December 17, 2019

American Samoa Power Authority to Pay Employees $110,865 After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Overtime Violations

HONOLULU, HI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the American Samoa Power Authority – an American Samoa public utility – will pay $110,865 to 180 employees for violating overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

December 17, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Dollar Tree Stores For Exposing Alabama Employees to Safety Hazards

RAINBOW CITY, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited national discount retailer Dollar Tree Stores Inc. for exposing employees to safety hazards at its Rainbow Drive store in Rainbow City, Alabama. The company faces $104,192 in penalties.

December 16, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Awards Additional Disaster Recovery Funding To West Virginia in Response to Severe Storms and Flooding

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced incremental funding of $866,675 for a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant to Workforce West Virginia in response to storms that brought heavy rainfall, flooding and wind damage to the state in February 2018.

December 16, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers Nearly $200,000 for Mail Haulers After Investigation Finds Company Violated Federal Labor Laws

ORANGE, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), C&W Trucking Inc. – a contractor for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) based in Orange, California – will pay $199,010 to 56 employees for violations of federal contract requirements of the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

December 16, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Awards Up to $85 Million In Youthbuild Grants to 67 Grantees

WASHINGTON, DC –The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of 67 grants totaling up to $85 million to support and expand YouthBuild programs across the country. YouthBuild provides at-risk youth, ages 16-24, with education and occupational skill development to obtain employment in construction and other in-demand industries.

December 16, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor will Help Current and Former Nuclear Weapons Workers File Claims in Kansas City, Missouri, January 9, 2020

KANSAS CITY, MO The U.S. Department of Labor will host an energy outreach event in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday, January 9, 2020. Department staff will provide information about the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act and help current and former nuclear weapons workers file claims. This event is open to the public and does not require pre-registration.

December 16, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Proposal to Protect Workers’ Rights by Increasing Financial Transparency and Union Democracy

WASHINGTON DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) will publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would increase financial transparency and democratic procedures for intermediate bodies under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA), also known as the Landrum-Griffin Act.

December 16, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Finds Florida Agricultural Employer In Violation of Guest Worker Visa Program Requirements

OKEECHOBEE, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Coco Sod Farms Inc. – an agricultural employer based in Okeechobee, Florida – has paid a $10,930 civil penalty for violating requirements of the H-2A visa program.

December 13, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Finds Mississippi-based Agricultural Employer Violated Guest Worker Visa Program Requirements in Florida

MIAMI, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), H-2A Complete II Inc. – an H-2A staffing company providing workers in the Indian River and Highlands County areas of Florida and operating as H-2A Complete – has paid $47,154 in wages to 66 employees for violating requirements of the H-2A visa program.

December 13, 2019

Massachusetts Court Sentences Contractor Convicted for Manslaughter And Witness Intimidation in Deadly 2016 Trench Collapse

BOSTON, MA – The Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston, Massachusetts, recently sentenced Atlantic Drain Service Company Inc. owner Kevin Otto to two years imprisonment on each of two counts of manslaughter, to run concurrently, and three years of probation for witness intimidation. The court’s action follows a U.S.

December 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Reaches Settlement with Global Meat Supplier Following Safety and Health Citations at New Jersey Facility

SWEDESBORO, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reached a settlement with Thomas Foods International after issuing citations for workplace safety and health violations at the company’s meat processing facility in Swedesboro, New Jersey.

December 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Finds Nearly 40 Western Michigan Businesses Violated Wage, Child Labor Laws; Assesses $94,000 in Penalties

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found violations of the wage and child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at 38 Western Michigan fast food restaurants and manufacturing facilities during an education and enforcement effort to raise awareness and improve compliance with child labor laws in the region.

December 12, 2019

CORRECTED: U.S. Department of Labor Final Rule Makes It Easier to Offer Perks to Workers

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a final rule that will allow employers to more easily offer perks and benefits to their employees.

December 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Finds a South Carolina Vegetable Farm And Packing Facility Violated Federal Overtime Requirements

PELION, SC After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Walter P. Rawl and Sons Inc. – the operator of WP Rawl in Pelion, South Carolina – has paid $101,572 in back wages to 408 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

December 12, 2019

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending December 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 252,000, an increase of 49,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 203,000. This is the highest level for initial claims since September 30, 2017 when it was 257,000. The 4-week moving average was 224,000, an increase of 6,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 217,750.  

December 11, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Ohio Steel Plant For Fall Hazards Following Worker Injury

CLEVELAND, OH – After two separate inspections, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited ArcelorMittal Cleveland LLC for exposing employees to falls. OSHA has proposed $222,579 in penalties.

December 11, 2019

Winter Haven, Florida, Roofing Contractor Pays $60,098 in Wages And Damages After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

WINTER HAVEN, FL After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) into rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, Residential Investment Group – operating as RIG Construction and Roofing – paid $60,098 in back wages and liquidated damages to 43 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

December 11, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Announces $1 Million Competition To Better Connect Transitioning Service Members and Employers

WASHINGTON, DC – During the National Council for the American Worker meeting held today at the White House, U.S. Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia announced a Veterans’ Employment Challenge competition aimed at developing a new tool to help transitioning service members of the military in their job searches.

December 11, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds South Carolina Restaurant Violated Federal Wage and Child Labor Laws

SIMPSONVILLE, SC – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Mojitos LLC – a restaurant operating as Mad Cuban Café in Simpsonville, South Carolina – has paid $12,587 in back wages to 12 employees after violating the overtime, tip retention, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid a civil money penalty of $336 for child labor violations.

December 11, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites UPS Inc. for Exposing Employees To Fire, Other Hazards at Massachusetts Facility

BRAINTREE, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited United Parcel Service Inc. for exposing employees to multiple hazards including exit access, fire and electrical at the shipping and delivery facility in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. The company faces $431,517 in penalties for four repeated and seven serious safety violations.