December 28, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Releases the Office of Labor-Management Standards’ Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Report of Performance and Activities

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) has released its annual fiscal year summary of its performance and program activities in its 2020 Annual Report today. OLMS administers and enforces most provisions of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA).

December 23, 2020

Southern California Produce Company Pays Back Wages to Five Employees Wrongly Denied Paid Sick Leave After Coronavirus Diagnoses

LOS ANGELES, CA – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), DeFranco & Sons – a produce company in Los Angeles, California – has paid $6,000 in back wages to five employees after wrongly denying them paid sick leave after they received coronavirus diagnoses.

December 23, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division Delivers Record-Breaking Outreach in Fiscal Year 2020

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Wage and Hour Division (WHD) continued to break records in delivering outreach and education to workers and employers in fiscal year 2020.

December 23, 2020

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending December 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 803,000, a decrease of 89,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 7,000 from 885,000 to 892,000. The 4-week moving average was 818,250, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,750 from 812,500 to 814,250.

December 22, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor and CHPRC Enter Agreement to Resolve Alleged Pay Discrimination Against Female Employees in Richland, Washington

SEATTLE, WA – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has entered into an Early Resolution Conciliation Agreement (ERCA) with CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Co. (CHPRC), resolving allegations that the federal contractor engaged in systemic compensation discrimination against female employees in Richland, Washington. While not admitting wrongdoing, the environmental cleanup contractor agreed to an ERCA, and to enhance future compliance proactively.

December 22, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule To Amend Tipped Employee Regulations

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a final rule protecting the tips of employees. This rule addresses amendments made to Section 3(m) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2018.

December 22, 2020

Indiana Restaurant Operator to Pay $317,108 in Back Wages To 21 Employees Following U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

EVANSVILLE, IN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Los Tequila Inc. – operator of Los Tres Caminos restaurant in Evansville, Indiana – will to pay $317,108 in minimum wage and overtime back wages to 21 employees for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

December 22, 2020

Federal Contractor Pays $130,619 in Back Wages After Investigation By U.S. Department of Labor Finds Violations in Southern California

WEST COVINA, CA After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Technica LLC will pay $130,619 in back wages and fringe benefits to 43 employees. Investigators found the contractor failed to pay required prevailing wages to warehouse employees on their contract for work at the Barstow Marines Corps Logistics Base in Barstow, California.

December 22, 2020

Federal Contractor Pays $49,553 in Back Wages After Investigation by U.S. Department of Labor Finds Prevailing Wage Violations in Nevada

LAS VEGAS, NV After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, F&P Construction has paid $49,553 in back wages and fringe benefits to 35 employees working on the Reno Renewable Diesel Plant to resolve violations of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA).

December 22, 2020

Southern California Manufacturer Pays Back Wages to Employees Wrongfully Terminated After Requesting Coronavirus-Related Leave

LOS ANGELES, CA – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), NGY Group – a stone products and cabinet manufacturer in Chino, California – has paid $11,134 in back wages and reinstated two employees the company terminated wrongfully after they applied for coronavirus-related leave, a violation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

December 22, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces New OSHA Debt Collection Initiative

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced a new initiative designed to better collect citation penalties.

December 22, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Availability of $3.3 Million To Fund Fidelity Bonding Demonstration Grants

WASHINGTON, DC  The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the availability of $3.3 million to fund Fidelity Bonding Demonstration Grants to states and outlying areas to expand their Federal Bonding Programs for individuals with criminal records, including those recovering from opioid and other drug addictions.

December 21, 2020

Louisiana Electrical Contractor Pays $22,501 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Failure to Pay Fringe Benefits

BATON ROUGE, LA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Linx Electric has paid $22,501 in back wages to nine employees for violating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA).

December 21, 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:

December 18, 2020

Indiana RV Manufacturer Agrees to Pay $103,318 in Back Wages to 168 Employees Following U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

SYRACUSE, IN – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Travel Lite Inc. will pay $103,318 in overtime back wages to 168 employees after the WHD found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime requirements at the company’s two recreational vehicle production facilities in Syracuse and New Paris, Indiana.

December 18, 2020

U.S. Department Of Labor Files Complaint to Protect Participants And Beneficiaries of Failing Medova MEWA Operating in 38 States

KANSAS CITY, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas against Wichita, Kansas-based Medova Healthcare Financial Group LLC, its president and CEO Daniel L. Whitney, chief operating officer Michelle Willson and Midlands Casualty Insurance Co. Inc.

December 18, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA Announces $3,646,228 In Coronavirus Violations

WASHINGTON, DC – Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Dec. 10, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations arising from 273 inspections for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $3,646,228.

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

December 17, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces More Standards Recognition Entities Ready to Deliver Industry-Recognized Apprenticeships

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that nine more organizations have been recognized as Standards Recognition Entities (SRE) overseeing the development of high-quality Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAP).

December 17, 2020

Court Orders Three Kalamazoo, Michigan-Area Restaurants to Pay $225,000 in Back Wages Following U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

KALAMAZOO, MI – Three Kalamazoo, Michigan-area restaurants under joint ownership have paid $225,000 in back wages to 82 employees after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found minimum wage and overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

December 17, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $85,753 in Back Wages For 414 Employees of Detroit-Area Car Wash Operator

ROCHESTER, MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Mr. C’s Car Wash – based in Rochester, Michigan – has paid $85,753 in back wages to 414 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime and minimum wage requirements at all nine of the employer’s Detroit-metro locations.