WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing updates in the handrail and stair rail system requirements for its general industry, Walking-Working Surfaces standard.

COLUMBUS, GA – HPPE LLC must meet exacting standards to manufacture pharmaceutical-related products, but an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found serious hazards that could impact the safety and health of its employees.

PHILADELPHIA – As millions of teens enter the summer seasonal workforce, the U.S. Department of Labor has scheduled a webinar for teens, parents, employers and educators to review how federal and state laws protect teen workers. The virtual event will be held Thursday, May 27 from 9 to 11 a.m.

ATLANTA – Since 1998, the U.S. Department of Labor has maintained the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Strategic Partnership Program. More than 850 partnerships have been formed to date, covering more than 31,300 employers and 2.5 million workers nationwide – with the goal of improving safety during large construction projects.

In the week ending May 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 444,000, a decrease of 34,000 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 5,000 from 473,000 to 478,000. The 4-week moving average was 504,750, a decrease of 30,500 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 1,250 from 534,000 to 535,250.

NASHVILLE, TN – A federal contractor that provides transportation and parking valet service for veterans attending medical appointments has paid $158,068 in back wages to 66 workers to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act found in a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation.

CATHEDRAL CITY, CA – Just a month after the new Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City opened, a metal gate near the casino’s loading dock collapsed, crushing a 41-year-old construction worker under its 3,000-pound weight.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has launched five additional pilot workshops to support military spouses in meeting their employment and career goals.

High Springs, FL – Despite the unfortunate truth that more than 800 construction workers in the U.S. die each year in job-related incidents – with falls the leading cause – a federal workplace safety inspection has cited a High Springs roofing contractor for the eighth time for failing to protect workers from fatal fall hazards and other dangers.

YUKON, OK – The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a conciliation agreement with Conduent Inc. to resolve alleged systemic hiring discrimination against Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander applicants for customer care assistant positions at its Yukon facility.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the theme for 2021 National Disability Employment Awareness Month is “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.” Held each October, the annual commemoration raises awareness about disability employment issues, and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities.

AUGUSTA, ME – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Maine Department of Labor Workplace Safety and Health Division (SafetyWorks!) and the Maine Brewers’ Guild have formed an alliance to promote worker safety and health in the Maine brewing industry. 

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an 18-month delay in the effective date of the final rule, “Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States.”

Published in January 2021, the final rule affects employers seeking to employ foreign workers on a permanent or temporary basis through certain immigrant visas or through H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 non-immigrant visas.  The final rule will now go into effect on Nov. 14, 2022. 

In the week ending May 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 473,000, a decrease of 34,000 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 9,000 from 498,000 to 507,000. The 4-week moving average was 534,000, a decrease of 28,250 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 2,250 from 560,000 to 562,250.

Hallandale, FL – Construction industry employers owe it to their workers to pay them their hard-earned wages on time for their long hours and often demanding, physical labor.

A Hallandale-based restoration firm has learned that failing to meet these obligations doesn’t pay.

LEHIGH ACRES, FL – Eighty-one workers harvesting squash and zucchini at a Homestead farm discovered the contractor who hired them was not going to provide meals or kitchen facilities. Workers were forced to spend more on meals than $12.46 per day, the amount promised by the contractor, a violation of the federal H-2A guest worker visa program.

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ST. CROIX, VI – The District Court of the Virgin Islands has ordered a Gallatin, Tennessee, construction management and disaster relief company and its then officer and current CEO to pay $87,000 to 26 employees to resolve violations of the minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

LAGUNA HILLS, CA – Serving the needs of the elderly and others in residential care demands skill and commitment. More than a job, it is a vocation and a source of pride for many. Yet, regardless of the job’s essential nature, some of these workers fall victim to employers who show little concern for their employees’ well-being or for paying them all the wages they have legally earned.

WEST COVINA, CA – Garment industry workers have too often fallen victim to employers who fail to pay these vulnerable workers all of the wages they have legally earned. A recent U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation found a Los Angeles garment contractor continuing this trend and held them accountable.