May 5, 2023

US Department of Labor partners with Georgia agencies, employers to promote safety stand-downs to address workplace mental health awareness

Participants:            

U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Georgia Department of Public Health

Mental Health America of Georgia

May 5, 2023

Statement by Assistant Secretary Julie McClain Downey on April Jobs Report

WASHINGTON – U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Public Affairs Julie McClain Downey issued the following statement on the April 2023 Employment Situation Report:

May 4, 2023

US Department of Labor announces report finding nearly half of accommodations for disabled workers have no cost

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that a new report finds that nearly half of workplace accommodations made for people with disabilities can be implemented at no cost to employers, and of those that do incur a one-time cost, the median expenditure has decreased when compared to previous reports to only $300.

May 4, 2023

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending April 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 242,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 230,000 to 229,000. The 4-week moving average was 239,250, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 236,000 to 235,750.

May 2, 2023

Federal investigation recovers $672K for 172 firefighters, paramedics after Department of Labor finds City of Gary misapplied overtime rules

GARY, IN – Like all first responders, firefighters employed by the City of Gary must be ready to respond when and wherever needed. In general, they work a 106-hour schedule at fire stations every two weeks in shifts sometimes lasting 24 hours or longer. When duty forces them to exceed their typical schedules, federal law requires their employer to pay overtime wages at time-and-one-half their hourly rates.

May 2, 2023

US Department of Labor partners with Holder Construction Group LLC to promote workplace safety during Trilith community project in South Atlanta

Participants:            

U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Holder Construction Group LLC

Georgia Tech On-Site Consultation Program

What:  Safety partnership agreement

May 2, 2023

Three McDonald’s franchisees in Kentucky pay $212K in fines after federal investigations find 305 minors — including 10-year-olds — working illegally

LOUISVILLE, KY – Working in a kitchen late at night near dangerous cooking equipment is a reality for many adults in the food service industry. But finding 10-year-old kids in such a work environment is a cause for concern and action by the U.S. Department of Labor.

May 2, 2023

Court forbids Popeyes franchisee, manager from intimidating workers, harassing federal investigators during investigation of Harrisburg restaurant

HARRISBURG, PA A federal court has issued a preliminary injunction in response to the U.S. Department of Labor’s request to enjoin and restrain the owner of a Popeyes franchise restaurant in Harrisburg and its district manager from threatening workers, harassing federal investigators, and otherwise obstructing an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division.

May 1, 2023

US Department of Labor recovers $101K for 10 sushi restaurant workers in Hawaii after employer denied overtime pay by misapplying exemption

HONOLULU – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $101,694 in back wages and liquidated damages from the owners of a Honolulu restaurant who denied full wages to 10 chefs — many of whom worked as many as 20 hours of overtime each week — by illegally excluding them from overtime compensation.

May 1, 2023

US Department of Labor announces national emphasis program to reduce, prevent workplace falls, leading cause of workplace fatalities

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has begun a National Emphasis Program to prevent falls, the leading cause of fatal workplace injuries and the violation the agency cites most frequently in construction industry inspections.

May 1, 2023

Federal court approves plan to distribute assets to participants harmed by underfunded group health plan arrangement operating in 36 states

CHICAGO – Health plan participants, employers and medical providers harmed by a multiple employer welfare arrangement, or “MEWA” operating in 36 states will begin to finally receive payments related to more than $54 million in unpaid health claims after a federal court’s action, prompted by litigation and investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.

May 1, 2023

El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. recupera $333,000 en salarios atrasados y daños para 51 personas empleadas a quienes una empresa de mantenimiento de Long Island les negaba las horas extras

WESTBURY, NY - El Departamento de Trabajo de EE. UU. ha recuperado más de $333,000 en salarios atrasados y daños y perjuicios para 51 personas empleadas en una empresa de mantenimiento de Long Island que emitía cheques por separado para sus empleados para ocultar que la empresa no pagaba los salarios por horas extras cuando lo requería la ley.

May 1, 2023

US Department of Labor recovers $333K in back wages, damages for 51 workers denied overtime by Long Island maintenance company

WESTBURY, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered more than $333,000 in back wages and liquidated damages for 51 employees of a Long Island maintenance company that issued separate checks to workers to mask the company’s failure to pay overtime wages when required by law.

April 28, 2023

Department of Labor announces $90M in grants to support delivery of training, employment services to young people for high demand careers

WASHINGTON – To continue to expand Registered Apprenticeships, prepare young workers for good quality jobs and strengthen the nation’s workforce to meet industry demands, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $90 million in grants to 68 organizations in 32 states to provide training and employment services.

April 28, 2023

US Department of Labor awards $985K to Washington State to continue employment, training services to combat the state’s opioid crisis

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an incremental award of $985,474 to the Washington State Department of Employment Security to support its continued efforts to provide temporary jobs and employment and training services for eligible individuals in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston counties.

April 28, 2023

US Department of Labor finds Amazon failed to provide injured employees proper medical treatment at Castleton, New York, fulfillment facility

WASHINGTON – An ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found Amazon failed to provide adequate medical treatment for traumatic and chronic injuries at a fulfillment center in Castleton, New York.

April 28, 2023

US Department of Labor finds 205 violations at 16 mines in March 2023 safety, health impact inspections in 12 states

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that monthly impact inspections by its Mine Safety and Health Administration at 16 mines in 12 states in March 2023 have identified 205 violations, including 52 significant and substantial findings.

April 27, 2023

US Department of Labor finds Santa Maria care provider deliberately denied 42 workers overtime, recovers $545K in back wages, damages

SANTA MARIA, CA – A federal investigation has found the owner and operator of five central California residential care homes denied overtime wages to 42 caregivers by requiring them to sign away their rights to overtime in exchange for an extra $1 per hour worked and creating a second payroll to hide the fraud.