August 20, 2020

U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia Highlights Economic Recovery In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he highlighted the nation’s continuing economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Secretary Scalia first toured the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh, where he participated in a roundtable discussion and met with young people transitioning back into the workforce. Secretary Scalia also visited the Pittsburgh Job Corps Center to meet with students and staff.

August 20, 2020

Rosedale, Virginia, Contractor Pays $46,786 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Overtime Violations

ROSEDALE, VA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Gas Field Services LLC – a pipeline industry contractor based in Rosedale, Virginia – paid $46,786 in back wages to nine employees for violating the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

August 20, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Proposes Registration Requirements For Pooled Plan Providers

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a notice of proposed rulemaking on pooled plan provider registration requirements. The proposal seeks to implement the registration requirements for “pooled plan providers” pursuant to the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019.

August 20, 2020

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending August 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1,106,000, an increase of 135,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 8,000 from 963,000 to 971,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,175,750, a decrease of 79,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 2,000 from 1,252,750 to 1,254,750.

August 19, 2020

Hialeah, Florida, Trucking Company Pays Back Wages to Two Employees After Denying Paid Sick Leave Under Families First Coronavirus Response Act

HIALEAH, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Milum Trucking – a freight shipping and trucking company based in Hialeah, Florida – has paid $3,110 in back wages to two employees for wrongly denying them emergency paid sick leave while they sought medical diagnosis for suspected coronavirus infection. Once their tests returned positive, the employer again denied the two employees’ requests for emergency paid sick leave.

August 19, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor and FDA Develop Checklist to Protect Food Industry Employees Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have developed a checklist for human and animal food manufacturers to consider when continuing, resuming or reevaluating operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

August 18, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Receives Top Marks in Small Business Federal Procurement Scorecard

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor received an A+ on the Small Business Administration’s recently announced Fiscal Year 2019 Small Business Federal Procurement Scorecard, marking the third straight year the Department has received the scorecard’s highest grade.

August 18, 2020

Missouri Federal Contractor Agrees to Pay $379,089 to Resolve Wage Discrimination found in U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

ST. JOSEPH, MO – After a compliance review by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. – a global pharmaceutical company and federal contractor – will pay $379,089 in back pay and interest to 75 female employees to resolve alleged wage discrimination at its St. Joseph, Missouri, facility.

August 18, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Rule Will Improve Workers’ Ability to Measure Lifetime Benefits Payments to Determine Readiness to Retire

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced an interim final rule that will help workers determine their ability to retire by allowing them to estimate how their current savings in a 401(k)-type plan might translate into lifetime monthly payments.

The rule implements section 203 of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019.

August 18, 2020

Statement by Secretary Scalia on the Lost Wages Assistance Program

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement regarding the first round of awards to Iowa, Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, Utah, Colorado, and Missouri as part of the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program.

August 17, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Orders Florida-Based Motor Carrier To Reinstate Employee Terminated For Reporting Safety Concerns

MELBOURNE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered U.S. Corrections LLC – headquartered in Melbourne, Florida – to reinstate an employee for reporting personal and commercial motor vehicle safety concerns. OSHA also ordered the company to pay more than $70,000 in back wages, $30,000 in punitive damages, $7,341 in compensatory damages, $30,000 in emotional distress damages and reasonable attorney’s fees.

August 17, 2020

Federal Court Orders Nevada Leak Detection Company to Pay Retirement Plan Participants $51,434 for Unpaid Contribution, Associated Lost Interest

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The U.S. District Court of Nevada has ordered Sin City Investment Group Inc. – operating as American Leak Detection of Southern Nevada – and its president Leland Keith Ozawa to pay $51,434 for missing employee contributions and associated lost interest owed to non-fiduciary participants of the American Leak Detection SIMPLE IRA Plan.

August 17, 2020

South Florida Landscaping Company to Pay $110,602 in Back Wages To 85 Employees After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Overtime Violations

LOXAHATCHEE, FL After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), A Cut Above Landscape & Maintenance Inc. – a landscaping company based in Loxahatchee, Florida – will pay 85 employees $110,602 in back wages for violating overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

August 16, 2020

ICYMI: U.S. Department of Labor Acts to Help American Workers and Employers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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:

August 14, 2020

McDonald’s Franchisee Pays Back Wages to Employee Denied Paid Sick Leave to Care for Child After Coronavirus Closed Childcare Facility

LOUISVILLE, KY – The operator of a McDonald’s franchise restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, has paid $1,135 in back wages to an employee after the employer failed to pay an employee for expanded family and medical leave to care for her child when coronavirus led to the closure of their childcare.

August 13, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor and North American Meat Institute Establish Alliance to Protect Meatpacking Workers

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed an alliance with the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) to provide information, guidance and access to training resources for protecting workers in the meatpacking and processing industry from exposures to the coronavirus.

August 13, 2020

Court Sentences Former Union Health Plan Trustee and Vice President To 18 Months in Prison After U.S. Department of Labor Investigations

NEW YORK, NY – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has sentenced John Ulrich – former vice president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 812 and former trustee of the Local 812 Health Fund – to 18 months in jail for soliciting bribe payments in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

August 13, 2020

LaGrange, Georgia, Ashley Homestore Pays Back Wages to Employee Denied Paid Sick Leave After Doctor Directed Coronavirus-Related Quarantine

LAGRANGE, GA – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Future Furniture Inc. – doing business as Ashley Homestore in LaGrange, Georgia – has paid $1,040 in back wages to an employee after failing to pay two weeks of paid sick leave after the worker was directed by a doctor to self-isolate due to coronavirus-related concerns.

August 13, 2020

Crystal Beach, Florida, Construction Contractor Pays $16,567 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Uncovers Overtime Violations

CRYSTAL BEACH, FL After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), High Line Construction Services LLC – a construction contractor based in Crystal Beach, Florida – has paid $16,567 in back wages to five employees for violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).