May 17, 2022

US Department of Labor urges caution to avoid fall, electrical, other hazards during spring storm cleanup throughout South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS, SD - After severe weather, such as the windstorm that roared across South Dakota on May 12, workers and others involved in storm cleanup may face hazards related to falls, downed power lines and sharp debris as they conduct recovery and cleanup operations.

Employers and workers should also be aware of heat illness and hazards from equipment used during response/recovery operations, such as chain saws.

May 16, 2022

US Department of Labor recovers $198K for 19 workers denied overtime pay by Lynchburg, Virginia, restaurant

US Department of Labor recovers $198K for 19 workers denied overtime pay by Lynchburg, Virginia, restaurant

Employer name:                   

Jalisco Inc., doing business as La Carreta Mexican Restaurant

8210 Timberlake Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502

Investigation findings:         

May 16, 2022

Grand jury indicts Didion Milling Inc., six managers on nine counts related to five deaths, numerous serious injuries in 2017 Cambria corn mill explosion

CAMBRIA, WI – A federal grand jury has indicted the operator and six management officials of a Cambria corn mill – where a May 31, 2017, explosion killed five workers and injured 15 others – on nine criminal counts, including two counts related to willful violations of federal workplace safety standards for grain handling.

May 16, 2022

US Department of Labor recovers $225K in back wages for agricultural workers in California, assesses five farms $54K in penalties

SAN FRANCISCO Migrant workers in the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program provide critical seasonal labor on farms across California, spending weeks away from home doing the grueling work needed to support the state’s $49 billion agricultural industry.

May 13, 2022

READOUT: Secretary Walsh discusses strengthening economy; ensuring ‘Good Jobs’ through investments in job quality at panel discussion today

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh joined business leaders for panel discussion today on how private-sector employers can recruit, retain and strengthen their workforce through investments in job quality.

May 13, 2022

US Department of Labor cites Continental Tire plant for multiple safety violations after 3 workers suffer severe injuries on consecutive days

MOUNT VERNON, IL In two separate incidents on consecutive days in November 2021, three workers at a southern Illinois tire plant suffered severe injuries in incidents associated with a mixer containing a combustible dust and a flammable gas, guarding moving equipment and the failure to implement and enforce procedures to control the unintentional energization of equipment during servicing.

May 13, 2022

Federal appeals court unanimously rules Kentucky mine operator illegally gave advance notice of inspection to miners underground

WASHINGTON A federal appeals court has ruled unanimously that the operator of a Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, coal mine violated the federal Mine Safety and Health Act more than a decade ago by giving underground miners advance notice that mine inspectors were conducting an inspection.

May 13, 2022

US Department of Labor to hold listening session for Midwest employers, industry stakeholders on possible revisions to overtime regulations

CHICAGO The U.S. Department of Labor will hold an online listening session for Midwest workers, employers and other stakeholders on May 20, 2022, on possible revisions to the regulations that enforce the Fair Labor Standards Act’s minimum wage and overtime exemptions for executive, administrative and professional employees.

May 13, 2022

US Department of Labor issues guidance on allotments, application process for new program year’s workforce investment programs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that its Employment and Training Administration has issued guidance to inform states and outlying areas about their formula allotments and the process to apply for certain programs for the start of the program year on July 1, 2022.

May 12, 2022

El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. recupera $799,000 dólares en salarios atrasados después de que una investigación descubriera que un contratista de North Jersey pagó a los electricistas salarios y beneficios adicionales incorrectos

JERSEY CITY, NJ - Una investigación federal de un subcontratista eléctrico de Jersey City en un proyecto de casas y apartamentos residenciales financiado por el gobierno federal en Paterson descubrió que el empleador pagó a 11 electricistas salarios y beneficios adicionales con una tarifa más baja que la que se les paga acomo los obreros, lo que significa una violación de la ley.

May 12, 2022

US Department of Labor recovers $799K in back wages after investigation finds North Jersey contractor paid electricians incorrect wages, fringe benefits

JERSEY CITY, NJ – A federal investigation of a Jersey City electrical subcontractor on a federally funded residential townhome and apartments project in Paterson found the employer paid 11 electricians wages and fringe benefits at the lower rate paid to laborers, a violation of the law.

May 12, 2022

READOUT: Labor Department’s Deputy Undersecretary Lee, Vietnamese Minister Dung confirm future labor dialogue

WASHINGTON On May 11, 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee met with Vietnam’s Minister for Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Đào Ngọc Dung to discuss labor issues of mutual interest.

May 12, 2022

Technological services company pays $319K in overtime back wages to 57 employees at Rochester, New York, location

Employer name:                   Pictometry International Corp., doing business as EagleView Technologies Inc., 25 Methodist Hill Drive, Rochester, N.Y. 14623

May 12, 2022

US Department of Labor reminds Northeast employers that workers need protection from dangers of heat illness

BOSTON – As temperatures rise in New England, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration reminds employers and workers not to ignore the dangers of working in hot weather – indoors and out – and remember that “Water. Rest. Shade.” can be the difference between ending the workday safely or suffering serious injuries or worse.

May 12, 2022

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending May 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 203,000, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 200,000 to 202,000. The 4-week moving average was 192,750, an increase of 4,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 188,000 to 188,500.

May 11, 2022

El Departamento de Trabajo recupera $57,000 en salarios atrasados para 10 canteros después de que el empleador de San Saba violara los requisitos del programa de visas H-2B

Nombre del empleador:                   Jacobs Stone Products Inc.

Lugar de investigación:                    San Saba, Texas

May 11, 2022

Serial violator: South Dakota contractor faces serious and willful citations following 2 separate inspections for workers in unprotected trenches

SIOUX FALLS, SD – Twice in seven days, federal workplace safety inspectors found a Sioux Falls contractor put workers at risk of being buried under thousands of pounds of soil while they worked in unprotected trenches at two locations in Tea and Salem.

May 11, 2022

US Department of Labor recovers $57K in back wages for 10 stone workers after San Saba employer violates H-2B visa program requirements

Employer name:                    Jacobs Stone Products Inc.

Investigation site:                  San Saba, Texas