WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the designation of a new chair and an appointment to the Department’s Administrative Review Board (ARB).

Judge James D. McGinley, who currently serves on the ARB, has been named its new chair, and Randel Keith Johnson has been appointed as a member of the Board for a two-year term.

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:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced the award of nearly $102.5 million in grants to 47 states and Puerto Rico through the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program. This annual formula grant provides funding to states for Training and Other Activities, including training services, job search and relocation allowances, and employment and case management services to serve eligible workers affected by foreign trade.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, where he visited The GIANT Company’s GIANT Direct eCommerce facility and store to meet with employees. The Secretary also joined a roundtable with local business and community leaders to discuss the safe reopening of the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. Secretary Scalia highlighted how fair and reciprocal trade through the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will bolster the economic recovery.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced it has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, acting through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Under this MOA, the Departments will provide access and share information about immigrant and nonimmigrant petition records and data contained within the Office of Foreign Labor Certification’s labor certification and labor condition application databases.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant for $863,500 to the Washington State Employment Security Department. The grant will support disaster-relief jobs and provide employment services to eligible individuals in Washington communities affected by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose.

MCLEAN, VA – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has approved a default judgment that requires Mahan Consulting Group LLC and its president and owner Shaun Marzett to restore $21,880 to the 401(k), health and welfare benefit plans of the now defunct consulting company in McLean, Virginia.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) today announced its intent to award up to $8 million in grant funding for up to two technical assistance projects to improve downstream tracing of goods made by child labor or forced labor. The grant will support the recipient’s development of tested supply-chain methodologies, piloted tools for supply-chain tracing, and disseminating supply-chain tracing tools and methodologies to stakeholders.

NEW YORK, NY – An administrative law judge with the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has upheld citations and penalties from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) against Timberline Hardwood Floors LLC, a custom hardwood-flooring manufacturer that falsely claimed to have corrected previously cited hazards. The judge’s decision also orders the company to pay $166,265 in penalties for all violations.

In the week ending July 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1,434,000, an increase of 12,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 6,000 from 1,416,000 to 1,422,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,368,500, an increase of 6,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,750 from 1,360,250 to 1,362,000.

SAN JOSE, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Rogar Manufacturing – a cable and wire harness manufacturer in San Jose, California – will pay $41,214 in back wages to 17 employees for wrongly denying the employees’ requests for paid sick leave for coronavirus-related reasons. The employer’s action resulted in a violation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).  

LOS ANGELES, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Control Expert Inc. – a vehicle insurance claims management company based in El Segundo, California – has paid $95,120 in back wages to 99 employees to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage requirements.

BRIDGEPORT, CT – The U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut has approved a consent judgment and order requiring Bridgeport Health Care Center Inc. (BHCC) – the operating entity of two former Bridgeport nursing homes – and former officer Chaim Stern, to pay a total of $3,366,957 to BHCC’s health and retirement plans to resolve violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

EL PASO, TX – El Paso Independent School District has paid $2,139 in back wages to an employee after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) determined the employer wrongly denied emergency paid sick leave to an employee whose healthcare providers ordered them to self-quarantine for two weeks for reasons related to the coronavirus.  

DOUGLAS, GA – After a U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) investigation, PCC Airfoils – a wholly owned subsidiary of Precision Castparts Corp. – has entered into a conciliation agreement to resolve alleged gender discrimination at its Douglas, Georgia, location. While not admitting liability, the company will pay a settlement of $67,858 to the affected class.

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:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark civil rights legislation that protects access and opportunity for people with disabilities across community life, including employment.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Director of the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau Laurie Todd-Smith traveled to Denver, Colorado, with Senator Cory Gardner and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump underscoring the importance of childcare as the nation’s economy safely reopens.

SELMA, AL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Christian Services for Children in Alabama – based in Selma, Alabama – has paid $2,800 in back wages to an employee for violating the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA) provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

In the week ending July 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1,416,000, an increase of 109,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 7,000 from 1,300,000 to 1,307,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,360,250, a decrease of 16,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,750 from 1,375,000 to 1,376,750.