WASHINGTON, DC - President Donald J. Trump today issued a proclamation recognizing October 2019 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), initiating a series of coast-to-coast events and activities to honor the contributions workers with disabilities make to America's workplaces and economy. The theme for 2019 is "The Right Talent, Right Now."

SHELBYVILLE, TN – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee has approved a settlement between the U.S. Department of Labor and Big G Express Inc., Stephen Thompson, and David Nolan involving the company's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

In accordance with the consent judgment, Big G Express – a Shelbyville, Tennessee-based trucking company – paid $454,545 in restitution to the plan. The Department also assessed a civil penalty of $45,454 against the defendants.  

ODESSA, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Juan Vizcaino – doing business as Vizcaino LP in Odessa, Texas – has paid $45,945 in back wages to 22 employees hired under the H-2B temporary visa program and two U.S. workers hired during the recruitment period for guest workers. The employer also has paid $24,120 in civil money penalties to settle the H-2B violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced Rachel Mondl as the new Chief of Staff.

“Rachel is an outstanding public servant with a tremendous dedication to helping America’s workers,” U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia said. “Rachel will play a key role in the Department’s efforts to help America’s workforce gain access to good, family-sustaining career opportunities.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Following a White House swearing-in event today led by President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia released the following statement.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment & Training Services (VETS) today announced a Transition Assistance Program (TAP) contract to provide employment-related transition services, such as classroom instruction, personalized career transition assistance and apprenticeship placement services to approximately 200,000 transitioning service members annually at military installations worldwide.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the awards of nearly $2.5 million in grant funding to organizations in five states to help women affected by the opioid crisis to re-enter the workforce.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration today awarded $29,175,000 in demonstration grant funds to expand the impact of workforce development efforts in the Appalachian and Delta regions through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) grant initiative. 

BOSTON, MA – Dell Technologies (Dell) has voluntarily entered into an early resolution conciliation agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) to resolve indicators of race and gender-based wage discrimination.

Under the terms of the agreement, Dell Technologies will provide make-whole relief for the affected workers, totaling $7 million in lost wages, interest, and benefits, as well as assuring that all employees are afforded equal employment opportunities.

NEW YORK, NY: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has entered into an early resolution conciliation agreement with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC to resolve findings of race and gender-based compensation discrimination.

FLORENCE, KY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Zang Group Florence Mall Road LLC – operating as Skyline Chili Restaurant – has paid $6,065 in back wages to 26 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The restaurant also paid a civil penalty of $4,992 for federal child labor violations.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar LLC - doing business as Superior Seafood and Oyster Bar New Orleans - and Superior Restaurant Group LLC have paid $238,300 in back wages and liquidated damages to 222 employees, for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

LAUREL, MS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Howard Industries Inc. – a manufacturer and supplier of electrical transmission and distribution equipment – for exposing employees to struck-by and fall hazards after a fatality at the company’s Laurel, Mississippi, facility. The company faces $53,040 in penalties. 

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of additional National Dislocated Worker Grant funding of $2,268,997 to the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP). The funding will provide continued employment and training services to dislocated workers impacted by secondary layoffs in mining communities resulting from the decline of the coal industry. 

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $3,590,635 in additional funding to the Texas Workforce Commission for a National Dislocated Worker Grant currently serving dislocated workers at Fort Hood and Red River Army Depot (RRAD), located in Killeen and Texarkana, Texas, respectively. 

CHARLOTTE, NC – Bank of America has agreed to pay $4.2 million in back wages and interest to resolve alleged hiring discrimination violations found at several of the bank’s facilities during routine compliance evaluations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

WEST POINT, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Hyundai Transys Georgia Powertrain Inc. – operating as Powertech America Inc. – for exposing employees to struck-by and fall hazards after a fatality at the company’s West Point, Georgia, facility. The automobile transmission manufacturer faces $68,194 in penalties.

The employee suffered fatal injury when a transmission turnover machine activated while the employee performed maintenance.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor today released the 18th annual edition of its Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. The report, prepared by the Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), shines a spotlight on child labor globally and assesses the progress some countries have made in upholding their international commitments to eliminate this practice.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1,994,444 in National Dislocated Worker Grant funding to the West Kentucky Workforce Development Board to provide reemployment services to individuals impacted by the closure of an engine manufacturing facility owned by the Briggs & Stratton Corporation, located in Murray, Kentucky.

WASHINGTON, DC – During a special ceremony today at the U.S. Department of Labor, Acting Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella spoke at the induction of Senator Robert P. Griffin and Former NLRB Board Member Howard Jenkins Jr. into the Department of Labor’s Hall of Honor and the 60th anniversary of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA).