December 19, 2023

US Department of Labor proposal reinforces consumer health care protections

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a proposal by its Employee Benefits Security Administration intended to support critical health care protections for consumers by rescinding its 2018 rule, “Definition of Employer – Association Health Plans.” 

December 19, 2023

US Department of Labor announces final rule to protect miners from surface mobile equipment-related accidents, injuries, fatalities

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a final rule from its Mine Safety and Health Administration to help protect miners from accidents, injuries and fatalities related to surface mobile equipment.

December 18, 2023

US Department of Labor recovers $118K in tips, overtime wages, damages from Honolulu restaurant operator that shortchanged employees again

Employer:      Hale Vietnam Inc.

                        1140 12th Ave.

December 18, 2023

US Department of Labor to recover $252K in back wages, damages for 35 workers denied overtime by Holbrook awnings company

WESTBURY, NY – A Long Island awnings company and its owner will pay $252,370 in back wages and damages to nearly three dozen workers whose employers intentionally denied them overtime wages over a three-year period, after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation.

December 18, 2023

US Department of Labor complaint alleges Vermont excavation company’s president, treasurer used social media posts to retaliate against workers

BOSTON – In a complaint filed in Vermont federal court, the U.S. Department of Labor has alleged that a Milton excavation company retaliated against an employee in social media posts after the company’s workers received back wages and damages in 2023, resulting from an investigation into the employer’s pay practices.

December 18, 2023

Michigan convenience stores’ operator agrees to pay $36K in back wages, damages to 13 workers to resolve US Department of Labor lawsuit

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The owner and operator of four western Michigan convenience stores agreed to pay $36,528 in back wages and damages to 13 workers to resolve a lawsuit brought by the U.S.

December 18, 2023

US Department of Labor recovers $87K for 32 employees denied overtime, misclassified as independent contractors by Atlanta paint services company

Lee esto en Español.

Employer:      

Atlanta United Interiors

265 18th St. NW 

Atlanta, GA 30318 

December 15, 2023

US Department of Labor publishes Request for Information on PERM Schedule A revisions

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today published a Request for Information so the public can provide input on whether to revise the list of Schedule A job classifications that do not require permanent labor certifications.

December 15, 2023

US Department of Labor awards more than $2.8M for continued support of employment, training services to combat effects of Ohio’s opioid crisis

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an incremental award of more than $2.8 million to support continued efforts to provide disaster-relief employment and training services for Ohio communities affected by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose. 

December 14, 2023

Department of Labor finds two Houston contractors willfully ignored federal safety requirements, leading to fatal roof collapse at high school

HOUSTON – A federal investigation into the fatal roof collapse at Friendswood High School in June 2023 in which four workers suffered injuries — including one who later died — found two Houston-area contractors exposed employees to safety hazards by ignoring federal requirements to complete an engineering survey before demolition began.  

December 14, 2023

US Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative find denial of labor rights in Piedras Negras at Fujikura auto parts plant

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested the government of Mexico conduct a review based on its finding that a denial of workers’ rights has occurred at the Fujikura auto parts plant in Piedras Negras, Coahuila.

December 14, 2023

Didion Milling Inc., agrees to pay $1.8M in penalties, make comprehensive safety improvements after 2017 Cambria corn mill explosion killed 5 workers

CAMBRIA, WI – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement agreement with Didion Milling Inc. that requires the Cambria corn milling company to pay more than $1.8 million in penalties after a May 31, 2017, explosion that killed five workers and injured more than a dozen others. The company has also agreed to make extensive safety and health improvements at the facility. 

December 14, 2023

US Department of Labor announces proposed rulemaking to modernize Registered Apprenticeship regulations

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a notice of proposed rulemaking to enhance the National Apprenticeship System by modernizing regulations for Registered Apprenticeships.

The proposed rule would include the following enhancements: 

December 14, 2023

Department of Labor suit seeks $47K in back wages, damages from Detroit security company again found shortchanging employees

Employers:    Detroit Body Guards Protection Unit LLC

                        Carla Bland, human resources director

Actions:          Fair Labor Standards Act complaint filing

Courts:           U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

December 14, 2023

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending December 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 202,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 220,000 to 221,000. The 4-week moving average was 213,250, a decrease of 7,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 220,750 to 221,000.

December 13, 2023

US Department of Labor announces final rule to protect federal service contract workers from displacement, provide right of first refusal

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the final rule to implement the requirements of Executive Order 14055, “Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts,” which seeks to prevent the displacement of skilled and experienced workers in the federal services workforce.

December 13, 2023

Court orders Haslett healthcare facility owner who allegedly threatened to fire employees for cooperating with investigation to attend anti-retaliation training

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A federal court in Michigan has ordered the owner of a Haslett assisted living facility, 

who allegedly threatened to fire three employees after she suspected they cooperated with a U.S. Department of Labor investigation, to attend training on federal anti-retaliation regulations and pay back wages and damages.

December 12, 2023

Westfield grain bin operator again cited for violating federal safety standards after worker suffers partial leg amputation when caught in auger

WESTFIELD, IL ‒ Two weeks before the U.S. Department of Labor issued citations to a Westfield grain company for a worker being entrapped in a grain bin for five hours in February 2023, the company notified the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration that another employee suffered severe leg injuries on July 12, 2023. The employee required a partial leg amputation. 

December 12, 2023

Federal court rejects Bimbo Bakeries’ effort to countersue drivers who asserted their right to overtime compensation

WASHINGTON – When a group of bakery distribution drivers filed a lawsuit alleging that Bimbo Foods Bakeries Distribution LLC owed them overtime compensation and misclassified them as independent contractors rather than employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, the company countersued the workers.