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.

Reopening America’s Economy:

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered CSX Transportation Inc. – headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida – to reinstate and pay more than $95,000 in back wages to an employee terminated by the company for reporting an unsafe customer gate and an on-the-job injury. OSHA also ordered the rail-based freight transportation company to pay the employee $75,000 in punitive damages, $27,000 in compensatory damages, and attorney’s fees.

WASHINGTON, DC – Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Oct. 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited 62 establishments for violations, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $913,133.

OSHA inspections have resulted in the agency citing employers for violations, including failures to:

DALLAS, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) urges response crews and residents in areas affected by Hurricane Delta to be aware of hazards created by flooding, power loss, structural damage, fallen trees and storm debris.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) urges response crews and residents in areas affected by Hurricane Delta to be aware of hazards created by flooding, power loss, structural damage, fallen trees, and storm debris.

CLARKSVILLE, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Don Pancho Mexican Restaurant will pay $563,350 in back wages to 120 employees after an investigation found minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at three Tennessee locations in Mount Juliet, Ashland City and Jackson.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Miami, Florida, where he visited Miami Dade College’s Medical Campus and participated in a roundtable conversation with college leadership and Miami business leaders to discuss the Administration’s efforts to train American workers for valuable careers in healthcare. Following the roundtable, Secretary Scalia toured the campus, observed some of the educational programs and spoke with students. 

MANCHESTER, NH – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the Mammoth Restaurant Group has paid $75,012 in back wages to 63 employees to resolve violations of the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at two restaurants in Manchester, New Hampshire. The employer also paid $5,377 in civil money penalties for child labor violations.

In the week ending October 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 840,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 12,000 from 837,000 to 849,000. The 4-week moving average was 857,000, a decrease of 13,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 3,000 from 867,250 to 870,250.

WASHINGTON, DC - Federal subcontractor Potomac Abatement Inc. – a construction company based in Jessup, Maryland – has entered into a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Compliance Programs (OFCCP) to pay $503,000 in back wages and interest, and extend job offers to 16 class members to remedy allegations of racial bias against 179 employees. 

DEDEDO, GUAM – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), a janitorial and ground maintenance services company and federal contractor in Guam will pay $22,648 to workers for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

LANHAM, MD – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and Alsco Inc. have entered into an Early Resolution Conciliation Agreement to resolve allegations of systematic hiring discrimination at its Lanham, Maryland, facility. Alsco Inc.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that the sixth annual National Apprenticeship Week will occur from November 8 through 14, 2020.

BESSEMER, AL – Eagle Cleaning Services Inc. – a janitorial services company based in Bessemer, Alabama – has paid $2,066 in back wages after the employer wrongly denied paid leave under the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA) to an employee who missed work to care for children engaged in distance learning. The children’s school was closed for in-person learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.

NEWARK, DE – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has entered into an early resolution conciliation agreement with the University of Delaware in Newark, to resolve allegations of systemic hiring discrimination. The university has agreed to pay $100,000 in back pay, interest and benefits to the affected male class members who applied and were not hired for custodial technician positions.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) that will help protect the wages and job opportunities of American workers by reforming the prevailing wage methodology used by the Department in several foreign worker programs.

NEW YORK, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and Princeton University entered into an early resolution conciliation agreement to resolve allegations of compensation discrimination. Princeton University has agreed to pay $925,000 in back pay and at least $250,000 in future salary adjustments to resolve allegations of compensation discrimination by OFCCP.

OVERLAND PARK, KS – Favorite Healthcare Staffing Inc. – based in Overland Park, Kansas – has paid $3,068,859 in back wages to 1,677 contract employees hired to conduct coronavirus testing in Orlando, Florida, under terms of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD).

PANAMA CITY, FL – Garden Escapes LLC – a Panama City, Florida-based landscaping company – has paid $1,200 in back wages after wrongly denying emergency paid sick leave to an employee who self-quarantined after receiving a coronavirus diagnosis.

CLEVELAND, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent order and judgment requiring the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Union and the current trustees of the SMART Group Voluntary Short Term Disability Plan (SMART VSTD Plan) to restore $6,545,454 to the Plan.