June 29, 2021

US Department of Labor announces availability of $43M in funds to support reemployment of workers displaced by the pandemic

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the funding availability of approximately $43 million in grants to help reemploy dislocated workers most affected by the economic and employment fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

June 28, 2021

US Department of Labor orders Lansing chemical manufacturer to reinstate whistleblower who questioned accounting practices

LANSING, MI – After an account manager continually expressed concerns and objections about a proposed accounting practice they believed to be illegal, Equistar Chemicals L.P. in Lansing placed the account manager on a performance improvement program and, ultimately, fired them.

June 28, 2021

US Department of Labor sues Pennsylvania manufacturing company, owner for firing employee in retaliation for reporting safety concerns

PLAINS TOWNSHIP, PA The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against a Luzerne County paper products manufacturing company and its owner after they fired a worker for raising safety concerns and asking several times for safety gloves to operate a shredder and baler. Prior to the employee suffering injury while operating the machine, their supervisor denied multiple requests for protective equipment.

June 28, 2021

US Foods will pay nearly $160K to resolve alleged hiring discrimination identified in US Department of Labor audit of Illinois distribution center

ROSEMONT, IL – US Foods will pay $159,550 in back pay and interest to 114 female and Black job applicants as part of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to resolve alleged hiring discrimination found at its Bensenville distribution facility. The company will also offer jobs to 16 applicants.

June 25, 2021

CORRECTED: US Department of Labor, Bechtel subsidiary reach agreement to resolve alleged gender-based pay discrimination in Houston

HOUSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a conciliation agreement with Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals Inc., to resolve alleged pay discrimination affecting 22 female employees at its Houston location.

June 24, 2021

US Department of Labor announces availability of more than $21M in grants for training on workplace hazards, infectious diseases

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today announced funding opportunities for more than $21 million in Occupational Safety and Health Administration training grants for non-profit organizations.

June 24, 2021

US Department of Labor to host webinar for Southeastern construction contractors seeking, working on federal contracts

RALEIGH, NC – The U.S. Department of Labor encourages construction companies and contractors in the Southeast that hold federal contracts or have an interest in obtaining one to take advantage of an upcoming educational webinar on Tuesday, June 29 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. EDT.

June 24, 2021

US Department of Labor adds polysilicon from China to ‘List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor’

WASHINGTON, DC – Every two years, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs publishes its “List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor” that the bureau has reason to believe are produced by child labor or forced labor in violation of international standards, as directed by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 and subsequent reauthorizations.

June 24, 2021

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending June 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 411,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 6,000 from 412,000 to 418,000. The 4-week moving average was 397,750, an increase of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,250 from 395,000 to 396,250.

June 23, 2021

US Department of Labor awards $11.6M in grants to improve delivery of workforce services, measure effectiveness in five states

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the award of five grants totaling $11.6 million to improve the delivery of training and employment services, and measure their effectiveness in Arkansas, Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi and New Mexico.

June 23, 2021

US Department of Labor reopens comment period for amendments to six class exemptions originally proposed in 2013

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the reopening of the comment period on proposed amendments to six class exemptions from prohibited transaction rules set forth in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code.

June 23, 2021

US Department of Labor recovers more than $50K in back wages for 54 caregivers at Mississippi home healthcare service

MATHISTON, MS – Home healthcare providers expect their workers to meet their clients’ many daily needs. In turn, these workers count on their employers to pay them fairly and legally so they may care for themselves and their families. A recent federal investigation found a Mathiston provider failed to pay its employees overtime and minimum wages as the law requires.

June 22, 2021

US Department of Labor awards more than $130M in grants to support Registered Apprenticeship programs; increase employment opportunities

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of more than $130 million in grants to develop, modernize and diversify Registered Apprenticeship Programs in 15 states and to establish Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Centers of Excellence in three states and Washington, D.C., to provide technical expertise and services and accelerate the expansion of Registered Apprenticeship programs.

June 22, 2021

US Department of Labor cites Toccoa plastic recycler for violating safety standards after worker sustains fatal injuries from a fall

TOCCOA, GA  With the holiday fast approaching, a 56-year-old worker at a Toccoa plastic processing facility could never have known he would spend Christmas Day in a hospital and die from a head injury after falling more than 6 feet from an elevated platform.

June 22, 2021

US Department of Labor announces dialogue to promote employment equity for women workers

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor announced today’s launch of a national online dialogue to gather ideas to improve labor outcomes for women, especially economically disadvantaged women. The dialogue will be open until July 9.

June 22, 2021

Miramar Beach restaurant pays $108K in back wages, penalties following US Department of Labor investigation

MIRAMAR BEACH, FL The U.S. Department of Labor has found an upscale Miramar Beach restaurant again violating federal minimum wage and overtime laws, and redirecting a portion of servers’ tips to non-tipped workers illegally. 

June 22, 2021

US Department of Labor education, enforcement initiative seeks to increase Southeast grocery industry’s compliance

ATLANTA – During the pandemic, grocery store workers were among those on the front lines whose jobs put them in close contact with others – putting them at greater risk for contracting the coronavirus – while they ensured their neighbors had access to essential goods and services. In return, some of these workers, including many minors, faced wage violations or other workplace hazards.

June 22, 2021

Judge orders Nebraska restaurant and its owner to comply with wage laws, pay employees $17K in back overtime

KEARNEY, NE – A federal court has ordered a Kearney pizza and burger restaurant and its owner to pay $17,216 $8,608 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 13 workers after the U.S. Department of Labor found overtime and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

June 22, 2021

US Department of Labor, stakeholders renew alliance to train, protect North Dakota workers from excavation, trenching hazards

BISMARCK, ND – To combat the dangers workers face in trenching and excavation operations, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and key stakeholders renewed an alliance to train workers on trenching and excavation hazards.

June 21, 2021

US Department of Labor awards more than $85.5M to improve employment outcomes for people now or once involved in criminal justice system

WASHINGTON, DC – With the belief that a second chance can change a person’s life, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of more than $85.5 million in grants to assist individuals now or once involved in the criminal justice system to secure employment in their communities.