BESSEMER, AL – Eagle Cleaning Services Inc. – a janitorial services company based in Bessemer, Alabama – has paid $2,066 in back wages after the employer wrongly denied paid leave under the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA) to an employee who missed work to care for children engaged in distance learning. The children’s school was closed for in-person learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.

NEWARK, DE – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has entered into an early resolution conciliation agreement with the University of Delaware in Newark, to resolve allegations of systemic hiring discrimination. The university has agreed to pay $100,000 in back pay, interest and benefits to the affected male class members who applied and were not hired for custodial technician positions.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) that will help protect the wages and job opportunities of American workers by reforming the prevailing wage methodology used by the Department in several foreign worker programs.

NEW YORK, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and Princeton University entered into an early resolution conciliation agreement to resolve allegations of compensation discrimination. Princeton University has agreed to pay $925,000 in back pay and at least $250,000 in future salary adjustments to resolve allegations of compensation discrimination by OFCCP.

OVERLAND PARK, KS – Favorite Healthcare Staffing Inc. – based in Overland Park, Kansas – has paid $3,068,859 in back wages to 1,677 contract employees hired to conduct coronavirus testing in Orlando, Florida, under terms of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD).

PANAMA CITY, FL – Garden Escapes LLC – a Panama City, Florida-based landscaping company – has paid $1,200 in back wages after wrongly denying emergency paid sick leave to an employee who self-quarantined after receiving a coronavirus diagnosis.

CLEVELAND, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent order and judgment requiring the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Union and the current trustees of the SMART Group Voluntary Short Term Disability Plan (SMART VSTD Plan) to restore $6,545,454 to the Plan.

KINGSPORT, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Cypriana Inc. – operating as Mad Greek International Café – will pay $188,728 in back wages to 65 employees. The investigation found minimum wage and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at two Tennessee locations in Kingsport and Johnson City.

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 – Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited 37 establishments for violations, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $484,069.

OSHA inspections have resulted in the agency citing employers for violations, including failures to:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued temporary guidance for enforcing initial and annual fit-testing requirements related to tight-fitting powered air-purifying respirators. The action marks the Department’s latest step to ensure the availability of respirators and follows President Donald J.

GALLATIN, TN – Solstice Sleep Products Inc. – a Columbus, Ohio-based sleep product manufacturer – has paid $868 in back wages after wrongly denying emergency paid sick leave to an employee at its Gallatin, Tennessee, location who self-quarantined after receiving a coronavirus diagnosis.

HARTFORD, CT – Yale University, a private university, will pay $87,500 to resolve alleged pay discrimination at the university’s New Haven, Connecticut, campus.

COVINGTON, GA – Nicholas Security Commercial LLC – a Covington, Georgia-based home security company – has paid $1,153 in back wages after wrongly denying emergency paid sick leave to an employee who self-quarantined after receiving a coronavirus diagnosis.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement on the September 2020 Employment Situation Report:

WASHINGTON, DC – President Donald J. Trump has issued a proclamation commemorating October 2020 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and encouraging workplaces and communities across the nation to honor the occasion through a variety of events and activities.

PROVIDENCE, RI – After a routine compliance review by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Locke Lord LLP – a federal contractor formerly known as Edwards Wildman – voluntarily entered into a conciliation agreement to resolve allegations of pay discrimination at its Providence, Rhode Island, office.  

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Raytheon Technologies as the first Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP), a major milestone in this Administration’s goal to expand apprenticeships and create more job opportunities for American workers. The National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) serves as the Standards Recognition Entity (SRE) overseeing Raytheon’s program. NIMS was recognized by the Department on Sept.

LEXINGTON, KY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky has sentenced Aaron Jamison – founder, owner and president of Micah Group LLC and Micah Group Environmental Contractors Inc.

In the week ending September 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 837,000, a decrease of 36,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 870,000 to 873,000. The 4-week moving average was 867,250, a decrease of 11,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 878,250 to 879,000.