WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of a webpage that marks the 50th anniversary of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and reflects on the landmark law’s impact on the retirement security of America’s workers. 

PORTLAND, OR – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon against Dr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr. and R.B. Pamplin Corporation for jeopardizing millions of dollars in retirement funds for thousands of employees because of the unlawful acquisition of company-owned real estate by the R.B. Pamplin Corporation and Subsidiaries Pension Plan.

KANSAS CITY, KS – A federal jury in Kansas has awarded $957,324 in back wages for 168 workers at three Wichita-area restaurants jointly operated by three owners who willfully violated federal laws by using tips earned by servers to pay hosts and bussers and denying workers minimum and overtime wages.

WATERTOWN, WI – Federal workplace safety inspectors found a Wisconsin animal food producer exposed employees to the risks of explosions, fires and long-term respiratory illnesses from excessive amounts of airborne dust, among two dozen safety and health violations they identified. 

Date of Action:          Sept.

Date of action:                       August 1, 2024 

Employer:   Walker White Inc.

Employer address:    7402 Fairfield Road, Columbia, SC 29203

VERONA, WI – A suburban Madison contractor with a history of federal safety failures – including violations that led to an employee’s fatal injuries in 2022 – has again been found exposing workers to the construction industry’s most deadly hazard — falls from elevation — during a federal safety inspection in February 2024.

In the week ending September 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 230,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 227,000 to 228,000. The 4-week moving average was 230,750, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 230,000 to 230,250.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1.4 million in funding to support efforts by four community organizations to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and harassment against underserved and marginalized women workers.

FORT WAYNE, IN – A federal lawsuit has recovered $178,000 in back wages, damages and penalties from Hall Drive-Ins Inc., operator of 10 Fort Wayne-area restaurants, to resolve U.S. Department of Labor litigation filed in 2023 in light of the employers’ violations of tip-pool requirements in the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

WASHINGTON – As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s effort to ensure more than 150 million people with private health coverage have greater access to mental health and substance use disorder care, the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury took significant action today by issuing final rules to clarify and strengthen protections to expand equitable access to these benefits as compared to medical and surgical benefits and reduce barriers to accessing these services. 

WASHINGTON – As part of its continued efforts to expand opportunities for all, the Biden-Harris administration has announced the “Investing in America and Investing in Americans” Executive Order to drive more federal dollars toward good-paying, safe jobs offering the right to organize and providing critical benefits like childcare.

President Biden made the announcement today in Michigan at a United Association union hall in Ann Arbor, joined by Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

Participants: U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division

                        Consulate of Mexico in San Jose, California

WASHINGTON – In its continuing effort to protect U.S. workers’ retirement and health benefits, the U.S. Department of Labor today updated current cybersecurity guidance confirming that it applies to all types of plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, including health and welfare plans, and all employee retirement benefit plans.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $90 million in grants to organizations in 44 states and Puerto Rico to provide training and career services and related support services, and work-based learning to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents develop skills to pursue careers in agriculture or non-agriculture sectors.

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su issued the following statement on the August 2024 Employment Situation report: 

“The latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the U.S. economy added 142,000 jobs in August, with the unemployment rate edging down to 4.2 percent. Earnings continue to rise, reflecting ongoing wage growth, and labor force participation remainsstrong, including an all-time historic high women’s prime age labor force participation rate. 

WASHINGTON – The Department of Labor will hold its next meeting of the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, Sept. 10-12 at the department’s headquarters in Washington.

The meeting is open to the public and accessible online and via teleconference.

Employer:      Teijin Automotive Technologies Inc.

                            100 S. Poe Road

                            North Baltimore, Ohio

Employer name:              JRM Enterprises Inc., operating as JRM Landscape & Design 

Investigation site:           8177 Carder Court 

                                                   Littleton, CO 80125