WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today approved Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant funding of $975,000 to Workforce West Virginia to assess workforce needs in response to severe storms in June 2019, which brought heavy rainfall that caused extreme flooding and extensive damage to waterways.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced Scott Gibbons as Chief Data Officer to lead the Department's Data Board and Christina Yancey as Chief Evaluation Officer for the Department.

"A commitment to rigorous program evaluations and an improved digital infrastructure are two key components of the Department of Labor's future success," Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella said.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited RMS Utilities Inc. – based in Alamosa, Colorado – for exposing employees to trenching hazards. The company faces $92,819 in penalties.

In the week ending September 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 208,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 204,000 to 206,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,250, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 212,500 to 213,000.

BOISE, ID – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Dollar Tree Stores at four Idaho locations for exposing employees to unsafe storage of merchandise, and blocked walkways and exit routes. The company faces $898,682 in proposed penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today the U.S. Department of Labor announced that the fifth annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) will be held from November 11-17, 2019.

Established by the U.S. Department of Labor, NAW is a nationwide celebration that brings together business leaders, labor, educational institutions, and Americans interested in apprenticeships to showcase the impact apprenticeship programs have on closing the U.S. skills gap and preparing the American workforce for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

NIAGARA, WI ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Koller Industries ‒ operating as Aurora Castings Services ‒ for continually exposing employees to machine hazards at the facility in Niagara, Wisconsin. The company faces $206,291 in penalties.

CHICAGO, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Polo Masonry Builders Inc. – based in Park Ridge, Illinois – for exposing employees to fall and scaffolding hazards while working on a commercial building project in Chicago, Illinois. The company faces penalties of $252,136. OSHA placed the company in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

NEW LONDON, WI - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Wood Sewer & Excavation Inc. for willfully exposing employees to excavation hazards at a construction site in Fox Point, Wisconsin. The company faces $65,921 in penalties.

OSHA inspectors cited the company for failing to protect employees working inside an 8-feet-deep trench and provide a safe means of exit from the excavation area.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Century Communities Inc. – a Colorado-based homebuilder – for exposing employees to fall hazards. The company faces $132,598 in penalties.

DAYTON, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Roofs by Antonio LLC – based in Dayton, Ohio – for exposing employees to fall hazards while they installed shingles on a sloped roof in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company faces penalties of $159,118 for repeatedly violating OSHA's fall protection standards.

MELBOURNE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Hough Roofing Inc. – based in Palm Bay, Florida – for exposing employees to fall hazards after a worker suffered a fatal injury from a fall while performing roofing activities at a work site in Melbourne, Florida.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced National Dislocated Worker Grant funding of $372,945 to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to provide reemployment services to individuals impacted by the closure of the Weetabix cereal manufacturing facility in Clinton, Massachusetts, operated by Post Holdings Inc.

NASHVILLE, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Accelerated Learning Solutions Inc. – a school management company based in Nashville, Tennessee – has paid $45,378 in back wages to 59 employees for violating the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

DETROIT, MI – Two Detroit area residential care facilities operated by Beaumont Health will pay $400,007 in back wages to 476 employees after investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the employer violated the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) overtime and recordkeeping provisions. Investigators determined 283 employees at Beaumont Commons in Dearborn, Michigan, are due $250,659 in back wages, and 193 employees at Botsford Commons in Farmington Hills, Michigan, are due $149,348.

BOSTON, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor has asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to hold two Massachusetts construction companies and two of their officers in civil contempt for not fulfilling the terms of an August 2016 consent judgment and order that requires them to pay $2,359,685 in back wages and liquidated damages to 478 employees.

OAKDALE, PA – Burke Inc. – doing business as Pepperoncini's Pub in Oakdale, Pennsylvania – has paid $12,034 in back wages, and an equal amount in liquidated damages to four employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ROME, GA – After a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Neaton Rome Inc. – an automobile parts manufacturer based in Rome, Georgia – has reinstated and paid an employee $13,133 in lost wages as WHD found the employer terminated the employee in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

In the week ending September 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 204,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 217,000 to 219,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,500, a decrease of 4,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 216,250 to 216,750.  

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the Connecticut Department of Labor for up to $4,757,845, with $1,585,948 released initially. This grant will provide disaster-relief jobs and employment services to eligible individuals in Connecticut affected by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.