February 21, 2023

Investigation recovers $215K in back wages after finding Jacksonville restaurant chain kept workers’ tips, failed to pay minimum wage, overtime

Employer:                       Kazu Sushi Burrito

Investigation sites:              Kazu Sushi Burrito LLC, 6025 Butler Point Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256

                                              Kazu Sushi Burrito III LLC, 4600 Tropea Way, Jacksonville, FL 32246

                                              Kazu Sushi Burrito 4 LLC, 693 3rd St., Jacksonville, FL 32250

February 21, 2023

US Department of Labor recovers $20K for employee illegally terminated by Bank of Dudley’s violations of medical leave protections

DUBLIN, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $20,107 in back wages for a Georgia bank employee who suffered wrongful retaliation and termination after the financial institution violated their rights under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

February 17, 2023

US Department of Labor awards $50M to help 15 colleges in 14 states improve equitable access to training for good-paying jobs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $50 million in grants to help 15 community colleges in 14 states expand access to education and training for good-paying jobs and equitably meet employers’ and workers’ skill development needs.  

February 17, 2023

Investigación descubre a más de 100 niños empleados ilegalmente en trabajos peligrosos; contratista de higiene alimentaria paga $1.5 millones en multas

KIELER, WI – Uno de los proveedores de servicios de higiene y seguridad alimentaria más grandes del país ha pagado $1.5 millones en multas luego de que la División de Horas y Salarios del Departamento de Trabajo de los EE.UU. descubrió que la empresa empleó al menos a 102 niños de entre 13 y 17 años de edad en ocupaciones peligrosas y trabajando en turnos de noche en 13 instalaciones de procesamiento de carne en ocho estados.

February 17, 2023

Jacksonville trampoline park pays $43K in civil penalties for violating child labor laws after US Department of Labor investigation

Employer:      Urban Air Jacksonville LLC, operating as Urban Air Trampoline Park at Southside

                        9950 Southside Blvd.

                        Jacksonville, FL 32256

February 17, 2023

More than 100 children illegally employed in hazardous jobs, federal investigation finds; food sanitation contractor pays $1.5M in penalties

KIELER, WI – One of the nation’s largest food safety sanitation services providers has paid $1.5 million in civil money penalties after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found the company employed at least 102 children – from 13 to 17 years of age – in hazardous occupations and had them working overnight shifts at 13 meat processing facilities in eight states.

February 17, 2023

US Labor Department recovers $305K for 80 workers after employer failed to pay correct wage rates on federal contract at Kingsport Army site

Employer:                                          BAE Systems Inc., operating as Ordnance Systems Inc.

                                                                2941 Fairview Park Drive

                                                                Falls Church, VA 22042

Investigation site:                         4509 W Stone Drive

February 17, 2023

Court orders Aliquippa home care provider to pay $285K in back wages, damages to 23 workers after Department of Labor investigation, litigation

ALIQUIPPA, PA As the nation today recognizes the selfless and dedicated work of professional caregivers on National Caregivers Day, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that a federal court has entered a default judgment against an Aliquippa home health provider and its owner, after an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division found the employer denied 23 home health aides overtime wages.

February 16, 2023

US Department of Labor recovers $139K in back wages for 28 drivers after Florida motor carrier misapplied exemption, denied overtime

Employer:   Juarez M&M Construction Inc., operating as Juarez Construction

Investigation site:  1859 Constitution Drive, Navarre, FL 32566

February 16, 2023

US Department of Labor recovers more than $159K in back wages for 147 employees after Florida produce packer denies overtime

Employer:     Ark Foods Group Inc., operating as Ark Foods

Investigation sites:  855 County Road, Immokalee, FL 34142

                                  1050 Canaan Road, Roebuck, SC 29376

February 16, 2023

Federal investigation finds Barberton toolmaker failed to properly protect drill press operators; three workers suffered preventable injuries

BARBERTON, OH ‒ In less than two years, three workers at a leading tool manufacturer in Barberton suffered injuries from unguarded machinery.

The latest injury occurred on Oct. 26, 2022, when a worker suffered a left thumb amputation while hand-feeding parts into a drill press using air-activated clamps. The worker had been on the job for just three months. In December 2020 and June 2022, two other workers performing similar tasks suffered laceration injuries.

February 16, 2023

US Department of Labor seeking public comments on modernizing program that recognizes employers committed to best safety, health practices

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration is inviting the public and workplace safety stakeholders to share their comments on how the agency can best honor companies who make exceptional commitments to workplace safety and health, and encourage others to follow.

February 16, 2023

Judge affirms Department of Labor findings that Georgia nursery favored 29 foreign workers over US workers; provided unsafe housing

ATLANTA – An administrative law judge has entered a consent order following a U.S. Department of Labor investigation that determined a wholesale plant nursery in Miami gave foreign visa workers preferential treatment over U.S. workers, and housed workers in unsafe and unhealthy conditions in Greensboro, Georgia.

February 16, 2023

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending February 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 194,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 196,000 to 195,000. The 4-week moving average was 189,500, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 189,250 to 189,000.

February 16, 2023

Department of Labor recovers more than $98K in back wages, damages for 137 employees of Florida electrical contractor who denied proper overtime

Employer:                               Tri-City Electrical Contractors Inc.

Investigation sites:                430 West Drive, Altamonte Springs, FL, 32714 (Headquarters)

                                                13891 Jetport Loop Road, Fort Myers, FL 33913

                                                5911 Breckenridge Parkway, Tampa, FL 33610

February 15, 2023

Federal judge orders Blackhawk Mining, subsidiaries to pay $349K in penalties to resolve more than 530 violations

WASHINGTON – A federal administrative law judge has ordered the operator of mining complexes in southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky to pay civil penalties totaling $349,444 to resolve 533 citations for mine safety and health violations U.S. Department of Labor inspectors identified at 14 mines.

February 15, 2023

Slim Chickens’ franchisee failed to correct illegal child labor practices in Avon, months after knowing of same violations at Streetsboro location

AVON, OH – Despite being warned in September 2021 that the hours worked by 14- and 15-year-old employees at its Slim Chickens’ franchise in Streetsboro violated federal law, the owner continued the illegal practices for several months at a second location in Avon, the U.S. Department of Labor has found.