September 17, 2018

North Carolina Sawmill Pays Back Wages and Penalty After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Child Labor and Wage Violations

RUTHERFORDTON, NC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has assessed D&M Logging Inc. a civil penalty of $9,112 for violating Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) child labor requirements after a minor suffered a hand injury while employed at the company’s sawmill in Rutherfordton, North Carolina. D&M Logging Inc. paid the civil money penalty. Additionally, D&M Logging Inc. paid $12,692 to 11 employees to correct the overtime violations.

September 17, 2018

Federal Court Orders Maryland Business Owner to Pay $354,175 in Restitution, Serve Prison Term for Theft from Employee Benefit Plan

GREENBELT, MD – The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Southern Division, has sentenced a Maryland business owner to one year and one day of imprisonment, and $354,175 in restitution for violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Nathan G. Williams pleaded guilty to one count of theft or embezzlement from his company's employee benefit plan in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 664.

September 17, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Ohio Garage Door Hardware Manufacturer After Employee Amputation

ARCHBOLD, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Napoleon Spring Works Inc. for willful and serious safety violations after a temporary employee's arm was amputated. The Archbold, Ohio, garage door hardware manufacturer faces proposed penalties totaling $284,540.

OSHA investigators found the company failed to implement lockout/tag out procedures to prevent equipment from moving unintentionally during production, train employees on lockout/tagout practices, and install adequate machine guarding.

September 17, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Two Companies After Fatal Fall At Communication Tower Worksite in Mississippi

UTICA, MS – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Midway Tower Service Inc. and Bracken Equipment Holdings LLC for exposing employees to fall and struck-by hazards after an employee suffered fatal injuries at a Utica, Mississippi, worksite.

September 17, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor to Host Listening Session About Proposed Overtime Rule in Providence, Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, RI – On September 24, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor will hold a public listening session in Providence, Rhode Island, to gather views on the Part 541 white-collar exemption regulations, often referred to as the "Overtime Rule."

September 17, 2018

Statement by U.S. Secretary Of Labor Acosta On National Hispanic Heritage Month

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta released the following statement today regarding the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month:

"National Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity for all Americans to celebrate Hispanic-Americans' vibrant and rich traditions that are passed on from one generation to the next. This year's theme, Hispanics: One Endless Voice to Enhance our Tradition, invites us to reflect on Hispanic-Americans' shared multicultural heritage and impact.

September 14, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Enters Partnership to Promote Safety During Illinois Courthouse Construction Project

JOLIET, IL– The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Gilbane Building Company signed a strategic partnership to promote worker safety and health during the construction of the Will County Courthouse. The Three Rivers Construction Alliance, Will and Grundy Counties Building Trades Council, and Illinois On-Site Consultation are also partners on the 10-story project to be completed in September 2020.

September 14, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Stands Ready to Assist Georgia in Wake of Hurricane Florence

WASHINGTON, DC – As part of its commitment to state and local partners facing a serious impact by Hurricane Florence, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced it is ready to make available National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) funding to help Georgia assess its workforce needs.

September 13, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Washington State Staffing Company Paying $355,478 to Resolve Wage Violations

SEATTLE, WA – People Tech Group Inc. – a Redmond, Washington, information technology staffing company – will pay 12 employees $309,914 after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the company violated the labor provisions of the H-1B visa program by paying its guest workers far below the required wages, and sometimes not paying them at all. The Department also assessed the company $45,564 in civil penalties for the violations.

September 13, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Recovers $3.5 Million in Back Wages and Benefits to Employees at a Long Beach, California, Company

LONG BEACH, CA – California Cartage Company LLC – based in Long Beach, California – will pay $3,573,074 to 1,416 employees after the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the company violated federal contract provisions of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

September 13, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Stands Ready to Assist South Carolina in Wake of Hurricane Florence

WASHINGTON, DC – As part of its commitment to state and local partners facing a serious impact by Hurricane Florence, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced it is ready to make available National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) funding to help South Carolina assess its workforce needs.

September 13, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Sawmill for Safety Violations

ST. JOSEPH, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed penalties of $199,183 to American Walnut Company LLC for two repeated and 14 serious safety violations. OSHA initiated an inspection of the St. Joseph sawmill after an employee suffered fatal injuries when he fell into a machine.

September 13, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Stands Ready to Assist North Carolina in Wake of Hurricane Florence

WASHINGTON, DC – As part of its commitment to state and local partners facing a serious impact by Hurricane Florence, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced it is ready to make available National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) funding to help North Carolina assess its workforce needs.

September 13, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Ohio Wood Pallet Manufacturer After Employee Amputation

COLUMBUS, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited pallet manufacturer Buckeye Diamond Logistics Inc. – which operates as BDL Supply – for lockout/tagout hazards after an employee suffered an amputation at the Columbus-based company. OSHA proposed penalties of $191,794 for two repeated and four serious violations.

September 13, 2018

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending September 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 204,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since December 6, 1969 when it was 202,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 203,000 to 205,000. The 4-week moving average was 208,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since December 6, 1969 when it was 204,500. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 209,500 to 210,000.

September 12, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Awards Disaster Recovery Funds Following Severe Storms in Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced funding of a $975,000 Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) awarded to Workforce West Virginia to assess workforce needs in response to storms that brought heavy rainfall and flooding throughout seven counties. The funding will assist the following seven counties declared eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance Program: Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan, and Pendleton.

September 12, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Awards Disaster Recovery Funds Following Severe Storms in Ohio Valley of West Virginia

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced funding of a $833,325 Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant awarded to Workforce West Virginia to assess workforce needs in response to storms that brought heavy rainfall, flooding and wind damage.

September 12, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Awards Dislocated Worker Funding to Support Reemployment Services After Auto Industry Layoffs in Northeast Ohio

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $875,000 in National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) funding to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to assess workforce needs after layoffs from the General Motors plant in Lordstown, as well as from three additional auto industry suppliers in Northeast Ohio.

September 12, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Protects American Workers With H-2B Education and Enforcement Initiative in the Landscaping Industry

WASHINGTON, DC - To ensure compliance with federal wage laws, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting a nationwide initiative to strengthen compliance with the labor provisions of the H-2B temporary visa program in the landscaping industry. The initiative includes providing compliance assistance tools and information to employers and stakeholders, as well as conducting investigations of employers using this program.

September 10, 2018

CORRECTED: U.S. Department of Labor Investigations Result in San Diego-Area Massage Parlors Paying $61,317 to Resolve Wage Violations

SAN DIEGO, CA – Two San Diego-area massage parlor companies – Yuanjun International Inc. and Rama Thai Massage – will pay 17 employees a collective $61,317 after U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigations found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).