August 17, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Orders Florida-Based Motor Carrier To Reinstate Employee Terminated For Reporting Safety Concerns

MELBOURNE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered U.S. Corrections LLC – headquartered in Melbourne, Florida – to reinstate an employee for reporting personal and commercial motor vehicle safety concerns. OSHA also ordered the company to pay more than $70,000 in back wages, $30,000 in punitive damages, $7,341 in compensatory damages, $30,000 in emotional distress damages and reasonable attorney’s fees.

August 17, 2020

Federal Court Orders Nevada Leak Detection Company to Pay Retirement Plan Participants $51,434 for Unpaid Contribution, Associated Lost Interest

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The U.S. District Court of Nevada has ordered Sin City Investment Group Inc. – operating as American Leak Detection of Southern Nevada – and its president Leland Keith Ozawa to pay $51,434 for missing employee contributions and associated lost interest owed to non-fiduciary participants of the American Leak Detection SIMPLE IRA Plan.

August 17, 2020

South Florida Landscaping Company to Pay $110,602 in Back Wages To 85 Employees After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Overtime Violations

LOXAHATCHEE, FL After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), A Cut Above Landscape & Maintenance Inc. – a landscaping company based in Loxahatchee, Florida – will pay 85 employees $110,602 in back wages for violating overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

August 16, 2020

ICYMI: U.S. Department of Labor Acts to Help American Workers and Employers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor took a range of actions to aid American workers and employers as our nation combats the coronavirus pandemic.

Reopening America’s Economy:

August 14, 2020

McDonald’s Franchisee Pays Back Wages to Employee Denied Paid Sick Leave to Care for Child After Coronavirus Closed Childcare Facility

LOUISVILLE, KY – The operator of a McDonald’s franchise restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, has paid $1,135 in back wages to an employee after the employer failed to pay an employee for expanded family and medical leave to care for her child when coronavirus led to the closure of their childcare.

August 13, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor and North American Meat Institute Establish Alliance to Protect Meatpacking Workers

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed an alliance with the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) to provide information, guidance and access to training resources for protecting workers in the meatpacking and processing industry from exposures to the coronavirus.

August 13, 2020

Court Sentences Former Union Health Plan Trustee and Vice President To 18 Months in Prison After U.S. Department of Labor Investigations

NEW YORK, NY – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has sentenced John Ulrich – former vice president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 812 and former trustee of the Local 812 Health Fund – to 18 months in jail for soliciting bribe payments in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

August 13, 2020

LaGrange, Georgia, Ashley Homestore Pays Back Wages to Employee Denied Paid Sick Leave After Doctor Directed Coronavirus-Related Quarantine

LAGRANGE, GA – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Future Furniture Inc. – doing business as Ashley Homestore in LaGrange, Georgia – has paid $1,040 in back wages to an employee after failing to pay two weeks of paid sick leave after the worker was directed by a doctor to self-isolate due to coronavirus-related concerns.

August 13, 2020

Crystal Beach, Florida, Construction Contractor Pays $16,567 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Uncovers Overtime Violations

CRYSTAL BEACH, FL After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), High Line Construction Services LLC – a construction contractor based in Crystal Beach, Florida – has paid $16,567 in back wages to five employees for violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

August 13, 2020

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending August 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 963,000, a decrease of 228,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 5,000 from 1,186,000 to 1,191,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,252,750, a decrease of 86,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,250 from 1,337,750 to 1,339,000.

August 12, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Guidance for the Lost Wages Assistance Program to Provide Needed Relief to Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the release of guidance to help states implement the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program. LWA is authorized by Presidential Memorandum, and provides claimants in most Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs up to $400 per week additional benefits, starting with weeks of unemployment ending on or after Aug. 1, 2020, and ending Dec. 27, 2020 at the latest.

August 12, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Offers Webinar for Employers On Coronavirus-Related Paid Leave and Employee Safety

COLUMBUS, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will present a webinar for Ohio area employers and human resources professionals on the paid leave requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and safety guidance for returning to work and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment.

August 12, 2020

Guam Construction Contractor to Pay Employees $141,755 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Overtime Violations

HAGATNA, GUAM – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Citi Development & Construction Inc. – a construction contractor in Guam – will pay $141,755 to 57 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime, minimum wage and recordkeeping requirements. The employer also will pay $23,000 in penalties.

August 12, 2020

Securitas Pays Employees $176,810 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Violations at Four Hawaiian Airports

HONOLULU, HI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), a branch office of Securitas Security Services USA Inc. – a security services company based in Anaheim, California – has paid $176,810 in back wages to 226 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime and recordkeeping requirements at four Hawaiian airports. The employer has also paid $22,000 in penalties.

August 12, 2020

Apopka, Florida, Contractor to Pay $16,852 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Uncovers Overtime Violations

APOPKA, FL After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Randall Mechanical Inc., an Apopka, Florida, contractor will pay $16,852 in back wages to 20 employees for violating overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

August 12, 2020

Saipan Construction Contractor to Pay Employees $165,807 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Minimum Wage, Overtime Violations

SAIPAN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Win Win Construction – a Saipan-based residential and commercial construction contractor – will pay $165,807 in back wages to 23 employees to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime requirements, and pay $15,755 in civil penalties.

August 12, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers Nearly $2.4 Million for 959 Employees After Investigation Finds Federal Contractors Violated Federal Labor Laws

LOS ANGELES, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), two California-based contractors for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will pay nearly $2.4 million to 959 employees for violations of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA).

August 12, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Offers Webinar in Thai for Employers, Employees About Paid Sick Leave, Families First Coronavirus Response Act

WEST COVINA, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will offer a webinar on Aug. 13, 2020, on the benefits and protections provided by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) for employers and employees in Southern California’s Thai communities.

August 12, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Awards $68 Million in Grants To Indian and Native American Organizations and Tribes

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $68 million in funding to 340 organizations and tribes as part of the Indian and Native American Programs grant that provides training opportunities at the local level. Of the total award amount, approximately $54 million will go towards adult programs and $13 million will go towards youth programs.