WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that Dr. Laurie Todd-Smith is now the Director of the Department's Women Bureau.

"Dr. Laurie Todd-Smith has dedicated her life to delivering crucial workforce education in her community," said U.S. Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia. "As we approach the 100-year celebration of the Women's Bureau, Dr. Todd-Smith will play a leading role in shaping our continued efforts to help women enter and succeed in the American workforce."

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recovered a record $322 million in wages owed to workers in Fiscal Year 2019. WHD also set a new record for compliance assistance events in FY 2019, holding more than 3,700 educational outreach events – including on-the-ground presentations and trainings – to help job creators understand their responsibilities under the law.

AMARILLO, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor's Joint Outreach Task Group will host a town hall in Amarillo, Texas, on December 5, 2019, to discuss the benefits available to current and former nuclear weapons workers from covered facilities, and their families, under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The task group includes representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Department's Office of the Ombudsman.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of the Ombudsman will provide information about the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act at events in Cullman, Alabama, on November 5-6, 2019. Federal representatives will inform current and former nuclear weapons and beryllium vendor workers about the benefits available under the program. Survivors of qualified workers also may be entitled to benefits.

The covered facilities in Alabama are:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) had a record-setting Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. OFCCP is dedicated to its important mission of ensuring equal employment opportunity (EEO) and non-discrimination in employment for the approximately 25% of America's workforce employed by federal contractors.

LOUISVILLE, KY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Michael Osbourn – the owner of Mike Osbourn Lawn Care Inc. – will pay $76,067 in back wages and liquidated damages to 69 employees. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky issued a consent judgment against the Shepherdsville, Kentucky-based employer for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ALBANY, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), XOtech LLC – a federal contractor based in Tyrone, Georgia – has paid $43,224 in back wages to five employees for violating requirements of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia.

WAUKEGAN, IL –The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited AB Specialty Silicones LLC for 12 willful federal safety violations after four employees suffered fatal injuries in an explosion and fire at the company's Waukegan, Illinois, plant on May 3, 2019. The company faces $1,591,176 in penalties. OSHA has placed the silicon chemical products manufacturer in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

SUMMERTOWN, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Shaffer Farms Custom Meats LLC and Shaffer Farms Texas Bar-B-Q restaurant has paid $69,514 in back wages and liquidated damages to 21 employees for violating the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), TR Sales Plantation – a real estate developer in North Augusta, South Carolina – has paid $27,959 in back wages to eight employees for overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

GRANITE FALLS, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Granite Falls Seafood Inc. – operating as Captain’s Galley Seafood Restaurant – will pay $21,974 in back wages and liquidated damages to eight employees for violating minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid a civil penalty of $1,751 for FLSA child labor violations.

BAY COUNTY, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Kajkunj Inc  and Ram Duhn LLC – two convenience stores and gas stations based in Bay County, Florida – will pay $28,724 in back wages and liquidated damages to employees for minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

In the week ending October 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 212,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 4,000 from 214,000 to 218,000. The 4-week moving average was 215,000, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,000 from 214,750 to 215,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today released a Funding Opportunity Announcement for its Job Corps Scholars Program demonstration project. Through the program, the Department intends to competitively award up to 20 grants to accredited, two-year, public community colleges; accredited, public two- and four-year historically black colleges and universities (HBCU); and accredited tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCU) to serve Job Corps-eligible youth and young adults 16 to 24 years of age.

HAGATNA, GU – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), WMJ Inc. – doing business as Guam Home Center in Dededo, Guam – will pay $48,046 to 39 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ROCK HILL, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Houston Enterprises Inc. – operator of 13 Subway franchises – with headquarters in Rock Hill, South Carolina, has paid a $5,802 civil penalty for violating federal child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

OPELIKA, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited BH Media Group Inc. for exposing employees to amputation hazards after an employee suffered an injury at the Opelika, Alabama, facility. The company faces $145,858 in penalties.

CLEVELAND, OH – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio has sentenced Brian K. Carder and Paul Love – former managers at Extrudex Aluminum’s plant in North Jackson, Ohio – after each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice charges. The court’s action follows an investigation by the U.S.

FLORISSANT, MO – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) Helia Healthcare – doing business as Pillars of North County – has agreed to pay $42,696 in back wages to 99 current and former nursing staff employed at the long-term care facility in Florissant, Missouri. WHD investigators found violations of the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

BAYONET POINT, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Bayonet Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning LLC – based in Bayonet Point, Florida – has paid $33,795 in back wages and liquidated damages to 57 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).