November 23, 2021

US Department of Labor finds North Georgia contractor bypassed safety requirements in investigation of 24-year-old worker’s death in Dawsonville

DAWSONVILLE, GA – If federal workplace safety requirements had been followed, a North Georgia site grading and pipeline contractor could have prevented the death of a 24-year-old worker who was killed in May after a fork attachment used on a front-end loader dislodged and struck the worker.

November 23, 2021

US Department of Labor announces funding opportunity for $90M in grants to support academic, skills training, pre-apprenticeship services

WASHINGTON Historically, high school students in the nation’s poorest neighborhoods have faced disproportionate barriers to obtaining an education equal to that available to students in the wealthiest neighborhoods. In the past year, closures and virtual learning forced by the pandemic are deepening this inequality and are likely to hurt disadvantaged students’ future earning potential, a recent Yale University study

November 22, 2021

US Department of Labor reminds employers to avoid compliance issues by ensuring worker safety, proper pay practices this holiday season

WASHINGTON – With the National Retail Federation expecting retailers to hire more than 500,000 seasonal workers and employers hopeful for a busy holiday season, the U.S. Department of Labor reminds them not to overlook their worker’s rights to a safe and healthy workplace and to be paid all of their legally earned wages.

November 22, 2021

ICYMI: Secretary Walsh stands with workers in Alabama to announce final rule to raise minimum wage to $15 for federal contract workers

BIRMINGHAM, AL – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh stood with workers and local officials in Birmingham, Alabama, today to announce the department’s final rule that implements Executive Order 14026 to increase the hourly minimum wage for employees on federal contracts to $15 per hour beginning Jan. 30, 2022. President Biden signed the order on April 27, 2021.

November 22, 2021

Statement by Secretary Walsh on Federal Reserve Nominations

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on President Biden’s nomination of Jerome Powell as Chair and Lael Brainard as Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve:

“These nominations are good news for America’s workers. The President’s economic plan has produced a historic recovery that has restored 5.6 million jobs, increased worker power and raised wages for workers at the lower end of the income distribution.

November 22, 2021

US Department of Labor announces final rule to increase minimum wage for workers on federal contracts beginning Jan. 30, 2022

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a final rule that implements Executive Order 14026 to increase the hourly minimum wage for employees on federal contracts beginning Jan. 30, 2022. President Biden signed the order on April 27, 2021.

November 19, 2021

US Department of Labor, Iowa Workforce Development sign 5-year agreement to better protect Iowa workers’ rights, wages

DES MOINES The U.S. Department of Labor and the State of Iowa have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding to provide opportunities for the department’s Wage and Hour Division and the state’s Workforce Development agency to conduct joint investigations and outreach, and share training materials and other information as appropriate to ensure Iowa workers’ rights and wages are protected.

November 18, 2021

US Department of Labor orders Houston crane company to pay nearly $24K to worker who refused to violate federal law

HOUSTON – A federal whistleblower investigation led the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration to order a Houston mobile crane rental company to pay a former employee nearly $24,000 in back wages, interest and damages after firing the worker in June 2020 for refusing to drive in excess of federal limits and reported fatigue.

November 18, 2021

Una investigación de una panadería, restaurante y tienda de comestibles de Orem recupera $32,000 en salarios atrasados por horas extras para 8 trabajadores; se descubre que un menor realiza trabajos peligrosos

OREM, UT - El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. ha recuperado $32,356 en salarios atrasados por horas extras para ocho trabajadores, y ha identificado violaciones de trabajo infantil después de su investigación de un empleador de Orem cuyo negocio opera como panadería, restaurante y tienda de comestibles.

November 18, 2021

Administrative law judge orders New Jersey federal contractor to pay $549K in back wages to 46 workers after US Department of Labor finds wage violations

LODI, NJ – A U.S. Department of Labor administrative law judge ordered a northern New Jersey trucking company contracted by the U.S. Postal Service to haul mail in the New York City metro-area to pay $549,209 in back wages to 46 drivers after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found wage, benefits and recordkeeping violations over a three-year period. The judge further ordered the company, its owner, and a second related company debarred from federal contracting for 3 years.

November 18, 2021

Investigation of Orem bakery, restaurant and grocer recovers $32K in overtime back wages for 8 workers; finds minor doing hazardous work

OREM, UT – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $32,356 in overtime back wages for eight workers, and identified child labor violations after its investigation of an Orem employer whose business operates as a bakery, restaurant and grocery store.

November 18, 2021

El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. descubre violaciones salariales federales y recupera más de $128,000 en sueldos atrasados para los empleados de un contratista de aislamiento y techado de Vermont

MANCHESTER, NH - El incumplimiento de las leyes federales por parte de un contratista de aislamiento y techado de Vermont ha llevado a la recuperación de $163,492 en sueldos atrasados ​​y multas monetarias civiles para resolver violaciones del programa de visas de trabajadores contratados bajo el programa de visado H-2B

November 18, 2021

Secretary Walsh, Swiss President Parmelin sign memorandum of understanding to expand Registered Apprenticeship programs in the US

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Switzerland’s President Guy Parmelin signed a memorandum of understanding today to expand apprenticeships among Swiss companies and Swiss-invested companies in the U.S., and promote job creation in both countries. Swiss companies actively invest in U.S.

November 18, 2021

US Department of Labor finds federal wage violations, recovers more than $128K in back wages for employees of Vermont insulation, roofing contractor

MANCHESTER, NH – A Vermont-based insulation and roofing contractor’s disregard of federal laws has led to the recovery of $163,492 in back wages and civil money penalties to resolve violations of the H-2B guest worker visa program and Fair Labor Standards Act.

November 18, 2021

US Department of Labor recovers $228K for 35 workers of Maxton contractor that failed to meet federal contract’s wage requirements

MAXTON, NC – Federal laws exist to ensure employees who work on projects funded by public tax dollars receive all of their legally earned wages and fringe benefits. When a Maxton training contractor’s pay practices shortchanged 35 workers employed at Fort Bragg and other military installations, the U.S. Department of Labor took action.

November 18, 2021

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending November 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 268,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 267,000 to 269,000. The 4-week moving average was 272,750, a decrease of 5,750 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 278,000 to 278,500.

November 17, 2021

US Department of Labor, Travis County District Attorney commit to expand, improve protection of workers’ wages, enforcement of laws

AUSTIN, TX – Officials from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Travis County District Attorney’s Office signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand and improve the protection of Travis County’s workforce, enforcement of wage laws and level the playing field for responsible employers. 

November 17, 2021

US Department of Labor alleges global truck manufacturer fired worker concerned about coronavirus safety at Texas facility

DENTON, TX – As the coronavirus began to spread rapidly across the nation in March 2020, an employee of one of the world’s largest manufacturers of light, medium and heavy-duty trucks told a supervisor of their concerns about exposure to the virus at the Denton facility.