September 3, 2024

US Department of Labor recovers $103K in back wages for 38 workers misclassified as independent contractors by Texas landscaping company

DALLAS  The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $103,665 in back wages for 38 workers employed by a Southlake landscaping company that misclassified them as independent contractors and, by doing so, denied them overtime pay.

August 30, 2024

Biden-Harris administration’s proposed rule to protect indoor, outdoor workers from extreme heat’s dangers opens for public comment

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the opening of the public comment period for its proposed rule intended to protect millions of workers from the significant health risks of extreme heat and its publication in the Federal Register

August 30, 2024

Statement by Acting Secretary Julie Su marks Labor Day 2024, stresses importance of creating pathways to Good Jobs for all

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su issued the following statement to mark Labor Day 2024: 

“Each Labor Day, our nation honors the hardworking people whose dedication and sacrifice helped build this great nation. Workers who - with the support of organized labor - fought for fair wages and benefits, safer working conditions, and the dignity and respect every worker deserves. 

August 29, 2024

Department of Labor recovers $80K in wages for 55 employees shortchanged by employer contracted for Typhoon Mawar debris removal

Employer:      UMS Heavy Equipment Rental Inc.

                             3415 Maimai Road

August 29, 2024

Department of Labor completed impact inspections at 16 mines with histories of repeated safety, health violations in July 2024

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration completed impact inspections at 16 mines in 10 states in July 2024, issuing 239 violations and one safeguard.

The agency began conducting impact inspections after an April 2010 explosion in West Virginia at the Upper Big Branch Mine killed 29 miners.

August 29, 2024

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending August 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 231,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 232,000 to 233,000. The 4-week moving average was 231,500, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 236,000 to 236,250.

August 28, 2024

Acting Secretary Su, Navy Secretary Del Toro tout workforce development, national security in visit to Newport News’ Apprentice School in Virginia

WASHINGTON –Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro visited Virginia today to see how the Apprentice School in Newport News – one of the nation’s critical apprenticeship programs – is making construction of one of the world’s most capable and adaptable aircraft carriers, the PCU John F. Kennedy, possible.

During their visit, Secretaries Su and Del Toro highlighted their shared commitment to strengthening the Department of Defense’s organic and industrial base workforce. 

August 28, 2024

Court forbids Queens discount stores, owners, manager from retaliating against workers, obstructing US Department of Labor investigation

NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a federal consent judgment permanently prohibiting two Astoria discount stores and their owners and manager from threatening workers and obstructing investigations by the department’s Wage and Hour Division

August 28, 2024

Labor, Justice departments, National Labor Relations Board, Federal Trade Commission strengthen partnership to protect workers in merger reviews

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission today signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen competition by better coordinating information used by antitrust agencies to evaluate potential impacts of mergers and acquisitions on labor markets.

August 28, 2024

US Department of Labor obtains judgment to recover over $1M in back wages, damages for over 100 current, former Bronx, Long Island gas stations’ workers

Ed. Note: On Sept. 16, 2024, the quote from Wage and Hour District Director David An was revised.

NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a federal court judgment requiring 15 gas stations - operating under brands such as BP, Mobil and Sunoco - in Bronx, Nassau and Suffolk counties and their owner and president to pay more than $1 million in back wages and liquidated damages to more than 100 current and former employees in response to a federal investigation. 

August 28, 2024

US Department of Labor awards $800K in funding for disaster recovery, employment, training services in Georgia after Hurricane Debby

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an initial $800,000 emergency grant award to help fund Georgia’s cleanup and recovery activities in 33 counties following Hurricane Debby. The grant will also enable the state to provide employment and training services to people in the affected communities.

August 28, 2024

El Departamento de Trabajo de EEUU recupera $198 mil para 20 cantineros del propietario de bares en Dallas que compartió propinas ilegalmente e infringió las leyes de salario mínimo y pago por horas extras

DALLAS – Los cantineros de dos restaurantes del área de Dallas que dependen de buenas propinas a cambio de un excelente servicio recuperarán $197,902 en ganancias después de que investigadores federales descubrieron que el dueño y operador de los establecimientos los obligó ilegalmente a compartir propinas con empleados que no recibían propinas.

August 28, 2024

US Department of Labor recovers $198K for 20 bartenders from Dallas bars’ owner who illegally shared tips, violated minimum wage, overtime laws

DALLAS – Bartenders at two Dallas-area restaurants who depend on good tips in return for great service will recoup $197,902 in earnings after federal investigators found the establishments’ owner and operator forced them to share tips with non-tipped employees illegally.

August 28, 2024

New Hampshire restaurants’ operators pay $151K in penalties, agree to comply with federal child labor law after Department of Labor investigation

MANCHESTER, NH – The U.S. Department of Labor’s investigation of a Bristol restaurant identified 20 child labor violations, including allowing a 15-year-old to use a blowtorch for food preparation and another 15-year-old to clean a meat slicer.

August 27, 2024

US Department of Labor seeking dozens of workers employed by Georgia home care provider owed $65K in back wages, damages

ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Labor is trying to connect 28 former employees of a Cordele home healthcare company with their share of $65,944 in back wages and liquidated damages recovered after an investigation found the employer denied them overtime wages they earned.

August 26, 2024

US Department of Labor, Office of Trade Representative announce resolution of course of remediation at Puebla, Mexico, Volkswagen plant

WASHINGTON – The Department of Labor and the Office of the Trade Representative today announced the successful resolution of a U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement Rapid Response Labor Mechanism matter, following allegations of labor rights violations at the Volkswagen assembly plant in Puebla, Mexico. 

August 26, 2024

US Department of Labor recovers $61K for 140 workers after investigations find Lamesa, Lubbock restaurants kept, misused tips illegally

LUBBOCK, TX – Many people who work in the restaurant industry depend on tips in exchange for good service which, like quality food at fair prices, can bring customers back and allow their employer to succeed. Despite the need for good service, the U.S. Department of Labor too often finds restaurant employers, including three businesses in Lamesa and Lubbock, withholding tips that legally belong to the people who earned them.

August 26, 2024

US Department of Labor, Colombia establish partnership to protect Colombian citizens’ labor rights while working in US

WASHINGTON As the nation begins Labor Rights Week, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Republic of Colombia today announced the South American country has joined the Consular Partnership Program to raise awareness among Colombians working in the U.S. about regulations protecting them in America’s workplaces. 

August 26, 2024

Chicago countertop maker faces dozens of violations, $1M in penalties for not protecting workers, including 2 with incurable lung disease, from silica dust

CHICAGO ‒ Federal safety inspectors became aware that a 31-year-old employee of a Chicago countertop manufacturer needed a double lung transplant after suffering accelerated silicosis an incurable lung disease – and the U.S. Department of Labor immediately alerted the company of the potential imminent danger and an inspection by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found workers exposed to silica levels up to six times greater than permissible limits.