April 9, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Court Ordering North Carolina Restaurant Owner to Pay $40,555 in Back Wages to 30 Employees

CAROLINA BEACH, NC – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina has ordered Hurricane Alley LLC, Diver Down LLC – operating Hurricane Alley and The Dive restaurants in Carolina Beach, North Carolina – and their owner David Cole to pay $40,555 in back wages to 30 employees. The action comes after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found violations of minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

April 9, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Kentucky Restaurant Paying $78,562 in Back Wages and Damages

CENTRAL CITY, KY – New Lucky Garden Inc. – a restaurant in Central City, Kentucky, operating as Lucky Garden – will pay $78,562 in back wages and liquidated damages to eight employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

April 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Residential Care Company Paying $144,080 to 36 Employees to Resolve Federal Overtime Violations

EL CENTRO, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), N Your Home – an in-home nursing care service employer based in El Centro, California – will pay $144,080 to 36 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

April 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $507,455 for 41 Employees After Investigation Finds Violations by Federal Transportation Contractor

ONTARIO, CA – FLS Transportation Services (USA) Inc. – a logistics company based in Chicago, Illinois, providing transportation services for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) – has paid $507,455 to 41 employees after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the employer violated federal contract provisions of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

April 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in $1,794,753 in Back Wages and Liquidated Damages For Georgia Distribution Center Employees

ATLANTA, GA – An Atlanta, Georgia-based warehouse and food distributor for restaurants in the Southeast U.S. will pay $1,794,753 in back wages and liquidated damages to 130 employees and $36,414 in penalties after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

April 8, 2019

Federal Court Grants Motion Sanctioning Kansas City, Missouri, Bakery For Failing to Comply with U.S. Labor Department Subpoena

KANSAS CITY, MO – The U.S. District Court in the Western District of Missouri has granted a motion sanctioning Scratch Bakery KC LLC – based in Kansas City, Missouri – for refusing to comply with a federal subpoena to provide documents to the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) to determine compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

April 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Provides National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant to Combat Opioid Crisis in Michigan

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of an opioid-crisis Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the Michigan Talent Investment Agency for up to $1,809,752, with $800,000 released initially. This grant funding will address the workforce impacts of the opioid crisis in Macomb County by providing employment services to eligible individuals affected by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.  

April 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Mississippi Convenience Store Paying $29,726 in Back Wages to 15 Employees

WEST POINT, MS – West Point Fast Break Inc. – a gas station and convenience store based in West Point, Mississippi – will pay $29,726 in back wages to 15 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

April 8, 2019

Federal Court Orders Illinois Business Owner to Pay $1,439,678, in Restitution, Serve 5 Years in Prison for Fraud Involving Investors’ Savings

CHICAGO, IL – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has sentenced Lake County, Illinois-based business owner Richard Booy, to serve five years imprisonment followed by an additional three years of supervised release, and to make $1,439,678 million in restitution for defrauding his clients in a Ponzi-type scheme totaling approximately $2 million. As a result of the the March 18, 2019 sentencing, Booy is statutorily barred from serving as a fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

April 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in USPS Contractor Paying $108,762 to 46 Employees in Southern California

LOS ANGELES, CA – Rito Alcala, a Littlerock, California, trucking company has paid $108,762 in back wages and benefits to 46 employees after the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the company violated federal contract provisions of the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

April 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Ohio Construction Company After Employee Suffers Injuries from Fall at Florida Worksite

GAINESVILLE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Hiebert Bros Construction LLC for exposing employees to fall hazards after a worker was injured from a 26-foot fall at a construction worksite in Gainesville, Florida. The company faces penalties of $56,828.

April 5, 2019

Ohio Mental Health Center Pays $48,698 in Overtime Back Wages To 47 Employees after U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

DAYTON, OH – A Dayton, Ohio mental health and drug rehabilitation center has paid $48,698 in overtime back wages to 47 employees after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

April 5, 2019

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Acosta on March Jobs Report

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today issued the following statement regarding the March 2019 Employment Situation report:

"The March jobs report exceeded expectations with 196,000 new jobs created. Adding upward revisions of 14,000 jobs from the past two months, means that more than 5.1 million jobs have been created since January 2017.

April 4, 2019

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending March 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 202,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since December 6, 1969 when it was 202,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 211,000 to 212,000. The 4-week moving average was 213,500, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 217,250 to 217,500.

April 3, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Signs Alliance with Colorado Brewing Industry Stakeholders to Promote Workplace Safety

DENVER, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed a two-year alliance with the Colorado On-Site Health & Safety Consultation Program, the Brewers Association, the Master Brewers Association of the Americas, and the Colorado Brewers Guild, to promote employee safety in Colorado's brewing industry.

April 3, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Urges Utah’s Highway Construction Employers To Complete Survey to Ensure Accurate Prevailing Wages

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting a statewide wage survey in Utah to help establish prevailing wage rates as required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA). WHD urges all highway construction employers in Utah to participate.

April 3, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $1.9 Million in Back Wages and Damages, Seeks Pennsylvania Direct Marketing Company Employees for Disbursement

MALVERN, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor is seeking current or former employees of American Future Systems - doing business as Progressive Business Publications - who may be owed a portion of $1,916,000 in back wages and liquidated damages recovered by the Department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD). American Future Systems is the parent company of Progressive Business Publications, a Malvern, Pennsylvania, direct-marketing company that publishes subscription-driven, business-to-business newsletters and other publications.

April 3, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Announces New Tool to Help Employers Understand Mental Health Issues and Create Supportive Workplaces

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor has launched a new resource that helps employers better understand mental health issues, and provides guidance on how to cultivate a work environment that supports employees with related conditions.

April 3, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Remington Arms for 27 Safety and Health Violations after Amputation at New York Manufacturing Plant

SYRACUSE, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Remington Arms Company LLC – based in Madison, North Carolina – for 27 violations of workplace safety and health standards after an employee's fingertip was amputated while working on a broaching machine at its Ilion, New York, manufacturing plant. The arms manufacturer faces $210,132 in penalties.

April 3, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Florida Roofing Contractor Continues to Expose Employees to Fall Hazards

JACKSONVILLE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Florida Roofing Experts Inc. for exposing employees to fall hazards at a Jacksonville, Florida, worksite. The company faces the maximum penalty allowed of $132,598.