March 14, 2022

US Department of Labor awards $1.3M in funding to provide employment, training services for workers displaced by QVC workplace fire

WASHINGTON – Just months after one of the largest structure fires in North Carolina’s history, at QVC Rocky Mount Inc.’s Distribution Center in December 2021, thousands of workers found themselves facing unemployment. In February 2022, 1,953 fell victim as layoffs began, prompting the U.S. Department of Labor to respond to help affected workers in 10 counties find new employment opportunities.  

March 11, 2022

Indiana non-profit providing services to homeless, at-risk veterans shortchanges 19 caregivers $87K in wages, overtime pay, benefits

WINCHESTER, IN – A Winchester non-profit provider of social services shortchanged caregivers by failing to pay them the federal minimum wage, as the law requires for all government contractors, a U.S. Department of Labor investigation has found.

March 11, 2022

US Department of Labor investigation of amputation injury finds serious, repeat violations at Greensboro US Postal Service facility

GREENSBORO, NC An employee working as a mechanic at the U.S. Postal Service’s distribution center in Greensboro suffered a life-changing injury on Sept. 27, 2021. The worker’s arm was amputated after contacting a machine that had a safety guard removed.

March 11, 2022

For the first time in 40 years, US Department of Labor proposes rulemaking for Davis-Bacon Act to reflect needs of today’s construction industry

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the publication of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking as it considers updating the regulations that implement the Davis-Bacon Act and Davis-Bacon and Related Acts to reflect better the needs of workers in the construction industry and planned federal construction investments.

March 10, 2022

El juez administrativo del Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. ordena al contratista agrícola de Frostproof pagar $ 249.000 en salarios atrasados y sanciones en un acuerdo de conciliación

FROSTPROOF, FL – Un juez federal aprobó un acuerdo con un contratista agrícola de Frostproof (José M. Gracia Harvesting Inc.), quien, según descubrió el Departamento de Trabajo de EE.

March 10, 2022

US Department of Labor cites Appleton contractor – twice in 6 months – for exposing roofing workers to deadly fall hazards, as penalties mount

APPLETON, WI – Despite the serious consequences of its actions, an Appleton-based contractor was again cited for exposing  workers to deadly fall hazards after a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspector observed six roofers atop a two-story Algoma duplex on Nov. 2, 2021 – about six months after the contractor’s last citations in June 2021.

March 10, 2022

Departments of Labor, Justice strengthen partnership to protect workers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division signed a memorandum of understanding today to strengthen the partnership between the two agencies to protect workers from employer collusion, ensure compliance with the labor laws and promote competitive labor markets and worker mobility.

March 10, 2022

US Department of Labor cautions 401(k) plan fiduciaries to exercise extreme care as they consider cryptocurrencies

 

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today published compliance assistance for 401(k) plan fiduciaries considering plan investments in cryptocurrencies, in an effort aimed at protecting the retirement savings of U.S. workers.

March 10, 2022

Federal judge orders Juan Quevedo-Garcia, one of New Jersey’s most flagrant OSHA violators, to pay $2M in penalties

PALISADES PARK, NJ – One of New Jersey’s most flagrant violators of federal workplace safety laws – who continually puts workers at risk of serious injuries or worse – is personally liable for $2 million in penalties assessed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a federal administrative law judge has ruled.

March 10, 2022

Preventable tragedy: US Department of Labor investigation of zip-line worker’s fatal fall finds workplace safety failures

SAN DIEGO – A federal workplace safety investigation found that a 34-year-old worker’s fatal fall might have been prevented had the operator of a Pauma Valley zip-line attraction implemented required safety measures.

March 10, 2022

US Department of Labor offers new resources to help combat employer retaliation against workers who exercise their legal rights

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division today published and launched several resources to help combat retaliation by employers against employees for exercising their worker rights. These resources include the following:

March 10, 2022

Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Mid-Atlantic Region to host online Data Users Conference on April 20, 2022

EVENT:        

Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Data Users Conference (Mid-Atlantic Region)

WHO:           

William Beach, Commissioner, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Terance Rephann, Regional Economist, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service

Jeffrey Hill, BLS Associate Commissioner, Office of Prices and Living Conditions

March 10, 2022

US Department of Labor administrative judge orders Frostproof farm labor contractor to pay $249K in back wages, penalties in settlement agreement

FROSTPROOF, FL – A federal judge approved a settlement with a Frostproof farm labor contractor – Jose M. Gracia Harvesting Inc. – who the U.S. Department of Labor found shortchanged workers and failed to provide them with safe and sanitary living conditions – a practice that will require him to pay back wages and a civil money penalty.

March 10, 2022

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending March 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 227,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 215,000 to 216,000. The 4-week moving average was 231,250, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 230,500 to 230,750.

March 9, 2022

US Department of Labor alleges Louisiana security company shortchanged 58 workers of overtime wages, seeks recovery of $47K in wages, damages

Date of action:                       January 11, 2022

Type of action:                      Complaint

Names of defendants:          Sentinel Security Group Inc.

March 9, 2022

US Department of Labor finds two Georgia Zaxby’s franchise locations endangered young workers, violated child labor, overtime laws

ATHENS, GA – A federal investigation has found two Zaxby’s franchise restaurants in Lilburn and Grayson endangered minor-aged employees and allowed them to work outside of prescribed hours, in violation of federal child labor laws.

March 9, 2022

Tribunal condena empregador de Massachusetts que ameaçou empregado a pagar $25.000,00 em indenizações punitivas, mais $164.000,00 em salários e danos a funcionários insuficientemente pagos

BOSTON – Após uma investigação e litígio pelo Departamento do Trabalho dos EUA, um tribunal federal condenou uma empresa de poda de árvores de Holbrook e seu proprietário – que ameaçaram um ex-funcionário por participar em uma investigação do departamento da Divisão de Horas e Salários – a pa

March 9, 2022

US Department of Labor announces $10M in available funding to expand workforce development services for out-of-school time organizations

WASHINGTON – As they develop the habits, skills and other traits needed for future success, young people from age 14 to 21 have a limited window of opportunity. That’s why, when school is not in session, out-of-school time organizations provide supervised programs for young people and expose them to career options that prepare them better to enter and succeed in the workforce.