DOTHAN, AL – A shoe store in Dothan required 16- and 17-year-old employees to drive at night as part of their job responsibilities and place trash in an active compactor, in violation of federal child labor restrictions. These violations led to $37,280 in civil money penalties.

CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati stone manufacturer was cited again for exposing workers to amputation hazards when it failed to ensure machine safety procedures were followed and machine guards were in place, as required by law.

In the week ending September 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 310,000, a decrease of 35,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 5,000 from 340,000 to 345,000. The 4-week moving average was 339,500, a decrease of 16,750 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,250 from 355,000 to 356,250.

HILLSIDE, IL – After a Hillside business owner failed to forward $10,184 in employee retirement contributions to his company’s retirement plan as required, a federal court barred him from serving as a fiduciary in the future for violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced the award of more than $6.7 million in grants to 37 nonprofit organizations nationwide to fund education and training programs to help workers and employers recognize infectious diseases, including coronavirus health hazards, and identify preventive measures for a safe workplace.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced a proposed rule to require mine operators employing six or more miners to develop a written safety program for mobile and powered haulage equipment (excluding belt conveyors) at surface mines and surface areas of underground mines.

AUBURN, AL – Following an investigation and federal court order, the U.S. Department of Labor recovered $26,496 in back wages and liquidated damages from a personal injury law firm in Auburn, Alabama, that failed to pay overtime to 42 workers.

WASHINGTON, DC– The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the 2021 National Apprenticeship Week will be celebrated Nov. 15-21. The weeklong celebration allows labor and business leaders, educational institutions, career seekers and other partners to demonstrate support for apprenticeships in preparing a highly skilled, diverse workforce to meet the talent needs of employers and train Americans for good-paying jobs across multiple industries.

WASHINGTON DC – To recognize their sacrifices and ceaseless efforts to protect our health and keep our country moving forward amid the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the induction of Essential Workers of the Coronavirus Pandemic into the department’s Hall of Honor.

WASHINGTON, DC – Senior officials of the U.S. Department of Labor and the Mexican Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare met this week in Mexico City to discuss the challenges, opportunities and commitments needed to advance the implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement regarding Labor Day:

“We come to this second Labor Day of the ongoing pandemic having made great progress, and at the same time, acknowledging our continued losses. We honor the workers who, at great personal peril, have carried us this far. And we know that the dual project of defeating the coronavirus and rebuilding the economy is far from complete.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published a final interpretive rule that changes a rule interpreting the anti-retaliation provision of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the August 2021 Employment Situation Report:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of up to $10 million in grant funding to advance labor compliance in the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon, Sonora and Baja California, consistent with the obligations of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Ambassador of Mexico to the United States Esteban Moctezuma led a ceremony today to renew collaboration agreements between the Government of Mexico and the Government of the United States, for the protection of the rights of Mexican workers in this country.

GREEN BAY, WI – A federal judge has signed a default judgment against an Appleton company and ordered fiduciaries of the defunct company’s retirement plan to restore $41,869 in employee payroll-deducted retirement contributions and lost opportunity costs to the plan.

PHILADELPHIA – In an investigative and legal pursuit that spanned more than 18 years, the U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a final order in a Pennsylvania federal court and concluded its long-standing case against a disbarred attorney and former benefits plan fiduciary who gained personally by diverting millions from employee benefit plans.

In the week ending August 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 340,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 353,000 to 354,000. The 4-week moving average was 355,000, a decrease of 11,750 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 366,500 to 366,750.

PHILADELPHIA – The operator of a popular Fishtown bar and bottle shop that prides itself on offering Philadelphia’s largest selection of beer and wine appeared to be less focused on paying its bartenders and servers as the law requires, a federal investigation found and a consent judgement entered in a U.S. District Court confirmed.

KANSAS CITY, KS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division routinely collects data to help the division establish accurate prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits, required by the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. The division is currently surveying active heavy construction projects from Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020 in any of Kansas’ metropolitan counties.