GREENVILLE, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Kerry Inc. for failing to provide fall protection to employees working in the company's facility in Greenville, Missouri. The food flavoring company faces $223,525 in penalties for one willful and eight serious safety violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today published a final rule that provides greater clarity and flexibility to states as they identify the occupations for which they will conduct drug testing in the unemployment insurance (UI) program.  

In the week ending September 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 219,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 213,000 to 215,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,500, unchanged from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 212,000 to 212,500.

BOSTON, MA – After a U.S. Department of Labor investigation, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has entered a consent judgment and order requiring three Massachusetts restaurants and two of their owners to pay $355,944 in back wages and liquidated damages to 52 employees to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). They will also pay a civil money penalty of $36,448 because their violations were willful and repeated.

TUSCALOOSA, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Turner Specialty Services LLC and Hunt Refining Co. for safety violations after an employee suffered a fatal injury at a refining facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The two companies collectively face $106,080 in penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC - President Donald J. Trump today issued a proclamation recognizing October 2019 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), initiating a series of coast-to-coast events and activities to honor the contributions workers with disabilities make to America's workplaces and economy. The theme for 2019 is "The Right Talent, Right Now."

SHELBYVILLE, TN – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee has approved a settlement between the U.S. Department of Labor and Big G Express Inc., Stephen Thompson, and David Nolan involving the company's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

In accordance with the consent judgment, Big G Express – a Shelbyville, Tennessee-based trucking company – paid $454,545 in restitution to the plan. The Department also assessed a civil penalty of $45,454 against the defendants.  

ODESSA, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Juan Vizcaino – doing business as Vizcaino LP in Odessa, Texas – has paid $45,945 in back wages to 22 employees hired under the H-2B temporary visa program and two U.S. workers hired during the recruitment period for guest workers. The employer also has paid $24,120 in civil money penalties to settle the H-2B violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced Rachel Mondl as the new Chief of Staff.

“Rachel is an outstanding public servant with a tremendous dedication to helping America’s workers,” U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia said. “Rachel will play a key role in the Department’s efforts to help America’s workforce gain access to good, family-sustaining career opportunities.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Following a White House swearing-in event today led by President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia released the following statement.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment & Training Services (VETS) today announced a Transition Assistance Program (TAP) contract to provide employment-related transition services, such as classroom instruction, personalized career transition assistance and apprenticeship placement services to approximately 200,000 transitioning service members annually at military installations worldwide.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the awards of nearly $2.5 million in grant funding to organizations in five states to help women affected by the opioid crisis to re-enter the workforce.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration today awarded $29,175,000 in demonstration grant funds to expand the impact of workforce development efforts in the Appalachian and Delta regions through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) grant initiative. 

BOSTON, MA – Dell Technologies (Dell) has voluntarily entered into an early resolution conciliation agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) to resolve indicators of race and gender-based wage discrimination.

Under the terms of the agreement, Dell Technologies will provide make-whole relief for the affected workers, totaling $7 million in lost wages, interest, and benefits, as well as assuring that all employees are afforded equal employment opportunities.

NEW YORK, NY: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has entered into an early resolution conciliation agreement with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC to resolve findings of race and gender-based compensation discrimination.

FLORENCE, KY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Zang Group Florence Mall Road LLC – operating as Skyline Chili Restaurant – has paid $6,065 in back wages to 26 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The restaurant also paid a civil penalty of $4,992 for federal child labor violations.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar LLC - doing business as Superior Seafood and Oyster Bar New Orleans - and Superior Restaurant Group LLC have paid $238,300 in back wages and liquidated damages to 222 employees, for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

LAUREL, MS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Howard Industries Inc. – a manufacturer and supplier of electrical transmission and distribution equipment – for exposing employees to struck-by and fall hazards after a fatality at the company’s Laurel, Mississippi, facility. The company faces $53,040 in penalties. 

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of additional National Dislocated Worker Grant funding of $2,268,997 to the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP). The funding will provide continued employment and training services to dislocated workers impacted by secondary layoffs in mining communities resulting from the decline of the coal industry. 

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $3,590,635 in additional funding to the Texas Workforce Commission for a National Dislocated Worker Grant currently serving dislocated workers at Fort Hood and Red River Army Depot (RRAD), located in Killeen and Texarkana, Texas, respectively.