ARLINGTON, VA – Seven months after taking action to strengthen enforcement efforts regarding delinquent fines and mine violations, the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced today that 49 mine operators have either taken steps to enter into payment agreements or satisfied their delinquent debts, resulting in $5.2 million in recovered fines.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Departments of the Treasury, Health and Human Services, and Labor today issued a proposed regulation that expands the usability of health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs). HRAs are designed to give working Americans and their families greater control over their healthcare by providing an additional way for employers to finance quality, affordable health insurance.

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Integrated Living Inc. – based in Sterling Heights, Michigan – will pay $173,787 in back wages and liquidated damages to 52 current and former employees for violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at the Michigan residential care facility.

ELYSBURG, PA - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Toy Factory TX LLC – doing business as The Toy Factory LLC – for workplace safety violations after an employee suffered an arm amputation while cleaning machinery at the company’s Elysburg, Pennsylvania, plant. OSHA proposed $112,523 in penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to help small businesses strengthen retirement security in America. 

The proposed rule would make it easier for small businesses to offer retirement savings plans to their workers through Association Retirement Plans, which would allow small businesses to band together to offer 401(k) plans to their employees.   

CHICAGO, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor obtained a consent order and judgment requiring the appointment of an independent fiduciary to the Sacred Heart Hospital Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan. The independent fiduciary will manage and distribute assets of the Chicago-based retirement plan to its nine participants.

WESTERVILLE, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corporation for failing to secure an elevator platform at a Grove City, Ohio, construction site where a mechanic suffered fatal injuries. OSHA proposed penalties totaling $142,270, the maximum allowed for the alleged violations.

LAVERGNE, TN – Smart Circle Construction Services – based in La Vergne, Tennessee – will pay $246,813 in back wages and liquidated damages to 17 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

MAITLAND, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Kasper Roofing & Construction Inc. for exposing employees to fall and other hazards after an employee suffered fatal injuries at a Maitland, Florida, worksite. The Orlando, Florida-based roofing contractor faces $134,510 in penalties, the maximum allowed by law.

BOSTON, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered Springfield Terminal Railway Inc. to compensate an employee who faced an investigative hearing with possible disciplinary action or termination for reporting an on-the-job injury at its facility in Andover, Massachusetts. OSHA ordered the company to pay the employee $10,000 in compensatory damages, $75,000 in punitive damages, and attorney’s fees.

SAN DIEGO, CA – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Sam Woo – a restaurant based in San Diego, California – will pay 18 employees $192,622 in back wages and liquidated damages for violating provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

CHICAGO, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into an agreement with the fiduciaries of the Neuroscience Center LLC Defined Benefit Pension Plan to restore $419,758 to the Deerfield, Illinois-based retirement plan. The agreed-upon restoration is part of a consent judgment approved by the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois.

HERMITAGE, TN – Vazquez Drywall has paid $103,300 in back wages and liquidated damages to eight employees after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the company violated overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). WHD also assessed the Hermitage, Tennessee, company a $2,424 civil penalty.

DENVER, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the North American Excavation Shoring Association (NAXSA) hosted a Colorado Trench Safety Summit.

ATLANTA, GA - 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 (PAID) Program, in Alpharetta, Georgia, on October 24, 2018.

In the week ending October 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 210,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 214,000 to 215,000. The 4-week moving average was 211,750, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 209,500 to 209,750.

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina has appointed AMI Benefit Plan Administrators Inc. as the successor fiduciary for the James D. Blankenbeckler, DDS Profit Sharing Plan after the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) found violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of the New and Small Business Assistance and the Compliance Assistance Toolkits webpages. These new online tools assist American small businesses and workers with simple, straightforward resources that provide critical Wage and Hour Division (WHD) information, as well as links to other resources.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) urges response crews and residents in the areas affected by Hurricane Michael to be aware of hazards created by flooding, power loss, structural damage, fallen trees, and storm debris.

HARMONY, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Insight Pipe Contracting LLC for workplace safety and health violations following an employee electrocution at a worksite in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The Harmony-based contractor faces $331,101 in proposed penalties.