DES MOINES, IA ­- The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will present an educational forum about developments in its policies and regulations and its Payroll Audit Independent Determination Program (PAID), during a February 19, 2019, webinar for Iowa and Nebraska employers. PAID facilitates resolution of potential overtime and minimum wage violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

GARY, IN – After a U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division investigation, four contractors working on the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Village of Hope housing project in Gary, Indiana, will pay 53 current and former employees a total of $255,474 for violating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA).

WHD investigators determined the contractors failed to pay the correct prevailing wages and fringe benefits.

PROVIDENCE, RI – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Dimeo Construction Company have established a strategic partnership to promote workplace safety for the General Dynamics Electric Boat Universal Buildings 9A/9B construction project in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

PRINCETON, WV– The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia has entered a consent judgment against XMV Inc. - operator of three underground coal mines – following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) that found XMV violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

MOBILE, AL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), AltaPointe Health Systems Inc. – operating in the Mobile, Alabama, area as BayPointe Hospital, EastPointe Hospital, and CarePointe – will pay an employee $6,588 in lost wages and incurred medical expenses for violating the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

BONITA SPRINGS, 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, Kelly Roofing LLC – based in Bonita Springs, Florida – paid $70,068 in back wages to 155 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

In the week ending February 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 239,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 234,000 to 235,000. The 4-week moving average was 231,750, an increase of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average. This is the highest level for this average since January 27, 2018 when it was 234,000. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 224,750 to 225,000.

EASTLAKE, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Conn-Selmer Inc. for exposing workers to copper dust and machine hazards at the company's Eastlake, Ohio, musical instrument manufacturing facility. The company faces penalties of $200,230 for two repeated and seven serious safety and health violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement regarding the creation of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board:

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida has sentenced one co-founder of several Florida laboratory marketing companies and substance abuse recovery homes to prison and two other co-founders to probation for their parts in a widespread healthcare fraud scheme.

ORLANDO, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Arnold Palmer Golf Management LLC – operating as Walt Disney World Golf in Orlando, Florida – has paid $19,776 in back wages to 24 employees for violating minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced today the release of a new policy directive to establish a voluntary compliance program for high-performing federal contractors.

OMAHA, NE ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is seeking to stop a recent increase in amputation injuries suffered by Nebraska employees, and remind employers of the requirement to report such injuries to OSHA. A review of Nebraska workers' compensation claims found 42 employees suffered amputation injuries in 2018, and employers failed to report more than 65 percent of those injuries to OSHA within 24 hours, as required.

ELIZABETH, NJ – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has found that eight retailers operating at The Mills at Jersey Gardens – in Elizabeth, New Jersey – allowed underage employees to operate and unload potentially dangerous paper baling and cardboard compacting machines, in violation of federal child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). WHD assessed a total of $40,667 in penalties to the retailers.

The retailers are:

JACKSON, MS – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Statewide Transport Inc. will pay $25,032 in back wages to 21 employees at its Jackson, Mississippi, terminal for violating overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

NAPLES, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Crown Roofing LLC for exposing employees to fall hazards at two separate residential worksites in Port St. Lucie and Naples, Florida. The Sarasota, Florida-based contractor faces penalties of $265,196.

SHREVEPORT, LA – 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 Louisiana has ordered two Louisiana hotels, Merryton LLC - doing business as Merryton Inn in Shreveport - and Merryton Bossier LLC - doing business as Bossier Inn and Suites in Bossier City - to pay $9,928 in back wages and liquidated damages to 22 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping requirements.

LOS ANGELES, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Golden Life Supported Living Agency Inc. – a service provider for clients with developmental disabilities in Los Angeles, California – will pay 67 employees $301,763 in back wages for violating overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

MIAMI, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida has sentenced Tina Marie Barbuto – a former licensed mental health counselor in Margate, Florida – to serve 36 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. Additionally, Barbuto will pay $3,132,806 in restitution and a $100 special assessment for her role in a conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the Cherokee Nation for up to $5,996,501, with an initial grant amount of $1,998,834. This grant will provide disaster relief jobs and employment services to eligible individuals in Oklahoma counties impacted by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.