December 16, 2020

Court Appoints Independent Fiduciary to Distribute $1,500,000 In Retirement Funds Held By Defunct Oregon Retirement Plans

SEATTLE, WA – The U.S. District Court of Oregon recently granted the U.S. Department of Labor’s motion for default judgment against Portland, Oregon-based National Security Retirement Plan LLC and Invest n’ Retire LLC for abandoning employer sponsored benefit plans while 31 participants’ assets, worth over $1,500,000, remained in them. The participants were employees of Retirement Solutions Advisors LLC, the National Association for Plan Liability and Keene Photography Studio.

December 16, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces New Initiative to Help States Expand Employment Among People with Mental Health Conditions

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a new initiative designed to assist states in aligning policy, programs and funding across multiple state agencies to increase competitive integrated employment for people with mental health conditions.

December 16, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces $20 Million in New Grants to Support USMCA Implementation, Bringing the 2020 Total to Nearly $50 Million

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced two new grants, totaling $20 million, that will assist Mexico in meeting its labor obligations under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The grants announced today bring the total committed for this purpose by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) to nearly $50 million in 2020.

December 16, 2020

ICYMI: U.S. Labor Secretary Scalia Remarks on Unemployment Insurance Reform at American Enterprise Institute Event

WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia discussed unemployment insurance reform during a virtual event with the American Enterprise Institute. View Secretary Scalia’s full remarks.

Secretary Scalia’s remarks included the following excerpts:

December 16, 2020

Court Orders Janitorial Company to Pay $10,000 in Back Wages and Damages To 11 Employees After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

ST. JOSEPH, MI – A consent judgement issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Michigan has led Shoreline Building Services LLC – and its owner Crystal Middleton – to pay 11 employees $10,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to resolve overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

December 16, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Launches New Website To Offer Training Provider Performance and Outcomes

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of a new website, TrainingProviderResults.gov, which provides key outcome data such as training completion, credential attainment, employment and wages associated with training programs funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).  

December 16, 2020

Oregon Agricultural Operators Pay Back Wages After Denying Paid Sick Leave to Workers Ordered to Quarantine for Coronavirus

PORTLAND, OR – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), three Oregon agricultural operators will pay a collective $11,418 in back wages after wrongly denying paid sick leave to employees whose healthcare providers advised them to self-quarantine following potential coronavirus exposures.

December 16, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Implements Inspection Program To Target Workplaces with Highest Injury and Illness Rates

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is updating its inspection program that directs agency enforcement resources to establishments with the highest rates of injuries and illnesses.

December 15, 2020

Statement by U.S. Department of Labor on Office of Inspector General Report Regarding 2017 Tip Rule NPRM

WASHINGTON, DC –The U.S. Department of Labor released the following response to the Office of Inspector General’s report regarding the 2017 Tip Rule Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

December 15, 2020

OSHA Remains Focused on Keeping Workers Safe in 2020

WASHINGTON, DC – This year, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) used its authority through a combination of traditional practices and unique approaches to assure safe and healthful working conditions for America’s workers.

December 15, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Exemption to Improve Investment Advice and Enhance Financial Choices for Workers and Retirees

WASHINGTON, DCThe U.S. Department of Labor today announced a new exemption for investment advice fiduciaries.

December 15, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $173,851 in Back Wages For 89 Electrical Workers After Investigation Finds Overtime Violations

WILDWOOD, FL After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Galaxy Home Solutions Inc. – based in Wildwood, Florida – has paid $173,851 in back wages to 89 employees to resolve overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

December 14, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Joint Final Rule Regarding Equal Treatment of Faith-Based Organizations in Department of Labor-Supported Social Service Programs

WASHINGTON, DC Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a joint final rule with eight other Agencies – the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Agriculture, the Agency for International Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs – to implement President Trump’s Executive Order No.

December 14, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor and Crothall Healthcare Reach Agreement to Resolve Alleged Hiring Discrimination

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a conciliation agreement with Crothall Healthcare, in which the Wayne, Pennsylvania-based health services provider will pay $120,000 in back pay and interest to 224 male applicants to resolve allegations of hiring discrimination.

December 14, 2020

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia on United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America Consent Order

WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement regarding a consent order entered in a federal court in Michigan today:

“The consent order entered today by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan takes an important step toward ending the corruption that in recent years has afflicted the leadership of the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW).

December 14, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Availability of $10 Million for National Out-of-School Time Organizations to Expand Workforce Pathways for Youth

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $10 million to fund national out-of-school time organizations that will expand workforce pathways for youth ages 14-21.

December 14, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces the Availability of Approximately $89 Million in Grant Funding for Youthbuild Projects

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $89 million in grant funds authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for YouthBuild.

December 14, 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.

Keeping America’s Workplaces Safe and Healthy:

December 14, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $33,397 in Back Wages for Employees After Investigation Finds Overtime Violations at South Carolina Tire Retailer

PAGELAND, SC After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Pageland Tire Country Inc. – based in Pageland, South Carolina – has paid $33,397 in back wages to nine employees to resolve overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

December 11, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule on Proxy Voting and Shareholder Rights by Employee Benefit Plans

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a final rule establishing a regulatory framework for private employee benefit plans’ fiduciaries to follow when they exercise shareholder rights, including proxy voting, and select and monitor proxy advisory firms.