LINTHICUM, MD - After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in the Department's Office of Administrative Law Judges has ordered Enterprise RAC Company of Baltimore LLC to pay $6,645,444 in lost earnings and benefits to 2,336 African-American applicants for the company's management trainee program.

In the week ending July 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 215,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 206,000 to 207,000. The 4-week moving average was 211,500, a decrease of 1,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 213,000 to 213,250.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has found Altor Inc. - a construction company based in Washington Township, New Jersey - and its president Vasilio Saites in contempt of court for failing to pay $412,000 in penalties assessed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA has cited Altor for numerous safety violations, including multiple willful violations of OSHA's fall protection standards.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) today released an opinion letter and FAQs to further the Department's efforts to increase the transparency and effectiveness of compliance assistance to help contractors meet their responsibilities for equal employment opportunity.

WASHINGTON, DC – In light of the 29th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella sent letters to America's governors encouraging them to collect data on the numbers of state employees with disabilities. Although not a requirement for states, tracking disability employment data allows states to better assess their hiring practices and compare their results with other states. Currently, only a few states routinely track this information.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today signed a bi-lateral cooperative agreement with Guatemala to facilitate increased transparency, accountability, and worker safety in the H-2A nonimmigrant visa program for temporary agricultural workers from Guatemala.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed a strategic partnership with Holder Construction Group LLC to promote worker safety and health during the construction of Project Fusion on West Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia.

SHARON, OK – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Custom Energy Service Inc. – a power line repair company based in Sharon, Oklahoma – has paid $62,263 in back wages and liquidated damages to 11 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) overtime requirements.

LAKE VILLAGE, AR – Following a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Gonzalez Rebar LLC – based in Lake Village, Arkansas – has paid $20,312 in civil money penalties to settle H-2B non-immigrant visa program violations.

FAIRBANKS, AK - The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will offer two compliance assistance and educational outreach sessions in Fairbanks, Alaska, for employers, employees, their representatives, and other parties seeking assistance and guidance about federal wage and hour laws.

The Fairbanks compliance assistance events will begin with an introduction and an overview of WHD's mission, responsibilities, and functions. Attendance is free but space is limited.

OSHA initiated an inspection of the automotive glass manufacturer under the Agency's Site-Specific Targeting program, which directs enforcement resources to workplaces where the highest rate of injuries and illnesses have occurred.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a rule to help strengthen retirement security for millions of small business employees across America.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today approved additional funding of $800,000 for a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) awarded to Workforce West Virginia in response to severe storms in February 2018. This additional funding brings the total DWG funds awarded for this project to $1,633,325. 

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella is sending letters to state and local governments encouraging their participation in the Wage and Hour Division's PAID program.

SAN DIEGO, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Star Pro Security Patrol Inc. – a security company based in Costa Mesa, California – will pay $43,566 to 63 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SAN DIEGO, CA – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has entered a consent judgment requiring Healthy Harvesting Inc. and Fernando Pineda Garcia to pay $79,153 in civil penalties for violations of the Migrant Seasonal Workers Protection Act (MSPA). The action stems from a vehicle accident where a van overturned, killing one worker and injuring six others in March 2017, near Calexico, California.

PHOENIX, AZ – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Younger Brothers Companies – a contractor based in Peoria, Arizona – will pay $723,764 to 271 employees. WHD investigators found violations of the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WESTBURY, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited U.S. Nonwovens Corp. – a home and personal care fabric product manufacturer – for repeat and serious safety violations after an employee suffered a fractured hand at the plant in Hauppauge, New York. The company faces $287,212 in penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC - To help employers and employees understand their rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other disability nondiscrimination laws and regulations, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy-sponsored Job Accommodation Network (JAN) developed the Workplace Accommodation Toolkit.

ARBOR VITAE, WI ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Pukall Lumber Company Inc. – a lumber mill in Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin – for exposing employees to multiple safety hazards following a worker fatality. The company faces penalties of $348,467.