WASHINGTON – The U.S.

In the week ending July 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 244,000, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 235,000. The 4-week moving average was 235,750, an increase of 3,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 232,500.

LOS ANGELES – A recent federal investigation found the owner of seven Los Angeles residential care homes intentionally denied 22 workers more than $56,000 in overtime wages and then attempted to hide their actions by altering timekeeping records. The scheme proved to be a costly mistake.

ELIZABETH, NJ - El Departamento de Trabajo de EE. UU ha recuperado $353,945 en salarios atrasados y daños y perjuicios para 79 agentes de ventas en 12 sucursales de la franquicia T-Mobile en Nueva Jersey cuyos dueños negaron deliberadamente a los empleados sus salarios de horas extras por las horas trabajadas por sobre las 40 en una semana laboral.

NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a federal court order to prevent two Astoria, New York, discount stores and their owners and manager from threatening workers and obstructing an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division.

PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL – A fall from elevation, the leading cause of death in the construction industry, has claimed another victim; this time a 19-year-old worker in Port Saint Lucie whose fatal injuries in January 2022 – a federal workplace safety investigation has determined – could have been prevented if their employer used required fall protection.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the selection of the initial cohort of 207 officials and organizations chosen to serve as Apprenticeship Ambassadors to share their experiences and collaborate with the department to champion apprenticeship opportunities.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – Federal workplace safety inspectors examining how a 26-year-old diver drowned in a golf course pond – after only three days working for a Freming Island commercial diving and recovery company – found the employer failed to follow required safety standards, including ensuring adequate supervision was in place and that required training was provided.

WASHINGTON – In an effort to better understand long COVID-19 in U.S. workplaces, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General are inviting the public to join a national online dialogue beginning today to gather ideas to better support workers coping with symptoms, their co-workers and their employers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is asking the heavy construction industry in New Hampshire to participate in a survey to help the agency establish prevailing wage rates, as required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts.

ELIZABETH, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $353,945 in back wages and liquidated damages for 79 sales associates at 12 New Jersey T-Mobile locations whose owners willfully denied the employees overtime wages for hours over 40 in workweek.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor held a panel discussion today on the 50-year legacy of the Report of the National Commission on State Workmen’s Compensation Laws and whether the workers’ compensation system is fulfilling its obligation to injured workers, at its Frances Perkins Building headquarters in Washington.

COLUMBUS, OHIO – A federal judge sentenced Cindy Hardway – a Newark, Ohio resident – to six months in prison on July 8, 2022, after she pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public money and one count of theft or embezzlement from an employee benefit plan. Hardway’s guilty plea comes after she collected $254,116 from her deceased father’s pension fund and Social Security following his death in 2005.

DENVER – To target one of the construction industry’s most dangerous hazards – falls from elevation – the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched a new initiative to conduct safety investigations on weekends in select counties in Colorado’s Front Range, Montana, and South Dakota.

Empleador:                                        Zapopan Mexican Food

HOUSTON - Una investigación federal ha recuperado $166,435 en salarios atrasados para 106 trabajadores de una empresa de Houston que los clasificó erróneamente como contratistas independientes, lo que privó a los trabajadores de sus beneficios y salarios completos, incluidas las horas extras.

HOUSTON – A federal investigation has recovered $166,435 in back wages for 106 workers of a Houston company that misclassified them as independent contractors, which deprived the workers of their full benefits and wages, including overtime.

Employer:                                          Zapopan Mexican Food

Investigation site:                              14207 Palm Drive Suite 102

FORT WAYNE, IN – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has found an Indiana provider of home healthcare services violated federal law when it failed to pay workers for time spent driving between clients’ homes, leading to the department’s recovery of $126,162 in back wages for 95 workers.

NORFOLK, VA – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has issued a preliminary injunction against a Chesapeake home healthcare provider to prevent the employer from obstructing a U.S. Department of Labor investigation, retaliating against employees who cooperate with investigators and  demanding kickbacks of back wages assessed by the department’s Wage and Hour Division.