October 23, 2008

U.S. Labor Department recovers $8.6 million for workers in settlement involving Agway 401(k) plan in New York

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

New York – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a settlement restoring $8,590,000 to participants of the Agway Inc. 401(k) plan in DeWitt, New York, and barring plan officials and the board of directors from service to employee benefit plans for one to two years unless they complete fiduciary training. The defendants also agreed to pay a civil penalty of $859,000 plus interest to the Labor Department.

October 23, 2008

U.S. Labor Department obtains court-appointed independent fiduciary for 401(k) plan abandoned by New York City company

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

New York – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a court order appointing an independent fiduciary to manage the abandoned 401(k) plan of the defunct Chelsea Voice & Data Inc. of New York City.

October 22, 2008

Court judgment requires Mokena, Illinois-based company and chief executive officer to restore retirement fund losses

Mokena, Illinois – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment in federal district court in Chicago requiring the plan fiduciary of the TMG National Holdings retirement plan to restore $4,110.80 to the plan for improperly using plan assets to benefit the company.

October 22, 2008

U.S. Labor Department files complaint against fiduciary of defunct cardiology clinic in Memphis, Tennessee to recover 401(k) assets

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Memphis, Tennessee – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Dr. Frank H. Martin, fiduciary of the retirement plan of a cardiology clinic in Memphis, for failing to collect $116,460 in mandatory contributions owed to the Cardiovascular Specialties P.C. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan employer 401(k) in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

October 21, 2008

U.S. Labor Departments Office of Labor-Management Standards obtains 900th criminal conviction for the decade

Enforcement agency announces 3 criminal convictions, 7 indictments for September 2008

October 17, 2008

U.S. Department of Labor’s ERISA Advisory Council sets November meetings

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington – The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans – known as the ERISA Advisory Council – and its three working groups will meet on November 5 and 6 at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., in Washington, D.C.

October 17, 2008

Federal agencies finalize rules on Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced the publication of final rules that provide guidance in complying with the provisions of the Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act.

October 16, 2008

U.S. Department of Labor honors five organizations for creating equal opportunities in the workplace

Johns Hopkins Health System receives Secretary of Labors Opportunity Award

October 16, 2008

U.S. Department of Labor updates fiduciary guidance on exercising shareholder rights and investing in economically targeted investments

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the issuance of new guidance under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) clarifying the obligations of plan fiduciaries when considering shareholder rights and investments in economically targeted investments. The guidance is being issued in the form of two interpretive bulletins detailed below.

October 10, 2008

U.S. Department of Labor awards more than $4.7 million to strengthen benefits of international trade for workers

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $4,610,000 in funding to promote worker rights initiatives and more than $115,000 to study the employment effects of trade in services.

October 9, 2008

U.S. Labor Department seeks comments on genetic nondiscrimination requirements

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced publication of a “request for information” (RFI) to assist the department in implementing the requirements under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) for group health plans and health insurance issuers. The RFI is to be published in the October 10, 2008 Federal Register.

October 9, 2008

U.S. Labor Department obtains consent judgment against president of Control Pak International over misuse of $19,000 in 401(k) assets

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Fenton, Michigan – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment against the president of Control Pak International in Fenton, providing restoration of $19,165 to the company’s 401(k) savings plan as restitution for misuse of 401(k) assets in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

October 9, 2008

U.S. Labor Department to hold hearing on investment advice proposals

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington— The U. S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will hold a public hearing October 21, 2008, to hear testimony on a proposed regulation and class exemption for the provision of investment advice. The hearing will begin at 8:00 a.m. in Room S-3215 A-B, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW in Washington, DC.

October 8, 2008

U.S. Department of Labors Wage and Hour Division reopens

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has announced the reopening of its Houston District Office to assist employees and employers in the communities affected by Hurricane Ike with wage-related issues.

The Houston office was closed because of wind and rain damage as a result of Hurricane Ike. During that period, the work normally performed out of the division's Houston office was handled by its San Antonio District Office.

October 8, 2008

U.S. Department of Labor salutes New Freedom Initiative awardees for enhancing participation of Americans with disabilities in 21st century workforce

Theme: America's People... America's Talent... America's Strength!

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today recognized eight winners of the 7th annual New Freedom Initiative Award for their outstanding efforts to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The awards ceremony took place at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C.

October 8, 2008

U.S. Department of Labor obtains consent decree appointing independent fiduciary of 401(k) plan of defunct Colorado company

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Denver – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent order appointing Midwest Fiduciary Services to serve as the independent fiduciary of the abandoned 401(k) plan of defunct Absolute Control Systems Inc. in Golden, Colorado.

October 8, 2008

U.S. Labor Department sues defunct Charlotte, North Carolina employee staffing company to protect participants of 401(k) plan

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Atlanta – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued People Unlimited Consulting Inc. and two executives of the Charlotte, North Carolina, employee staffing company for violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) when they failed to distribute $115,589 in 401(k) assets to eligible plan participants.

October 6, 2008

U.S. Department of Labor issues final rules under Pension Protection Act on missing pension beneficiaries, annuities and cross trading

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has announced final rules pertaining to the requirements of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA). The new rules relate to distribution of 401(k) benefits for missing nonspouse beneficiaries in terminated plans, selection of annuity providers and cross trading of securities by plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

October 1, 2008

U.S. Department of Labor awards more than $58 million to eliminate exploitive child labor around the world

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor is awarding more than $58 million in fiscal year 2008 grants to combat hazardous and exploitive child labor in countries around the world. The grants will save children from and prevent them from entering exploitive labor by providing education and other services. Some of the funding also will be used to collect reliable data and strengthen the capacity of governments to address the problem.

October 1, 2008

Owner of Columbus business pleads guilty to violating Employee Retirement Income Security Act

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Columbus, Ohio — The owner of Laser Saver Inc. in Columbus today pleaded guilty in U.S. district court to willful failure to file with the U.S. Department of Labor annual financial reports for the company’s 401(k) retirement plan that are required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.