WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of a public awareness campaign to remind workers that the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is committed to ensuring their workplace rights during the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure that employers know their responsibilities.

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 – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it has chosen Eightfold.ai to pilot its website application to better match transitioning military service members’ skills with employers’ needs, as part of a pilot program administered by the Department’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) with support from the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. 

MIAMI, FL – After a routine compliance evaluation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) that found pay disparities, the Department has entered into a conciliation agreement with Nova Southeastern University – a private university in Davie, Florida. The university has agreed to pay $300,000 in back wages in addition to $587,070 in salary adjustments already made by the university to resolve pay disparities. Nova Southeastern University does not admit any wrongdoing in the agreement.

MOULTRIE, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Southern Wood Components LLC – based in Moultrie, Georgia – for exposing employees to hazardous energy and caught-by hazards after an employee fatality at the company’s saw mill. The wood product manufacturer faces $55,326 in penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor made publicly available today a final rule to update regulations governing its program for assistance to workers adversely affected by foreign trade. The updated regulations reduce regulatory burden by modernizing, simplifying and clarifying state administration of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program.

NEW YORK, NY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Nonwovens Corp. – a home and personal care fabric products manufacturer based in Long Island, New York – will address and correct hazards at their five manufacturing facilities in New York, and pay $200,000 in penalties to resolve safety violations.

WASHINGON, DC – The U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury today issued a proposed rule to amend the requirements for grandfathered group health plans and grandfathered group health insurance coverage to preserve their grandfather status.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Jacksonville, Florida to discuss the continued re-opening of the economy and to highlight the importance of workplace safety during the re-opening. Secretary Scalia participated in a roundtable discussion with local business and civic leaders, and visited Crowley Maritime, where he met with company executives and employees.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement regarding President Trump’s Executive Order establishing the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative:

“President Trump promised to support American workers of all backgrounds, and to open new pathways to good paying careers. This Executive Order, establishing the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative, will expand access to education and the skills needed to work jobs in growing sectors of the economy.

MOBILE, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Miller & Co. Inc. for failing to protect employees from struck-by hazards after a worker was fatally injured at the company’s Selma, Alabama, facility. The lumber and flooring manufacturer faces $218,192 in penalties.

In the week ending July 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1,314,000, a decrease of 99,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 14,000 from 1,427,000 to 1,413,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,437,250, a decrease of 63,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 3,500 from 1,503,750 to 1,500,250.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a new poster listing safety tips employers can follow to help protect meat packing, poultry and pork workers from exposure to coronavirus.

COLUMBUS, OH ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Jerry Turnbaugh – a roofing contractor based in Dublin, Ohio – for exposing employees to falls at three separate residential home sites in Pickerington, Ohio. Turnbaugh faces penalties of $148,430 for five willful safety violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the availability of $40 million in Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants to expand community colleges’ ability to meet labor market demand for a skilled workforce.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the awarding of $90,992,062 through two grant programs, Pathway Home and the Young Adult Reentry Partnership (YARP), focused on assisting justice-involved individuals in gaining meaningful employment. U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, today to make the announcement with Pathway Home grant awardee Volunteers of America of Massachusetts.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released coronavirus-related guidance to reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus for oil and gas workers.  

MISSION, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), FELMEX LLC – a tortilla factory with four locations in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley – has paid $61,875 in overtime back wages to 46 employees to resolve violations of the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

NEW ORLEANS, LA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD,) L Squared Investment Group LLC – owner and operator of Morrow’s Restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana – has paid $35,620 in back wages to 65 employees for violating the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

HOUSTON, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Alpha Technical Services (ATS) – doing business as Quala Rail and Specialty in Pasadena, Texas – for exposing employees to confined space hazards after two employees were fatally overcome by fumes while cleaning a tank trailer. The company faces $499,134 in penalties.