July 29, 2020

San Jose, California, Manufacturer to Pay $41,214 in Back Wages After Wrongly Denying Requests for Coronavirus-Related Paid Sick Leave

SAN JOSE, CA After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Rogar Manufacturing – a cable and wire harness manufacturer in San Jose, California – will pay $41,214 in back wages to 17 employees for wrongly denying the employees’ requests for paid sick leave for coronavirus-related reasons. The employer’s action resulted in a violation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).  

July 29, 2020

Southern California Claims Management Company Pays Employees $95,120 After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Minimum Wage Violations

LOS ANGELES, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Control Expert Inc. – a vehicle insurance claims management company based in El Segundo, California – has paid $95,120 in back wages to 99 employees to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage requirements.

July 28, 2020

Federal Court Orders Millions Restored to Connecticut Health and Retirement Plans After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation, Litigation

BRIDGEPORT, CT – The U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut has approved a consent judgment and order requiring Bridgeport Health Care Center Inc. (BHCC) – the operating entity of two former Bridgeport nursing homes – and former officer Chaim Stern, to pay a total of $3,366,957 to BHCC’s health and retirement plans to resolve violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

July 27, 2020

El Paso Independent School District Pays Back Wages to Employee Wrongly Denied Paid Sick Leave After Healthcare Provider Ordered Self-Quarantine

EL PASO, TX – El Paso Independent School District has paid $2,139 in back wages to an employee after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) determined the employer wrongly denied emergency paid sick leave to an employee whose healthcare providers ordered them to self-quarantine for two weeks for reasons related to the coronavirus.  

July 27, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor and Defense Contractor Reach Agreement To Resolve Alleged Hiring Discrimination

DOUGLAS, GA – After a U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) investigation, PCC Airfoils – a wholly owned subsidiary of Precision Castparts Corp. – has entered into a conciliation agreement to resolve alleged gender discrimination at its Douglas, Georgia, location. While not admitting liability, the company will pay a settlement of $67,858 to the affected class.

July 26, 2020

ICYMI: U.S. Department of Labor Acts to Help American Workers and Employers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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:

July 26, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Marks Americans with Disabilities Act’s 30th Anniversary; Will Hold Commemorative Event in October

WASHINGTON, DCThe U.S. Department of Labor today commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark civil rights legislation that protects access and opportunity for people with disabilities across community life, including employment.

July 24, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Kicks off National Childcare Reopening Tour in Denver, Colorado

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Director of the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau Laurie Todd-Smith traveled to Denver, Colorado, with Senator Cory Gardner and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump underscoring the importance of childcare as the nation’s economy safely reopens.

July 24, 2020

Selma, Alabama, Employer Pays Back Wages to Employee Denied Paid Sick Leave Under Families First Coronavirus Response Act

SELMA, AL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Christian Services for Children in Alabama – based in Selma, Alabama – has paid $2,800 in back wages to an employee for violating the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA) provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

July 23, 2020

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending July 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1,416,000, an increase of 109,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 7,000 from 1,300,000 to 1,307,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,360,250, a decrease of 16,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,750 from 1,375,000 to 1,376,750.

July 22, 2020

Wireless Service Provider Pays Back Wages to Employee Denied Paid Sick Leave After Doctor Ordered Coronavirus-Related Self-Quarantine

HOUSTON, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Rockonwireless Inc. – doing business as Metro T-Mobile in Houston, Texas – will pay $900 in back wages after failing to provide an employee with coronavirus symptoms paid sick leave after their doctor ordered them to self-quarantine for two weeks, in violation of the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

July 22, 2020

Federal Court Sentences Former Labor Union President After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Embezzlement of Union Assets

RALEIGH, NC – The U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina, in Raleigh, North Carolina, has sentenced former union president Keith Alan Ludlum to 14 months in prison and ordered him to pay $213,201 in restitution after a U.S. Department of Labor Office of Labor-Management Standards’ (OLMS) investigation.

July 22, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Obtains Injunction Enjoining Fleet Owners Insurance Fund from Paying Attorney’s Fees in Defense of ERISA Violations

CLEVELAND, OH – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio has issued a preliminary injunction enjoining the Fleet Owners Insurance Fund from paying or advancing attorneys’ fees to any of the defendants in a U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) enforcement case.

July 21, 2020

South Florida Truss Manufacturer Pays Back Wages to Employee Denied Paid Sick Leave Under Families First Coronavirus Response Act

MEDLEY, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Martinez Truss Co. – a manufacturer based in Medley, Florida – has paid an employee $4,352 in back wages for wrongly denying paid sick leave to an employee who requested time off to care for their child. The child’s school closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

July 21, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Uncovers Federal Child Labor Law Violations at 12 Piedmont Triad Region McDonald’s Restaurants

SUMMERFIELD, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Mt. Airy Partners Inc. – a Summerfield, North Carolina-based enterprise operating 12 McDonald’s restaurants in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad Region – has paid a civil money penalty of $17,586 for violating child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

July 21, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Ohio Nursing Facilities for Failing to Fully Implement Respiratory Programs to Protect Employees from Coronavirus

CLEVELAND, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited healthcare company OHNH EMP LLC for violating respiratory protection standards following an inspection initiated after the company reported the coronavirus-related hospitalization of seven employees.  

July 20, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor and American Federation of Government Employees, Local 12 Agree to New Collective Bargaining Agreement

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor recently concluded successful negotiations with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Local 12 for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). AFGE Local 12 covers approximately 2,700 Department of Labor employees in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The prior CBA was effective from Aug. 29, 2013.

July 20, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Secures Default Judgment Ordering Puerto Rico Security Companies to Pay $942,127 in Back Wages, Damages, and Penalties

SAN JUAN, PR – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and litigation by the Department’s Office of the Solicitor, the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico has entered a default judgment ordering a group of four interrelated Puerto Rico security guard companies and their principals to pay a total of $715,685 in back wages and damages to 400 employees for their willful violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

July 20, 2020

Federal Contractor on Idaho Bridge Project Pays $92,290 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Prevailing Wage Violations

IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), JM Concrete Inc. – based in Idaho Falls, Idaho – has paid $92,290 in back wages to 27 employees for violating prevailing wage requirements on the Lorenzo Bridge Rehabilitation project on State Highway 20 in Jefferson and Madison counties.

July 20, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Offers Webinars in Tagalog for Employers And Employees about Families First Coronavirus Response Act

WEST COVINA, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced today that it will offer a webinar on July 21, 2020, to help employers and employees in Southern California’s Filipino communities understand the benefits and protections provided by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The webinar will be offered in Tagalog.