December 16, 2021

New Hampshire wineries, restaurants, event venues operator pays $22,803 in civil penalties for child labor violations

MANCHESTER, NH – The owners of two southern New Hampshire wineries, restaurants, event venues and retail operations in Amherst and Derry violated the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act when they allowed 33 employees younger than 16 years of age to work more hours than allowed under the law.

December 16, 2021

US Department of Labor proposes $204K in fines after worker suffers amputation at Arkansas wood flooring plant

MONTICELLO, AR – A knot saw operator suffered a partial amputation of an index finger in June 2021 when his hand came in contact with a rotating blade that lacked adequate machine guarding. A few weeks earlier, a similar saw at the Maxwell Hardwood Flooring plant in Monticello lacerated a co-worker’s palm severely, leaving them with nerve damage.

December 16, 2021

US Department of Labor offers webinar for auto care workers, employers on workplace wage protections

PHILADELPHIA – By one industry study’s account, more than 290 million cars, trucks, SUVs and vans will be roaming America’s roads in 2022, making the people who maintain and repair these vehicles essential to the nation’s economic stability and growth. Yet, after hundreds of investigations in the auto repair industry in fiscal year 2021, the U.S.

December 16, 2021

US Department of Labor amends regulations on the adjudication of temporary, seasonal need for range occupations under the H-2A program

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today published a final rule amending its regulations regarding the adjudication of temporary and seasonal need for employers seeking herding or production of livestock on the range job opportunities. The rule appears in today’s Federal Register.

December 16, 2021

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending December 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 206,000, an increase of 18,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 4,000 from 184,000 to 188,000. The 4-week moving average was 203,750, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since November 15, 1969 when it was 202,750. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,000 from 218,750 to 219,750.

December 15, 2021

US Department of Labor finds Garland home healthcare agencies failed to pay $1.2M in minimum wage & overtime wages

DALLAS – Many home healthcare workers performed their jobs heroically in the face of challenges and risks presented by the global pandemic. Yet, their efforts were undercut by industry employers who failed to pay them for the essential, sometimes life-saving work performed. A recent federal investigation found the operators of two related Garland home care agencies underpaid workers in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

December 15, 2021

Cincinnati businessman ordered to prison for defrauding workers of retirement benefits, earning contract with falsified documents

CINCINNATI – A federal judge in Cincinnati sentenced Ron Craig Estes to 18 months in prison on Dec. 14 after the Cincinnati businessman pleaded guilty to one count of theft or embezzlement from an employee benefit plan and one count of mail fraud.

December 15, 2021

US Department of Labor cites global spice importer after worker suffers partial finger amputation at Jackson facility, levies $146K in penalties

JACKSON, AL – On Aug. 8, a 61-year-old maintenance employee of iSpice LLC in Jackson had part of his finger amputated while adding wrapping material to a machine that started and trapped his hand. His employer failed to ensure proper guarding was installed. The incident occurred less than six months after the U.S.

December 14, 2021

US Department of Labor, Langlas & Associates align to promote worker safety during construction of Rocky Vista University medical school

BILLINGS, MT – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Langlas & Associates Inc. have signed a strategic partnership to prevent serious hazards, and enhance workplace safety and health practices for workers on the Rocky Vista University construction project in Billings.

December 14, 2021

US Department of Labor awards $3M grant to support progress on labor standards in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $3 million cooperative agreement to the International Labour Organization to improve compliance with international labor standards in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The project will seek to strengthen the ability of governments, employers and workers to improve work conditions related to wages and hours and workplace safety.

December 14, 2021

Federal court holds Wisconsin business owner in contempt for failing to comply with the court’s prior order to restore $53,122 to employee benefit plan

MADISON, WI – A U.S. District Court judge in Wisconsin has held a Madison business owner in civil contempt of court after he failed to comply with a March 2021 consent order and judgment requiring him to restore $53,122 to the Thunderbird Engineering Inc. company’s 401(k) Plan.

December 14, 2021

US Department of Labor finds Santa Fe art delivery company paid drivers per day or per mile, failed to pay overtime wages

SANTA FE, NM – In the nation’s third largest market for fine art, industry employers must meet exacting standards to safeguard and transact their clients’ work. Ironically, a recent federal investigation found the operator of a Santa Fe art delivery service was far less careful when it came to paying all of the wages earned by seven of its drivers.

December 13, 2021

US Department of Labor recovers $90K in back wages for 33 workers at Laurel, Petal auto repair shops after investigation finds violations

PETAL, MS – The operator of two Mississippi auto service and repair shops has come into compliance after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation recovered $90,068 in back wages for 33 workers and determined the employer failed to pay them overtime as the law requires.

December 13, 2021

US Department of Labor recovers $135K in back wages, damages after investigation finds Washington restaurant willfully violated overtime rules

BELLEVUE, WA – A federal investigation has uncovered overtime pay violations at a Bellevue restaurant that state labor investigators in Washington cited in 2020 for underpaying workers.

December 13, 2021

History of violations: Dollar General continues to put workers at risk; company faces $321K in penalties after recent Alabama inspection

MOBILE, AL – As the nation’s largest discount retailer, Dollar General stores are widely known by shoppers in 46 states for their low-price merchandise. At the U.S. Department of Labor, the company is recognized for its long history of violations and repeated failures to protect its workers from on-the-job hazards.

December 10, 2021

US Department of Labor announces upcoming actions in Biden-Harris administration fall 2021 regulatory agenda

WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris administration today released its semi-annual agenda of regulations required by Executive Order 12866. The agenda provides a listing of all regulations and ensures public engagement in the process of establishing regulations under active consideration by the Department of Labor during the coming one-year period.

December 9, 2021

Una empresa de paisajismo de Georgia fue obligado a pagar $175,000 en concepto de multas por salarios atrasados después de que el Departamento de Trabajo de EE. UU. descubriera violaciones del programa de trabajadores H-2A

SUGAR HILL, GA – Una empresa de paisajismo de Sugar Hill violó los requisitos de los programas federales de trabajadores agrícolas temporarios H-2A con respecto a las horas, los salarios, los costos de transporte y las tareas, según determinó una investigación del Departamento de Trabajo de EE. UU.

December 9, 2021

US Department of Labor finds three Florida beekeeping farms violated H-2A requirements

ORLANDO, FL – Three Florida beekeeping farms felt the sting of civil money penalties for failing to comply with federal laws regarding pay practices and the employment of migrant and seasonal workers.

December 9, 2021

Georgia landscaper ordered to pay $175K in back wages, penalties after US Department of Labor finds violations of H-2A worker program

SUGAR HILL, GA – A Sugar Hill landscape company violated requirements of the federal H-2A temporary agricultural worker programs related to hours, wages, transportation costs and work assignments, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor determined.

December 9, 2021

Un tribunal federal ordena a los contratistas de Long Island que paguen casi un millón de dólares en salarios atrasados y daños y perjuicios tras una investigación del Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU.

NUEVA YORK - Tres empresas de suministro y construcción de hormigón de Bellport y su propietario, que durante tres años no pagaron las horas extras a 99 obreros, han sido condenados a pagar a los trabajadores un total de $987,591 dólares en concepto de salarios atrasados y daños y perjuicios, más intereses, en una sentencia acordada dictada por el Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito Este de Nueva York.