SYRACUSE, NY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), GV Foods Inc. has paid $92,007 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 103 current and former employees at its Syracuse, New York, restaurants – Peppino’s Neapolitan Express, Honey Cafe, and Peppino’s Pizzeria. The investigation found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) launched the Contractor Assistance Portal, an online help desk to provide enhanced compliance assistance to federal contractors and stakeholders. The virtual online helpdesk is part of a broad push by the U.S. Department of Labor to provide innovative compliance assistance to job creators.

DUNEDIN, FL – Falzon Management Corp. – a restaurant operating as Kelly’s Chic-a-Boom Room in Dunedin, Florida – has paid $17,266 in back wages and liquidated damages to 48 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

CRESSKILL, NJ - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited AJR Landscaping Inc. – based in Cresskill, New Jersey – for exposing employees to carbon monoxide (CO) after two workers succumbed to the toxic gas.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Lallos441 LLC – the operator of Lallos Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida – has paid $17,443 in back wages and liquidated damages to 25 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid $11,555 in civil money penalties for the willful nature of the violations.

DECATUR, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Atlanta Kitchen LLC for exposing employees to amputation, silica, and other safety and health hazards at its Decatur, Georgia, manufacturing facility. The countertop manufacturer faces $132,604 in penalties.

PALMETTO, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Brad McDonald Roofing & Construction Inc. for exposing employees to fall and other safety hazards at two Florida construction sites in Lutz and Palmetto. The residential and commercial roofing work company faces $274,215 in penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has announced the awarding of $2 million to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, for the first year of a 4-year cooperative agreement to operate an employer-focused disability policy development and technical assistance center. This center will build upon the prior work of ODEP’s Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN).

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the appointment of the Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) Ombudsman, Marcus Stergio. OFCCP first announced its plan to implement an Ombudsman in September 2018 in Directive (DIR 2018-09).

COOPER CITY, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), South China Restaurant – based in Cooper City, Florida – will pay $88,074 in wages to eight employees for violating minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today approved Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) funding of up to $5,411,294, with $1,803,765 released initially, for the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services. This funding assists with the assessment of workforce needs in response to the storms and flooding of May 2019. 

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Optima Stantron Corp., a subsidiary of Elma Electronic Inc., for exposing employees to amputation, combustible dust, and other safety and health hazards at the Lawrenceville, Georgia, manufacturing facility. The designer and manufacturer of electronic cabinets faces $161,020 in penalties.

PLEASANTVILLE, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Paris Produce Inc. for failing to correct workplace hazards identified during an August 2017 investigation at the wholesale supplier’s facility in Pleasantville, New Jersey. The company faces $236,089 in penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Services (VETS) has released a fact sheet to help employers better understand their responsibilities toward reemployed service members under the pension provisions of the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and related regulations.

WILMINGTON, DE - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited two contractors – Enerfab Process Solutions & Fabricated Products Inc. and Industrial Services Group Inc. – for exposing employees to fall hazards after a fatal injury at a Delaware Port of Wilmington worksite in January 2019. The companies face $687,619 in penalties.

COOKEVILLE, TN - Fiesta Cancun Grill Inc. – a restaurant in Cookeville, Tennessee – has paid $271,240 in back wages and liquidated damages to 25 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid a civil penalty of $1,451 for federal child labor violations.

LOUISVILLE, KY – Following a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Henson Construction LLC – a commercial contractor based in Louisville, Kentucky – will pay $92,979 in back wages to 10 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

NASHVILLE, TN - A Nashville, Tennessee-based restaurant enterprise has paid $62,781 in back wages and liquidated damages to 56 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer is also paying a civil penalty of $20,232 for the repeat nature of the wage violations, and for federal child labor violations.

LAUREL, MS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Wayne Farms LLC for exposing employees to hazardous chemicals. The poultry processing company in Laurel, Mississippi, faces $119,341 in penalties.

HANAHAN, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), MedTrust Medical Transport LLC – a private ambulance service provider based in Hanahan, South Carolina –  has paid $212,493 in back wages to 89 employees for violating overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).