In the week ending August 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 963,000, a decrease of 228,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 5,000 from 1,186,000 to 1,191,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,252,750, a decrease of 86,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,250 from 1,337,750 to 1,339,000.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the release of guidance to help states implement the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program. LWA is authorized by Presidential Memorandum, and provides claimants in most Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs up to $400 per week additional benefits, starting with weeks of unemployment ending on or after Aug. 1, 2020, and ending Dec. 27, 2020 at the latest.

COLUMBUS, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will present a webinar for Ohio area employers and human resources professionals on the paid leave requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and safety guidance for returning to work and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment.

HAGATNA, GUAM – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Citi Development & Construction Inc. – a construction contractor in Guam – will pay $141,755 to 57 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime, minimum wage and recordkeeping requirements. The employer also will pay $23,000 in penalties.

HONOLULU, HI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), a branch office of Securitas Security Services USA Inc. – a security services company based in Anaheim, California – has paid $176,810 in back wages to 226 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime and recordkeeping requirements at four Hawaiian airports. The employer has also paid $22,000 in penalties.

APOPKA, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Randall Mechanical Inc., an Apopka, Florida, contractor will pay $16,852 in back wages to 20 employees for violating overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SAIPAN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Win Win Construction – a Saipan-based residential and commercial construction contractor – will pay $165,807 in back wages to 23 employees to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime requirements, and pay $15,755 in civil penalties.

LOS ANGELES, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), two California-based contractors for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will pay nearly $2.4 million to 959 employees for violations of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA).

WEST COVINA, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will offer a webinar on Aug. 13, 2020, on the benefits and protections provided by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) for employers and employees in Southern California’s Thai communities.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $68 million in funding to 340 organizations and tribes as part of the Indian and Native American Programs grant that provides training opportunities at the local level. Of the total award amount, approximately $54 million will go towards adult programs and $13 million will go towards youth programs.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced two grants, totaling $1,834,214, awarded to the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to improve and promote its Short-Time Compensation program. Using Short-Time Compensation, employers can keep workers on the payroll at reduced work hours and those workers can supplement their reduced wages with a partial unemployment benefit payment.

EL PASO, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Texas MEP Contractors LLC – a plumbing contractor based in El Paso, Texas – has paid $804 in back wages to an employee wrongly denied paid sick leave for a qualifying reason covered under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

CHARLOTTE, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), a Charlotte, North Carolina, branch of Premier Transportation & Warehousing Inc. – a trucking and warehousing service based in Long Beach, California – has paid $3,116 in back wages after failing to provide an employee two weeks of paid sick leave after the worker received instructions from a healthcare provider to self-quarantine due to coronavirus concerns.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1,341,690 in a Dislocated Worker Grant (DWGs) to Delaware to help address the workforce-related impacts of the coronavirus public health emergency. This award is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided $345 million for DWGs to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today approved additional funding for a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant awarded to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services in response to severe storms in southeastern Ohio. Funding of $2,942,845 will allow participants to continue disaster-relief recovery efforts in the communities affected by the February 2019 storms.

ELIZABETH CITY, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Murphy Oil USA Inc. has agreed to systemic changes company-wide to resolve a violation of the reasonable break time for nursing mothers’ requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at an oil and gas service station in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

LANSDOWNE, PA – Following an appeal by the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has ordered Central Laundry Inc., owner George Rengepes and business operator James Rengepes to pay $527,986 in back wages and liquidated damages in addition to the $478,539 awarded by the court in 2018.

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor took a range of actions to aid American workers and employers as our nation combats the coronavirus pandemic.

Reopening America’s Economy:

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement regarding the signed Presidential Memorandum Authorizing the Other Needs Assistance Program for Major Disaster Declarations Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019:

ATLANTA, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS), the U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, has sentenced Tony Westly – a former business manager and financial secretary-treasurer for Plasterers and Cement Masons AFL-CIO, Local 148 – to 6 months in prison and 3 years of probation which includes 6 months of home confinement, for embezzlement.