January 25, 2022

US Department of Labor announces pilot program to encourage COVID-19 vaccination among miners in Kentucky, Arizona

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a new program designed to encourage and help America’s miners to get the COVID-19 protections that vaccinations offer.

January 25, 2022

Federal investigation recovers $221K in back wages, damages for 59 workers

BOISE – The U.S. Department of Labor recovered $221,053 in back wages and liquidated damages for 59 drywall installation workers in Idaho after their employer recklessly denied them overtime wages they earned and then lied to investigators about it.

January 25, 2022

US Department of Labor recovers $36K in back wages, damages after finding Fort Myers air conditioning company’s pay practices violated federal law

FORT MYERS, FL – A Fort Myers heating, ventilating and air conditioning company paid commissions and stipends to a rotation of on-call dispatchers but failed to include those payments in the workers’ rate of pay when calculating overtime in violation of federal law, the U.S. Department of Labor has determined.

January 24, 2022

El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. ofrece un seminario en linea para ayudar a los empleadores de restaurantes del sureste a evitar las infracciones más comunes en materia de trabajo juvenil

ATLANTA - Cada año, millones de menores de 18 años se incorporan al mercado laboral estadounidense, muchos de ellos en la industria del servicio de alimentos. El Departamento de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos está trabajando intensamente para garantizar que los empleadores de restaurantes del sureste conozcan sus obligaciones legales en relación con el empleo de menores y para frenar el reciente aumento del incumplimiento.

January 24, 2022

US Department of Labor proposes $145K in fines after worker suffers fatal injury at Chicago-area pizza manufacturer

CREST HILL, IL – A 42-year-old employee of a Crest Hill frozen-pizza manufacturer suffered a fatal injury while cleaning a machine on July 20, 2021.

January 24, 2022

Tire, auto repair shop pays $79K in back wages after US Department of Labor uncovers overtime violations

ATLANTA – Employers must accurately count all the hours employees work and include certain commissions earned when calculating overtime pay due. Failing to do so can lead to violations and result in unexpected costs in the form of back wages and, in some cases, penalties.

January 24, 2022

US Department of Labor cites Pomp’s Tire Service after Abbotsford worker suffers fatal trauma while attempting to mount tire on rim

ABBOTSFORD, WI ‒ At the Abbotsford location of a popular Midwest tire sales-and-service provider, a worker mounting a new tire sustained fatal injuries after the tire came loose and struck him on July 28, 2021. A few weeks later, another worker from the same company suffered a similar fate at a Savage, Minnesota, location on Aug. 17, 2021.

January 24, 2022

US Department of Labor commits to continuing the fight against human trafficking through collaboration, enforcement, outreach

WASHINGTON – As National Human Trafficking Prevention Month concludes, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division continues to support the updated U.S.

January 24, 2022

US Department of Labor offers webinar to help Southeast’s restaurant employers avoid common child labor compliance violations

ATLANTA – Millions of minors under the age of 18 join the U.S. workforce each year – many in the food industry – and the U.S. Department of Labor is working hard to ensure restaurant employers in the Southeast know their legal obligations regarding the employment of minors and to curb a recent increase in noncompliance.

January 21, 2022

READOUT: Secretary Walsh addresses US Conference of Mayors' Winter Meeting

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh unveiled the Department of Labor’s “Good Jobs” initiative, a coordinated effort by Biden-Harris administration to improve job quality nationwide, during a speech today at the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ 90th Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.

January 21, 2022

US Secretary of Labor announces Biden-Harris administration’s coordinated effort to improve job quality nationwide

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh today announced an initiative aimed at improving job quality throughout the country. The “Good Jobs” initiative, led by the Department of Labor, will provide critical information to workers, employers and government entities as they seek to improve job quality, and create access to good union jobs – free from discrimination and harassment – for all workers and job seekers.

January 21, 2022

Federal court paves way for 16 employees of defunct Bay Area construction company to access $1M in retirement assets

SAN FRANCISCO – Sixteen people participating in an employee retirement plan sponsored by a now defunct Danville construction company will receive distributions of almost $1 million in assets following an investigation and litigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.

January 21, 2022

US Department of Labor files suit after investigation finds federal contractor failed to ensure subcontractors paid $3.3M in wages, fringe benefits

DES MOINES, IA – The U.S. Department of Labor filed suit against a federal contractor that failed to ensure its subcontractors paid 3,964 employees as required at 88 Iowa sites, resulting in $3,348,543 in prevailing wage, overtime and fringe benefit back wages due. The employees removed poultry waste potentially infected with avian flu from the sites.

January 20, 2022

US Department of Labor conducts outreach, enforcement to ensure wage and hour compliance as cleanup continues after December tornadoes in Kentucky

Who:               Wage and Hour Division

What:             Outreach assistance and enforcement action after December 2021 tornadoes

When:             Jan. 24-28, 2022

January 20, 2022

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending January 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 286,000, an increase of 55,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 230,000 to 231,000. The 4-week moving average was 231,000, an increase of 20,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 210,750 to 211,000.

January 19, 2022

El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. presenta una demanda contra una empresa de San Antonio para recuperar $114,000 en salarios atrasados por horas extras, daños y perjuicios para 79 guardias de seguridad

SAN ANTONIO - Las prácticas salariales de una empresa de San Antonio que contrata exclusivamente a veteranos militares para trabajar como guardias de seguridad violaron la ley federal y pagaron $57,465 a 79 empleados en salarios atrasados por horas extras, tras una reciente investigación del Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. 

January 19, 2022

US Department of Labor files lawsuit against San Antonio company seeking $114K in overtime back wages, damages for 79 security guards

SAN ANTONIO – The pay practices of a San Antonio company that exclusively hires military veterans to work as security guards violated federal law and shortchanged 79 employees of $57,465 in overtime back wages, a U.S. Department of Labor investigation has found.  

January 19, 2022

US Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission unveil ‘HIRE’ initiative to advance equal opportunity at work

WASHINGTON –The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission today launched the Hiring Initiative to Reimagine Equity with a roundtable discussion reflecting on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

January 19, 2022

US Department of Labor cites Florida company after worker clearing brush dies as temperatures neared 100 degrees in national forest

NORTH PORT, FL – Working in the recesses of Apalachicola National Forest on a July day as temperatures neared 100 degrees, the supervisor of two crews hired to clear invasive plants saw one 42-year-old worker was sweating heavily, his hands were trembling, and he seemed confused, unable to respond to commands.