June 3, 2010

Tyson Foods agrees to nationwide injunction requiring poultry workers be paid for time spent putting on and taking off protective items, sanitization and between task

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that Tyson Foods Inc. has agreed to a nationwide injunction that will require the company to pay its poultry processing workers for all hours that they work. In addition, Tyson Foods has agreed to pay almost 3,000 workers at its Blountsville, Ala., facility $500,000 in overtime back wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

June 1, 2010

US Department of Labor secures more than $2 million in back wages for Maricopa County sheriffs staff

PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office in Phoenix have agreed to pay overtime back wages totaling $2,059,807 to 1,690 detention officers and sergeants for uncompensated pre-shift meeting time. The meetings were part of the daily routine at six detention facilities throughout Maricopa County.

May 19, 2010

Salt Lake City-based Teleperformance USA pays almost $2 million in back overtime wages following US Department of Labor investigation

SALT LAKE CITY — Teleperformance USA, a Salt Lake City-based call center, has paid $1,978,147 in back wages to 15,862 workers for overtime violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The settlement followed a nationwide investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division in Salt Lake City.

May 19, 2010

US Department of Labor announces publication of final child labor rules for non-agricultural work

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the publication of final regulations updating protections for young employees in non-agricultural work for the 21st century economy.

"Today's regulations protect young employees from dangerous machines and tools, excessive work hours and other hazards at work," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These rules incorporate recommendations from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and take a common sense approach to keeping young workers safe from harm."

April 22, 2010

Statement of Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on introduction of legislation regarding issue of misclassification

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the introduction of legislation regarding the issue of misclassification:

April 20, 2010

US Department of Labor secures nearly $4 million in back wages for gas station employees in Central and Southern NJ

PISCATAWAY, N.J.The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a judgment against Raceway Petroleum and Nicholas Kambitsis to pay $3.9 million in unpaid overtime wages and liquidated damages to more than 700 of their former and current employees, predominantly gas attendants. Raceway Petroleum Inc., a Piscataway company with gas stations located throughout Central and Southern N.J., along with its owner Nicholas Kambitsis, will also pay $100,000 in civil money penalties.

April 1, 2010

US Labor Secretary sends message to Americas under-paid and under-protected:We Can Help!

CHICAGO — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today used the historic setting of Chicagos famed Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, on the Chicago campus of the University of Illinois, to unveil the U.S. Department of Labors "We Can Help" campaign. Solis committed to helping the nations low-wage and vulnerable workers, and reminded them that her agencys personnel will not waver in protecting the rights guaranteed by law to every worker in America.

March 29, 2010

US Department of Labor resolves case with Orem, Utah-based company for $500,000 in civil money penalties for child labor violations

OREM, Utah — Western Wats Center Inc., a market research company based in Orem with locations throughout Utah and six other states, has paid $500,000 in civil money penalties following a U.S. Department of Labor investigation that disclosed violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's child labor regulations.

March 29, 2010

US Department of Labor secures $1.78 million in back wages for 700 Washington, DC, security guards

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has secured an agreement to disburse $1.78 million in back wages to approximately 700 employees of Hawk One Security, a Washington, D.C., security guard contractor that failed to pay employees for work performed in September and October 2009.

March 4, 2010

Following US Labor Department investigation, Husky Energy Corp. pays more than $969,000 in back wages to 173 refinery workers

LIMA, Ohio — Husky Energy Corp., a petroleum refinery located in Lima, has paid $969,182 in back wages to 173 workers for unpaid overtime compensation after the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division determined the company had violated the overtime pay provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

February 18, 2010

US Department of Labor seeks nearly $1.9 million in back wages and penalties from Newark, NJ, computer consulting company following investigation

Company could face a 2-year debarment from participating in H-1B program

NEWARK, N.J. — The U.S. Department of Labor has cited Peri Software Solutions Inc. and Sarib Perisamya, president and owner, for alleged violations of the H-1B provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, uncovering $1,456,422 in back wages due to 163 workers.

February 10, 2010

US Labor Department secures $1 million in overtime back wages for 154 Hurricane Katrina recovery workers

HOUSTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has resolved a lawsuit against Houston-based Universal Project Management Inc. and Irving, Texas-based Fluor Enterprises Inc. for failing to pay $1million to 154 workers in overtime compensation in the wake of Hurricane Katrina as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

January 29, 2010

US Labor Department resolves back wage case against Pittsburg, Texas-based Pilgrims Pride Corp.

Workers to recover more than $1 million in overtime back wages

DALLAS — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the filing of a consent judgment in a case against Pilgrims Pride Corp. the countrys largest poultry processor — recovering $1,001,438 in overtime back wages for 798 former and current processing workers at the companys Dallas facility. The company also agreed to pay for time spent by employees "donning and doffing," or putting on and taking off work-related gear in all processing plants nationwide.

January 14, 2010

US Labor Department moves to debar Long Island, NY, mail hauling contractor and recover $1.8 million in back wages for 500 employees

BAY SHORE, N.Y. — The U.S. Department of Labor will recover more than $1.8 million in back wages for more than 500 employees of MT Transportation & Logistics Services Inc., a trucking company based in Bay Shore, under contract with the United States Postal Service (USPS) to haul mail. The company and its principal officers also will be debarred from receiving future government contracts for a three-year period.

December 15, 2009

US Department of Labor recovers more than $1.7 million in fringe benefits for 483 employees of VMT Long Term Care Management Inc.

WASHINGTON — VMT Long Term Care Management Inc. has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor for underpaying employees' health and welfare fringe benefits, violating the fringe benefits provisions of the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

December 15, 2009

US Department of Labor recovers nearly $1 million in back wages
for 206 Seattle security company workers

SEATTLE — An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recovered almost $1 million in back wages for 206 employees of a Seattle-based security company, the department announced today.

December 8, 2009

US Labor Department recovers more than $1.7 million in back wages for about 4,000 health care workers of SSM Health Care in St. Louis, Mo.

Wage and Hour Divisions investigation covered 7 health care facilities

ST. LOUIS — SSM Health Care, a medical corporation comprised of seven health care centers and hospitals in the St. Louis area, has paid more than $1.7 million in back wages following a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.

December 2, 2009

US Department of Labor settles allegations over foreign worker program violations with bankrupt Arizona tomato grower

Agreement will result in payment of more than $937,000 in back wages, interest to nearly 600 US workers at Eurofresh Inc.

PHOENIX — Eurofresh Inc. of Willcox, Ariz., has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division to pay $937,460 in back wages and interest to 587 U.S. workers following an investigation into company practices related to hiring temporary, non-immigrant foreign agricultural workers.

November 19, 2009

Statement by US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on Wage and Hour Divisions increased enforcement and outreach efforts

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the increased enforcement and outreach efforts of the department’s Wage and Hour Division:

November 17, 2009

US Department of Labor files complaint to recover $1.5 million owed to workers contracted with TSA at Chicago OHare Airport

CHICAGO — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a legal action with its Office of Administrative Law Judges against Total Enterprise Inc. and company President, Kyong M. Kim and Vice President, Frederick S. Kahl for alleged violations of the prevailing wage and fringe benefits provisions of the Service Contract Act (SCA).

"Government contractors need to know that agreements made on behalf of working Americans must be honored or the Labor Department will take appropriate legal action," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.