July 25, 2024

US Department of Labor investigation leads major maritime cargo shipping operator to change reporting policy for employees

NORFOLK, VA – As part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor, Maersk Line Limited - one of the world’s largest marine cargo services providers - will change its safety reporting policies and compensate a seaman the company terminated after they reported safety concerns to the U.S. Coast Guard without first notifying their employer.

July 25, 2024

Framing contractor again found exposing workers to deadly fall hazards, twice in less than 2 weeks at Perrysburg worksites; faces $199K in fines

PERRYSBURG, OH – Twice in less than two weeks, federal workplace safety inspectors found an Indiana contractor exposing employees to deadly risks of falls from elevation while they did framing work at two homes under construction in Perrysburg. 

July 25, 2024

US Department of Labor recovers more than $1M in back wages from South Carolina federal contractor for 43 workers

GOOSE CREEK, SC – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $1,091,515 in back wages for 43 employees of a Goose Creek federal contractor that paid them rates lower than required by federal law.

July 25, 2024

US Department of Labor recovers more than $1.5M in back wages, damages for 430 HVAC technicians misclassified by Dallas-area company

DALLAS  In one of the largest recoveries of its kind, the U.S. Department of Labor has recouped more than $1.5 million in unpaid overtime wages and damages from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning company that deprived 430 technicians of their rights, protections and benefits under law by misclassifying them as independent contractors.

July 25, 2024

US Department of Labor issues statement on United Airlines’ leave policies

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Administrator Jessica Looman issued the following statement in response to multiple inquiries regarding United Airlines’ leave policies:

July 25, 2024

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending July 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 235,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 243,000 to 245,000. The 4-week moving average was 235,500, an increase of 250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 234,750 to 235,250.

July 24, 2024

Department of Labor cites South Jersey water tower painting contractor for 3 willful, 19 serious violations after investigation of worker’s 80-foot fall

BAYVILLE, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a New Jersey water tower painting company for three willful and 19 serious violations after finding the contractor failed to provide or install required safety equipment that would have prevented an employee from falling 80 feet to the bottom of a Bayville water tower and suffering severe injuries in January 2024.

July 24, 2024

Acting Secretary Su visits Georgia for Blue Bird Corp. first contract signing; spotlights Biden-Harris administration’s support for unions in the South

FORT VALLEY, GA – On July 19, 2024, Acting Secretary Su traveled to Fort Valley to commemorate Blue Bird Corp.’s historic first contract with United Steelworkers, or USW, joined by members and leaders from the AFL-CIO in Georgia. The Acting Secretary presided as officials of the bus manufacturing company and USW representatives signed their first contract and acknowledged the Biden-Harris administration’s support for union jobs in the South and for the growth in clean energy jobs helped made the action possible.

July 24, 2024

Court orders Minnesota IT company to restore $29K in employee retirement plan contributions, bars employer from operating plan

Date of Action         July 19, 2024                                                                                                                                          

July 23, 2024

US Department of Labor awards $1M to provide employment, training services for workers displaced by mass Tesla layoff in Texas

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an award of more than $1 million to Texas to provide employment and training services for people affected by the permanent layoffs at the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin. 

July 23, 2024

US Department of Labor awards more than $2M in funding to support disaster recovery in Texas after severe storms, tornadoes, flooding

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an initial award of more than $2 million in emergency dislocated worker grant funding to Texas to support cleanup and recovery activities in 26 counties after a series of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began April 26, 2024, caused catastrophic flooding and destruction.

July 22, 2024

US Department of Labor files suit against owner, operator of 3 popular North Houston restaurants who used workers’ tips illegally to pay expenses

HOUSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit asking a federal court to require the owner and operator of three popular north Houston-area restaurants in Tomball and Spring - that allegedly used a portion of employees’ tips for business expenses, including condiments and takeout packaging - to pay back wages and damages to the affected workers.

July 22, 2024

Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza franchisee faces $277K in penalties after federal investigators find dozens of children employed illegally at 10 Nevada locations

HENDERSON, NV – The U.S. Department of Labor has assessed the operators of 10 Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza locations in Las Vegas and Henderson $277,414 in civil penalties after federal investigators found the employer employed dozens of children to perform dangerous tasks and work more hours than allowed on school days, in violation of federal regulations.

July 22, 2024

Department of Labor recovers $124K in back wages, withheld tips, liquidated damages for 126 employees of restaurants in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont

Employer:                              Tito’s Taqueria LLC,  898 Putney Road, Brattleboro, VT 05301

Type of action:                      Administrative settlement

July 22, 2024

State Street Corp. allocates $4.2M for future pay adjustments to resolve alleged gender wage discrimination

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and State Street Corp., a federal financial services provider, have entered into a conciliation agreement in which the employer has agreed to allocate $4.2 million for future pay adjustments to resolve alleged compensation discrimination.

July 19, 2024

US Department of Labor launches online filing system for termination administrators to submit information on abandoned employee benefits plans

WASHINGTON – The Department of Labor today announced its Employee Benefits Security Administration has launched an online system to help qualified termination administrators more efficiently submit information required by the department’s Abandoned Plan Program.

July 19, 2024

Department of Labor cites Winter Haven contractor for willfully exposing workers again to potentially deadly falls

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – For the second time in five years, the U.S. Department of Labor has found a Winter Haven contractor allowed employees to do roof work without adequate protection exposing workers to falls, one of the construction industry’s deadliest hazards.            

July 19, 2024

Department of Labor announces completion of 12-month safety, health screening of nation’s mines for Pattern of Violations to protect miners

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration has released results of a Pattern of Violations screening that identifies chronic violators and mine operators that show a disregard for miners’ health and safety. 

July 18, 2024

US Department of Labor recovers $64K from Dallas piercing salon  for 3 workers whose tips employer withheld illegally 

Employer name:             LaLobe Inc.

Investigation site:           11661 Preston Road, Suite 140

                                                   Dallas, TX 75230