June 18, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Alabama Auto Parts Manufacturer And Staffing Agencies for Exposing Employees to Safety Hazards

AUBURN, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited automobile parts manufacturer Donghee Alabama LLC and two staffing agencies – J & C Enterprise LLC and Jian Enterprise LLC – for exposing employees to safety hazards at its facility in Auburn, Alabama. The companies collectively face $145,438 in penalties.

June 14, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Southern Tire Mart After Fatality at Texas Retreading Facility

FORT WORTH, TX The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Southern Tire Mart LLC – based in Columbia, Mississippi – for failing to protect employees from serious safety hazards after a worker suffered fatal injuries while attempting to mount a monster truck tire rim at the company's retreading facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The company faces $341,195 in fines.

June 13, 2019

U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury Expand Access to Quality, Affordable Health Coverage Through Health Reimbursement Arrangements

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury issued a new policy that will provide hundreds of thousands of employers, including small businesses, a better way to provide health insurance coverage, and millions of American workers more options for health insurance coverage. The Departments issued a final regulation that will expand the use of health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs).

June 13, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Awards $2,234,122 to 24 States For Fidelity Bonding Demonstration Grants

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of $2,234,122 for Fidelity Bonding Demonstration Grants. These grants will enable states to expand their use of fidelity bonds to help persons with criminal records with employment opportunities.

June 13, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Offers States Receiving National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grants Additional Funds for Fidelity Bonds

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced funds available to increase the usage of fidelity bonds, through the Federal Bonding Program (FBP), to secure employment opportunities for workers recovering from the misuse of opioids. 

The Department is committed to helping those recovering from opioid use find family-sustaining jobs, informing employers about opportunities to provide second chances, and advancing strategies to address barriers to employment that may exist. 

June 13, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Compliance Evaluation Results in Federal Contractor Paying $50,000 in Back Wages

WHITAKERS, NC – After a routine compliance evaluation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Consolidated Diesel Inc. – a federal contractor and subsidiary of Cummins Inc. – has agreed to pay $50,000 in back wages for alleged pay discrimination against African-American managers at the diesel engine manufacturing facility in Whitakers, North Carolina.

June 13, 2019

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending June 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 222,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 218,000 to 219,000. The 4-week moving average was 217,750, an increase of 2,

June 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigations of Central Florida Restaurants Results in $83,577 in Back Wages For 91 Employees

APOPKA, FL – After investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Rios Rodriguez Enterprises Inc. – owner of five Central Florida restaurants – will pay $83,577 in back wages to 91 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid $21,266 in civil money penalties for repeated violations.

June 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $81,129 in Back Wages and Damages After Investigation Finds Wage Violations at Alabama Gulf Coast Restaurant

ORANGE BEACH, AL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Bahama Bob's Beachside Café Inc. – a full-service restaurant based in Orange Beach, Alabama – has paid $81,129 in back wages and liquidated damages to 28 employees for violating overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

June 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites and Fines Maine Roofing Contractor After Employee’s Fatal Fall

AUGUSTA, ME – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Shawn D. Purvis, owner of Purvis Home Improvement Co. Inc. for egregious willful, repeat, and serious workplace safety violations. Purvis - a Saco, Maine, roofing contractor - faces a total of $1,792,726 in penalties. The enforcement action follows the death of an employee in Portland, Maine, on December 13, 2018.

June 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Upgraded Data System to Assist Mine Operators in Ensuring Compliance with Mine Safety and Health Regulations

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has completed a major upgrade to its primary data system – the Mine Data Retrieval System (MDRS) – bringing increased functionality and more intuitive navigation to this widely used feature.

June 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Georgia Granite Installer Paying $105,020 in Back Wages and Damages

SUWANEE, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Granite Masters Inc. – a granite countertop installation company based in Suwanee, Georgia – will pay $105,020 in back wages and liquidated damages to 36 employees for violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

June 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Federal Contractor Paying Over $1.5 Million in Wages for Service Contract Act Violations

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Apex Systems LLC – a staffing agency and government subcontractor at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina – has paid $1,523,137 in back wages to 209 employees for violating provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

June 11, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Cites Illinois Contractor For Continuing to Expose Roofers to Falls Hazards

AURORA, IL ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited residential homebuilder Florentino Rodriguez of DB Custom Carpentry LLC for exposing employees to falls at a residential site in Wheaton, Illinois. The contractor faces penalties totaling $196,905 for one serious and two willful safety violations.

In November 2018, OSHA inspectors observed employees working without adequate fall protection. The company was also cited for failing to train employees on fall protection and safe forklift operations.

June 11, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Georgia Water Services Company After Employee Suffers Heat-Related Injury at Key West, Florida, Worksite

KEY WEST, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Evoqua Water Technologies LLC – based in Thomasville, Georgia – for failing to protect employees working in excessive heat. The company faces $21,311 in penalties, including the maximum penalty allowed by law for the heat-related violation.

June 11, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Two Companies after Fatal Fire At Pennsylvania Natural Gas Processing Plant

HOUSTON, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Energy Transportation LLC and MW Logistics Services LLC for serious safety violations after a fatal fire at a natural gas processing plant in Houston, Pennsylvania.

June 11, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor to Host Town Hall for Current and Former Nuclear Weapons Workers in Paducah, Kentucky

PADUCAH, KY – The U.S. Department of Labor and the Joint Outreach Task Group will host a town hall meeting in Paducah, Kentucky, on June 20, 2019, to discuss the benefits available to current and former nuclear weapons workers from covered facilities, and their families, under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.

June 11, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor and Fort Worth Beverage Distributor Agree to Settle Allegations of Hiring Discrimination

DALLAS, TX -  After a routine compliance evaluation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Ben E. Keith Company (BEK) – operating as Fort Worth/Waco Beer & Fleet Main and Ben E. Keith Dallas Fort Worth Foods (BEK Foods) – has agreed to pay $350,000 in back pay and interest to resolve alleged hiring discrimination at its two Fort Worth, Texas, facilities.   

June 11, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Federal Contractor Violated Prevailing Wage Law at Tyndall Air Force Base

PANAMA CITY, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Coqui Disposal Services LLC – a disposal and janitorial service company and federal contractor at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida, an area significantly affected by Hurricane Michael – has paid $22,335 in back wages to 46 employees for violating requirements of the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).  

June 11, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Fines Chemical Manufacturer For Exposing Workers to Toxic Gas

NEW CASTLE, DE – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Croda Inc. after a chemical release at the New Castle, Delaware, manufacturing plant exposed workers to ethylene oxide. The company faces $262,548 in penalties.