March 18, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Availability of Up to $100 Million In National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grants in Response to COVID-19 Outbreak

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of up to $100 million for Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs) to help address the workforce-related impacts of the public health emergency related to COVID-19, also known as novel coronavirus.

March 18, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Extends Emphasis Program in West Virginia To Reduce or Eliminate Worker Exposure to Silica

PHILADELPHIA, PAThe U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an initiative to increase the focus of agency inspections in West Virginia’s maritime, construction, and general industries on identifying, reducing, or eliminating worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica.

March 18, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Extends Emphasis Program in Pennsylvania To Reduce or Eliminate Worker Exposure to Silica

PHILADELPHIA, PAThe U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an initiative to increase the focus of agency inspections in Pennsylvania’s maritime, construction, and general industries on identifying, reducing, or eliminating worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica.

March 18, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Extends Emphasis Program in Delaware To Reduce or Eliminate Worker Exposure to Silica

PHILADELPHIA, PAThe U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an initiative to increase the focus of agency inspections in Delaware’s maritime, construction, and general industries on identifying, reducing, or eliminating worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica.

March 18, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Extends Emphasis Program in the District of Columbia To Reduce or Eliminate Worker Exposure to Silica

PHILADELPHIA, PAThe U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an initiative to increase the focus of agency inspections in the District of Columbia’s maritime, construction, and general industries on identifying, reducing, or eliminating worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica.

March 18, 2020

Tennessee Insurance Agency to Pay $3,818,181 in Restitution to Employee Stock Ownership Plan After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

NASHVILLE, TN The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division, has approved a settlement between the U.S. Department of Labor, Zander Group Holdings Inc., Stephen Thompson and Jeffrey Zander involving the company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

March 18, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Enters Partnership to Promote Safety During Demolition of Two Missouri Coal-Fired Power Plants

KANSAS CITY, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Brandenburg Industrial Service Company have signed a strategic partnership to promote worker safety and health during the demolition of the Montrose and Sibley Generating Stations in Clinton and Sibley, Missouri. Both coal-fired powered plants ceased operations in 2018.

March 18, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Takes Actions to Facilitate Response Efforts For COVID-19 Outbreak

WASHINGTON, DC – Following President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) today issued a National Interest Exemption memorandum to facilitate response efforts for COVID-19, also known as novel coronavirus.

March 17, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Illinois Manufacturer For Exposing Employees to Machine Hazards

ARCOLA, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Monahan Filaments LLC – based in Arcola, Illinois – for violations of OSHA’s machine safety standards after an employee suffered severe injuries. The manufacturer of synthetic filaments for brushes and brooms faces $258, 271 in penalties. OSHA placed the company in the agency’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

March 17, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Temporary Pause In Job Corps Center Operations

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it is initiating a break for students at the 121 Job Corps centers located in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In light of the COVID-19 public health emergency and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department is acting to protect the health and safety of its tens of thousands of students and staff across the country. There is no evidence of any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in any Job Corps center at this time.

March 17, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces No U.S. Mines Met Pattern of Violations Screening Criteria

ARLINGTON, VA – Of the nation’s 13,000 mining operations, none met the screening criteria for a Pattern of Violations (POV), one of the toughest enforcement tools used by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The announcement follows MSHA’s most recent screening, covering the period from Feb. 1, 2019 to Jan. 31, 2020. This was the sixth consecutive screening that resulted in no POV notices. The last screening covered the period from Sept. 1, 2018, to Aug. 31, 2019.

March 16, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Investments to Support Ex-Offenders’ Successful Reentry into Workforce

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of up to $25 million in available funding for organizations that help young adults enter the workforce following involvement with the justice system. The funding is available under the Young Adult Reentry Partnership 2020 grant program and will serve young adults ages 18-24 years old who are currently or have previously been involved with the juvenile or adult criminal justice system, are low-income, or are high school dropouts at the time of enrollment.

March 16, 2020

UPDATED: U.S. Department of Labor and Cisco Systems Inc. Enter Agreement to Resolve Alleged Pay Discrimination in San Jose

SAN JOSE, CA – Cisco Systems Inc. has agreed to pay $2,000,000 in lost wages and interest to affected employees in San Jose, California, and provide at least $2,750,000 in pay-equity adjustments to its employees nationwide in the next five years in an Early Resolution Conciliation Agreement (ERCA) after the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) claimed the company paid women, black and Hispanic employees less than comparable male and white employees in similar positions.

March 14, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Temporary Enforcement Guidance for Respirator Fit-Testing in Healthcare during COVID-19 Outbreak

WASHINGTON, DC – Following President Donald J. Trump’s memorandum on the availability of respirators during the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued new temporary guidance regarding the enforcement of OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.

March 13, 2020

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia on President Trump’s National Emergency Declaration

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement regarding the federal response to coronavirus:

March 13, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Leads Court to Order North Carolina Restaurant to Pay $120,949 in Back Wages and Damages

CHARLOTTE, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina ordered Hot Taco LLC – a Charlotte, North Carolina, restaurant – to pay $120,949 in back wages and liquidated damages to 67 employees for minimum wage violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 13, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in South Carolina Contractor Paying $43,663 in Back Wages, Damages for Overtime Violations

LEXINGTON, SC After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Lucas Builders Inc. – based in Lexington, South Carolina – has paid $43,663 in back wages and liquidated damages to 15 employees for violating overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 13, 2020

North Carolina Manufacturer Pays $120,567 in Back Wages, Damages After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Overtime Violations

RANDLEMAN, NCAfter an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Butler Trailer Manufacturing Co. – based in Randleman, North Carolina – has paid $120,567 in back wages and liquidated damages to 40 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 13, 2020

Atlanta-Area Restaurant Operator to Pay $411,010 to 157 Employees After Investigation Finds Minimum Wage, Overtime Violations

DORAVILLE, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the operator of an Atlanta-area restaurant enterprise will pay $411,010 in back wages to 157 employees at locations in Doraville and Duluth, Georgia, for violating minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 12, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces New Guidance on Unemployment Insurance Flexibilities during COVID-19 Outbreak

WASHINGTON, DC – Following President Donald J. Trump’s swift action to protect the American workforce from exposure to COVID-19 – also known as novel coronavirus – the U.S. Department of Labor today announced new guidance outlining flexibilities that states have in administering their unemployment insurance (UI) programs to assist Americans affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.