WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced the availability of $11.5 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants for nonprofit organizations, including community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, Indian tribes, and colleges and universities.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a final rule to provide greater simplicity and flexibility to retail industry employers.

Provisions in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) allow employers in retail and service industries to exempt certain employees paid primarily on a commission basis from overtime.

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 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Reopening America’s Economy:

WASHINGTON, DC – As part of its new firm-fixed price approach to procuring Job Corps center operations, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that it has awarded contracts to operate four centers in Michigan, Wyoming, and New Hampshire. Administered by the Department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Job Corps is a national residential training and employment program designed to address the multiple barriers to employment faced by at-risk youth.

WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement regarding being added to the White House Coronavirus Task Force:

“President Trump and Vice President Pence have delivered steadfast leadership throughout the fight against the pandemic. As a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, I look forward to help bring Americans back to work—safely.”

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will offer three webinars the week of May 18, 2020, for employees, employers and state and local governments in the division’s Southeast region to educate them on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). 

The webinars will provide information on the requirements of the law including eligibility, coverage, qualifying reasons, duration of leave and calculation of pay.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of seven Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs) totaling $26,751,963 to help address the workforce-related impacts of the public health emergency related to coronavirus. These awards are funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided $345 million for DWGs to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued both a directive and guidance to advance religious liberty protections. These actions bolster the Department’s on-going efforts to advance the principles set forth in President Donald J.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has announced the publication of updated guidance, including FAQs, regarding the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an alert listing safety tips employers can follow to help protect nursing home and long-term care facility workers from exposure to the coronavirus.

Safety measures employers can implement to protect workers in the nursing home and long-term care industry include:

PHOENIX, AZ – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Pueblo Mechanical and Controls LLC – an HVAC and plumbing company in Phoenix, Arizona – will pay one employee $1,000 for failing to provide him paid sick leave after a healthcare provider ordered him to self-quarantine for coronavirus-related reasons.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an alert listing safety tips employers can follow to help protect retail pharmacy workers from exposure to the coronavirus.

Safety measures for retail pharmacies include:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an alert listing safety tips to help reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus in the car service industry.

Safety measures include:

In the week ending May 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 2,981,000, a decrease of 195,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 7,000 from 3,169,000 to 3,176,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,616,500, a decrease of 564,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 7,000 from 4,173,500 to 4,180,500.

HONOLULU, HI – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has led a Maui, Hawaii, retail store specializing in grocery, household, health and beauty products to pay $800 in back wages to an employee denied paid leave to care for their child whose school closed due to the coronavirus.

WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement regarding the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board:

LULING, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Alexander Tank Company – a manufacturer of steel storage tanks based in Luling, Texas – for exposing employees to amputation, confined spaces and other safety hazards. The company faces $234,528 in penalties.

WOLFFORTH, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), West Texas Paving – a road construction company based in Wolfforth, Texas – will pay an employee $1,200 in back wages after failing to provide them paid sick leave under the newly passed Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), after healthcare providers ordered the employee with potential coronavirus symptoms to self-quarantine.

AVON, IN –A truck driver has received $3,017 in back wages after being denied emergency paid sick leave while he was experiencing coronavirus symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found the employer – Mahant Trucking based in Avon, Indiana – violated the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today issued targeted guidance and reminders that provide states with details regarding required integrity functions for their regular unemployment compensation programs, as well as those authorized by Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, in UIPL 23-20.