COOKEVILLE, TN - Fiesta Cancun Grill Inc. – a restaurant in Cookeville, Tennessee – has paid $271,240 in back wages and liquidated damages to 25 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid a civil penalty of $1,451 for federal child labor violations.

LOUISVILLE, KY – Following a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Henson Construction LLC – a commercial contractor based in Louisville, Kentucky – will pay $92,979 in back wages to 10 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

NASHVILLE, TN - A Nashville, Tennessee-based restaurant enterprise has paid $62,781 in back wages and liquidated damages to 56 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer is also paying a civil penalty of $20,232 for the repeat nature of the wage violations, and for federal child labor violations.

LAUREL, MS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Wayne Farms LLC for exposing employees to hazardous chemicals. The poultry processing company in Laurel, Mississippi, faces $119,341 in penalties.

HANAHAN, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), MedTrust Medical Transport LLC – a private ambulance service provider based in Hanahan, South Carolina –  has paid $212,493 in back wages to 89 employees for violating overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SEVERN, NC - After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Severn Peanut Co. Inc. – a peanut manufacturer based in Severn, North Carolina – has paid $82,820 in back wages and liquidated damages to 100 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid a civil penalty of $3,619 for federal child labor violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it has issued three new opinion letters that address compliance issues related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). An opinion letter is an official, written opinion by the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) on how a particular law applies in specific circumstances presented by the individual person or entity that requested the letter.

In the week ending August 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 209,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 215,000 to 217,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,250, an increase of 250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 211,500 to 212,000.  

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a 60-day period for public comment on proposed revisions to optional use forms that the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) provides for public use in the administration of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

BROWNSVILLE, TX – Investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) at three Brownsville, Texas, restaurants have led Chavez All Natural Inc. – operating as 100% Natural – to pay $39,220 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 25 employees for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime requirements.

BLUFFTON, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Montage Hotels & Resorts LLC – operating as Montage Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina – has paid $8,301 in wages to an employee for violating labor provisions of the H-2B visa program. The Laguna Beach, California-based employer also paid a civil penalty of $8,301 assessed by WHD for the violation.

JOHNSON CITY, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), S&S Hospitality LLC – operator of the Best Western Hotel & Conference Center in Johnson City, Tennessee – has paid $56,999 in back wages and liquidated damages to 15 employees for violating the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid $6,420 in civil money penalties for the willful and repeat nature of the violations.

ATLANTA, GA – US Foods Inc. – a food service distributor based in Rosemont, Illinois – has entered into an early resolution conciliation agreement to pay $116,600 in back wages and interest to resolve alleged hiring discrimination violations found at three of the company’s facilities during a compliance evaluation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). The company has also agreed to make job offers to 10 eligible applicants. 

JONESBORO, GA – Tienda Y Carniceria La Unica 2 Inc. – a supermarket based in Jonesboro, Georgia – has paid a civil penalty of $47,115 after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer allowed a 16-year-old minor employee to use a power-driven meat-slicing machine in violation of federal law. The minor suffered the amputation of one finger and severe injury to another.

LEBANON, MO ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Missouri Cooperage Company LLC ‒ a subsidiary of Independent Stave Company‒ for exposing employees to amputation, noise, and other safety and health hazards at the spirits and wine barrel-making facility in Lebanon, Missouri. The company faces $413,370 in federal penalties.

SAN JOSE, CA – New Thai Bistro – a restaurant based in Pleasanton, California – has paid $172,862 to 14 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Due to the willful nature of the violations found, the Department also assessed $1,974 in civil money penalties.

DAYTON, OH ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Payne Enterprises Inc. – a plumbing contractor based in Dayton, Ohio – for exposing employees to multiple trenching and excavation hazards following an employee fatality. The company faces penalties of $145,860.

CINCINNATI, OH – Two Cincinnati, Ohio, home healthcare providers – Millenium Nursing Agency LTD and Residential Homecare Services LLC – will pay $194,811 in back wages to 62 employees after investigations by the U.S.

LENEXA, KS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): the Kansas Department of Labor’s Division of Industrial Safety and Health, and McCarthy Building Companies Inc. in Leawood, Kansas, have established a strategic partnership to promote employee safety and health during construction of the Tomahawk Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility Expansion Project in Lenexa, Kansas.

WASHINGTON, DC – Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella issued the following statement on the July 2019 Employment Situation report:

“July’s Employment Situation Report demonstrates the steady and consistent growth of the American economy. The July unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7%, marking the seventeenth straight month in which the unemployment rate is at or below 4%.