SEVERN, NC - After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Severn Peanut Co. Inc. – a peanut manufacturer based in Severn, North Carolina – has paid $82,820 in back wages and liquidated damages to 100 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid a civil penalty of $3,619 for federal child labor violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it has issued three new opinion letters that address compliance issues related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). An opinion letter is an official, written opinion by the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) on how a particular law applies in specific circumstances presented by the individual person or entity that requested the letter.

In the week ending August 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 209,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 215,000 to 217,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,250, an increase of 250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 211,500 to 212,000.  

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a 60-day period for public comment on proposed revisions to optional use forms that the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) provides for public use in the administration of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

BROWNSVILLE, TX – Investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) at three Brownsville, Texas, restaurants have led Chavez All Natural Inc. – operating as 100% Natural – to pay $39,220 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 25 employees for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime requirements.

BLUFFTON, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Montage Hotels & Resorts LLC – operating as Montage Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina – has paid $8,301 in wages to an employee for violating labor provisions of the H-2B visa program. The Laguna Beach, California-based employer also paid a civil penalty of $8,301 assessed by WHD for the violation.

JOHNSON CITY, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), S&S Hospitality LLC – operator of the Best Western Hotel & Conference Center in Johnson City, Tennessee – has paid $56,999 in back wages and liquidated damages to 15 employees for violating the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid $6,420 in civil money penalties for the willful and repeat nature of the violations.

ATLANTA, GA – US Foods Inc. – a food service distributor based in Rosemont, Illinois – has entered into an early resolution conciliation agreement to pay $116,600 in back wages and interest to resolve alleged hiring discrimination violations found at three of the company’s facilities during a compliance evaluation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). The company has also agreed to make job offers to 10 eligible applicants. 

JONESBORO, GA – Tienda Y Carniceria La Unica 2 Inc. – a supermarket based in Jonesboro, Georgia – has paid a civil penalty of $47,115 after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer allowed a 16-year-old minor employee to use a power-driven meat-slicing machine in violation of federal law. The minor suffered the amputation of one finger and severe injury to another.

LEBANON, MO ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Missouri Cooperage Company LLC ‒ a subsidiary of Independent Stave Company‒ for exposing employees to amputation, noise, and other safety and health hazards at the spirits and wine barrel-making facility in Lebanon, Missouri. The company faces $413,370 in federal penalties.

SAN JOSE, CA – New Thai Bistro – a restaurant based in Pleasanton, California – has paid $172,862 to 14 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Due to the willful nature of the violations found, the Department also assessed $1,974 in civil money penalties.

DAYTON, OH ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Payne Enterprises Inc. – a plumbing contractor based in Dayton, Ohio – for exposing employees to multiple trenching and excavation hazards following an employee fatality. The company faces penalties of $145,860.

CINCINNATI, OH – Two Cincinnati, Ohio, home healthcare providers – Millenium Nursing Agency LTD and Residential Homecare Services LLC – will pay $194,811 in back wages to 62 employees after investigations by the U.S.

LENEXA, KS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): the Kansas Department of Labor’s Division of Industrial Safety and Health, and McCarthy Building Companies Inc. in Leawood, Kansas, have established a strategic partnership to promote employee safety and health during construction of the Tomahawk Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility Expansion Project in Lenexa, Kansas.

WASHINGTON, DC – Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella issued the following statement on the July 2019 Employment Situation report:

“July’s Employment Situation Report demonstrates the steady and consistent growth of the American economy. The July unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7%, marking the seventeenth straight month in which the unemployment rate is at or below 4%.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Bay Area Contract Maintenance – a janitorial company based in San Francisco, California – will pay $450,548 in back wages to 65 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found violations of the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will offer a compliance seminar in Washington, D.C., for contractors, unions, workers, and other interested parties to provide information on the rules governing federal prevailing wage requirements. The event will offer training on labor standards for federally funded construction and federal service contracts.

WHAT: Wage and Hour Division Prevailing Wage Seminar

WHEN: August 13-15, 2019
9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON, DC – In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the landmark Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA), the U.S. Department of Labor today announced that former U.S. Senator Robert Griffin and former National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) member Howard Jenkins, Jr. will be the newest inductees to the Department's Hall of Honor in this fall.

LINTHICUM, MD - After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in the Department's Office of Administrative Law Judges has ordered Enterprise RAC Company of Baltimore LLC to pay $6,645,444 in lost earnings and benefits to 2,336 African-American applicants for the company's management trainee program.

In the week ending July 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 215,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 206,000 to 207,000. The 4-week moving average was 211,500, a decrease of 1,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 213,000 to 213,250.