.

ST. LOUIS, MO – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), three vape product retail stores operated by Coughing Cardinal LLC in St. Louis, Missouri, and owner Marco DiMaiern will pay 55 employees $123,422 in back wages for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime and recordkeeping requirements.  

BOISE, IDAHO – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Darmody Enterprises L.T.D. – owner and operator of McDonald’s restaurants in Idaho – has paid $50,000 in civil money penalties for violating child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at 11 locations.

SHREVEPORT, LA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Christus Shreveport-Bossier Health System in Shreveport, Louisiana, for failing to ensure employees wore proper protective equipment. OSHA has proposed $13,494 in penalties, the maximum allowed by law for a serious citation.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Sept. 10, 2020 at 1 p.m., the U.S. Department of Labor released a video of the Hall of Honor induction ceremony for “The Rosies – Women Riveters, Welders & World War II Industry Workers.”

SIOUX FALLS, SD – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for failing to protect employees from exposure to the coronavirus. OSHA proposed a penalty of $13,494, the maximum allowed by law.

WASHINGTON – On Sept. 14, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor will host, “Advancing Compliance Solutions for Today’s Workplace, Two Years and Counting,” a summit showcasing the Department’s ongoing efforts to help employers comply with federal labor laws and inform workers about their rights through its modernized tools and employer recognition awards programs. The event will be both virtual and in-person.

In the week ending September 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 884,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 881,000 to 884,000. The 4-week moving average was 970,750, a decrease of 21,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 991,750 to 992,500.

Read the full release.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Grafton and Bridgeport, West Virginia, to discuss mine safety, economic recovery and the importance of the coal mining industry to the American economy.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its intent to award up to $4 million in grant funding to strengthen worker rights in rural sectors of the Indo-Pacific, with a focus on women workers. The grant will fund the implementation of a project to improve compliance with labor standards, including occupational safety and health standards, and to address wage inequality and workplace discrimination for women employees in targeted rural sectors in the Philippines and one or two other Indo-Pacific countries.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement to commemorate Labor Day:

“Today we celebrate and thank the workers of America, whose hard work, determination, and ingenuity have built and sustain our amazing country.  

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 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released work-related injury and illness data electronically submitted by employers. The agency has posted Form 300A data for calendar years 2016, 2017 and 2018, as well as a data dictionary.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its intent to award two $10 million grants focused on Mexico. Funding for these grants was appropriated as part of the legislation implementing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).