MONTPELIER, VT – After a U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration investigation, the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont has entered a consent judgment requiring the fiduciaries of the Sonnax Industries’ employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) to pay $2,225,000 to the plan.

ELIZABETH CITY, NC – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation,  Huntsville, Alabama, aviation maintenance company Y-Tech Services Inc. will pay $95,000 in back wages to 12 employees for failure to pay prevailing wage rates required for work performed under a federal contract for the U.S. Coast Guard in Elizabeth City.

RALEIGH, NC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has debarred the Lake Placid, Florida, company Vasquez Citrus & Hauling Inc. and Juan Vasquez, an H-2A farm labor contractor, from applying for H-2A certification for a period of three years for violations of the program’s provisions. WHD also issued the company a civil money penalty of $15,153.

HATFIELD, PA - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Prime Packaging Partners LLC, a dog treat manufacturer, for exposing employees to safety and health hazards at its Hatfield facility. OSHA proposed $180,685 in penalties.

SPRINGFIELD, OH – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Cincinnati office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) found that Demmy Sand & Gravel LLC and Amy Demmy  ̶  fiduciary to the Demmy Sand & Gravel LLC Retirement Savings Plan  ̶  violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and are liable to the plan for $350,234.

ATLANTA, GA – To ensure compliance with federal wage laws, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is undertaking an initiative in Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina to strengthen compliance with the labor provisions of the H-2A and H-2B temporary visa programs.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) 2018-02, “Temporary Enforcement Policy on Prohibited Transaction Rules Applicable to Investment Advice Fiduciaries.” The FAB may be viewed here.

BOSTON, MA – The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has entered a consent judgment requiring Kyoto Restaurant of Medford LLC and owner Phong Nguyen to pay a total of $15,000 in lost wages and punitive and liquidated damages to a former employee who, the U.S. Department of Labor charged, was terminated for cooperating with a Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation in 2016 and 2017.

RICHMOND, VA – In keeping with its mission to protect the American workforce, the U.S. Department of Labor will hold a seminar on Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in Richmond on May 16. Hosted by the Department’s Wage and Hour Division, the event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m. at the Federal Office Building on 400 N. 8^th St. Admission is free.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta welcomed Katsunobu Kato, Japan’s Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, to the U.S. Department of Labor today to discuss bilateral cooperation and sign a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) that promotes further collaboration between the United States and Japan on labor and employment issues. Secretary Acosta and Minister Kato also discussed Japan’s labor priorities in advance of Japan assuming the G20 presidency.

JACKSONVILLE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Desouza Framing Inc. for exposing employees to dangerous falls at two northwest Florida worksites. The Jacksonville-based residential framing contractor faces proposed penalties of $199,178.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement regarding the April 2018 Employment Situation report:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will hold its annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls May 7-11. The event encourages companies and workers to pause during the workday for topical discussions, safety demonstrations, and training in hazard recognition and fall prevention.

In the week ending April 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 211,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 209,000. The 4-week moving average was 221,500, a decrease of 7,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 229,250. This is the lowest level for this average since March 3, 1973 when it was 221,250.

Read the full news release.

BRADENTON, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Premier Behavioral Health Solutions of Florida Inc. and UHS of Delaware Inc., the operators of Bradenton-based Suncoast Behavioral Health Center, for failing to protect employees from violence in the workplace. Proposed penalties total $71,137.

CONCORD, NH – The U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire has sentenced Kevin Corriveau, owner and operator of Kevin Corriveau Painting Inc. of Nashua, to six months imprisonment; two years of supervised release, post-imprisonment; and a $25,000 criminal fine for one count of obstruction of justice.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – In a summary judgment, following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court in Western Michigan has found the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital interfered with an employee’s Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitlements and retaliated against him for taking protected leave. U.S. District Judge Paul L.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – IT employer Cloudwick Technologies Inc., based in Newark, California, will pay $173,044 to 12 employees for violations of the federal H-1B foreign labor certification program after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD).

LANSDOWNE, PA – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has ordered Central Laundry Inc., owner George Rengepes and business operator Jimmy Rengepes to pay $239,269 in back wages, and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 21 employees following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD).

LEACHVILLE, AR – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Arkansas staff sourcing company Wallace, Rush, Schmidt Inc. (WRS) has paid $708,922 to settle overtime, minimum wage, and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).