NEW ORLEANS, LA – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana accepted the guilty pleas of The Total Financial Group (TTFG) and its owners – Denis J. Joachim and Donna K. Joachim – after investigations by multiple government agencies – including the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefit Security Administration (EBSA) and Office of Inspector General (OIG) – found Covington, Louisiana-based TTFG and the Joachims created, marketed, and operated a fraudulent multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA).

MANCHESTER, N.H. – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), H.B. Provisions Inc. – a grocery store based in Kennebunk, Maine – has paid $92,055 in back wages and liquidated damages to 69 employees for violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer has also paid $20,752 in civil money penalties.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited national discount retailer Dollar Tree Store Inc. for exposing employees to safety hazards at its store on Southern Boulevard in West Palm Beach, Florida. The company faces $104,192 in penalties.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI – Six Beaumont Affiliated Health and Rehabilitation Centers in the metro-Detroit area has paid $915,223 in back wages to 1,389 employees after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the Centers in violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

AUBURN, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited automobile parts manufacturer Donghee Alabama LLC and two staffing agencies – J & C Enterprise LLC and Jian Enterprise LLC – for exposing employees to safety hazards at its facility in Auburn, Alabama. The companies collectively face $145,438 in penalties.

FORT WORTH, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Southern Tire Mart LLC – based in Columbia, Mississippi – for failing to protect employees from serious safety hazards after a worker suffered fatal injuries while attempting to mount a monster truck tire rim at the company's retreading facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The company faces $341,195 in fines.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury issued a new policy that will provide hundreds of thousands of employers, including small businesses, a better way to provide health insurance coverage, and millions of American workers more options for health insurance coverage. The Departments issued a final regulation that will expand the use of health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs).

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of $2,234,122 for Fidelity Bonding Demonstration Grants. These grants will enable states to expand their use of fidelity bonds to help persons with criminal records with employment opportunities.

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced funds available to increase the usage of fidelity bonds, through the Federal Bonding Program (FBP), to secure employment opportunities for workers recovering from the misuse of opioids. 

The Department is committed to helping those recovering from opioid use find family-sustaining jobs, informing employers about opportunities to provide second chances, and advancing strategies to address barriers to employment that may exist. 

WHITAKERS, NC – After a routine compliance evaluation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Consolidated Diesel Inc. – a federal contractor and subsidiary of Cummins Inc. – has agreed to pay $50,000 in back wages for alleged pay discrimination against African-American managers at the diesel engine manufacturing facility in Whitakers, North Carolina.

In the week ending June 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 222,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 218,000 to 219,000. The 4-week moving average was 217,750, an increase of 2,

APOPKA, FL – After investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Rios Rodriguez Enterprises Inc. – owner of five Central Florida restaurants – will pay $83,577 in back wages to 91 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid $21,266 in civil money penalties for repeated violations.

ORANGE BEACH, AL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Bahama Bob's Beachside Café Inc. – a full-service restaurant based in Orange Beach, Alabama – has paid $81,129 in back wages and liquidated damages to 28 employees for violating overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

AUGUSTA, ME – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Shawn D. Purvis, owner of Purvis Home Improvement Co. Inc. for egregious willful, repeat, and serious workplace safety violations. Purvis - a Saco, Maine, roofing contractor - faces a total of $1,792,726 in penalties. The enforcement action follows the death of an employee in Portland, Maine, on December 13, 2018.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has completed a major upgrade to its primary data system – the Mine Data Retrieval System (MDRS) – bringing increased functionality and more intuitive navigation to this widely used feature.

SUWANEE, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Granite Masters Inc. – a granite countertop installation company based in Suwanee, Georgia – will pay $105,020 in back wages and liquidated damages to 36 employees for violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Apex Systems LLC – a staffing agency and government subcontractor at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina – has paid $1,523,137 in back wages to 209 employees for violating provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

AURORA, IL ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited residential homebuilder Florentino Rodriguez of DB Custom Carpentry LLC for exposing employees to falls at a residential site in Wheaton, Illinois. The contractor faces penalties totaling $196,905 for one serious and two willful safety violations.

In November 2018, OSHA inspectors observed employees working without adequate fall protection. The company was also cited for failing to train employees on fall protection and safe forklift operations.

KEY WEST, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Evoqua Water Technologies LLC – based in Thomasville, Georgia – for failing to protect employees working in excessive heat. The company faces $21,311 in penalties, including the maximum penalty allowed by law for the heat-related violation.

HOUSTON, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Energy Transportation LLC and MW Logistics Services LLC for serious safety violations after a fatal fire at a natural gas processing plant in Houston, Pennsylvania.