In the week ending January 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 261,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 250,000. The 4-week moving average was 250,750, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 241,750.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Following a U.S. Department of Labor investigation, a Riverside, California, company has paid $944,000 in back wages and damages to 1,069 employees working as drywall installers and painters. The investigation found that the employees routinely worked more than 40 hours per week without receiving any required overtime pay.

DENVER, CO – Parkside Landscape Inc. has paid $524,063 in back wages to 53 employees and $26,104 in penalties to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and H-2B non-agricultural visa program provisions. The violations were found during an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.

PENNSAUKEN, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Aruvil International Inc. for multiple safety violations at its Pennsauken facility. The chain-link fencing manufacturer faces $199,996 in proposed penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement today regarding President Trump’s remarks on encouraging rural prosperity:

SENOIA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Stalwart Films LLC for failing to protect employees from fall hazards while filming the television show, “The Walking Dead.”  

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today its decision for April 1, 2018, as the applicability date for employee benefit plans to comply with a final rule under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) that will give America’s workers new procedural protections when dealing with plan fiduciaries and insurance providers who deny their claims for disability benefits.

WASHINGTON, DC – On Dec. 19, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit became the fourth federal appellate court to expressly reject the U.S. Department of Labor’s six-part test for determining whether interns and students are employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 

WASHINGTON, DC – With this week’s massive winter storm and frigid temperatures severely impacting the East Coast, the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is urging all those involved in snow removal and cleanup to take precautions and focus on safety.

ANDOVER, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Schnabel Foundation Company for failing to protect employees against crushing hazards while they installed permanent foundation supports beneath the Woburn Public Library. The company faces $212,396 in proposed penalties.

On July 11, 2017, OSHA opened an inspection after learning that a 2,600-pound rock dislodged from the building’s foundation and fatally struck a Schnabel employee.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement on the December 2017 Employment Situation report:

“December’s jobs report shows steady growth with 148,000 jobs created.  The unemployment rate remains at 4.1%, a 17-year low.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Georgia are partnering to sponsor a week-long campaign to reinforce the importance of workplace safety during the winter months. The cold weather Safety Stand-Down is scheduled for the week of Jan. 22-26, 2018. Events will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. EST.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to expand the opportunity to offer employment-based health insurance to small businesses through Small Business Health Plans, also known as Association Health Plans.

In the week ending December 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 250,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 245,000 to 247,000. The 4-week moving average was 241,750, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 237,750 to 238,250.

KANSAS CITY, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed an alliance to promote employee safety and health with the North Central States District Council of Ironworkers, the Ironworkers District Council of St. Louis and Vicinity, and Iowa OSHA.

EAU CLAIRE, WI – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Miron Construction Company Inc. have signed a strategic partnership to promote worker safety and health on the dormitory renovation project at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

SEATTLE, WA – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached an agreement with a Tacoma property management company that requires the employer to pay 71 employees $255,793 in back wages to resolve Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement on the start of Human Trafficking Awareness Month:

CHICAGO, IL – A mechanic who alleged he was terminated after voicing concerns about unsafe working conditions at a bowling center in Lombard will receive a total of $40,000 in back wages as part of a consent judgment signed by the employer with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - With record snowfalls in Pennsylvania and Western New York, along with frigid temperatures in the Northeast and Midwest, the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is urging all those involved in snow removal and cleanup to take precautions and focus on safety.