December 12, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Georgia Auto Parts Distributor For Fire, Electric Shock, and Struck-By Hazards

NORCROSS, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Parts Authority LLC - a wholesale auto and truck parts distributor based in Norcross, Georgia - for exposing employees to fire, electrical shock, and struck-by hazards. The company faces $133,406 in penalties.

December 11, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Yuma Medical Center Improving Conditions for Nursing Mothers

PHOENIX, AZ – A U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found that Yuma Regional Medical Center – based in Yuma, Arizona – failed to provide adequate breaks and accommodations for nursing mothers attempting to express breast milk while on the job, violating the Break Time for Nursing Mothers provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

December 10, 2018

U.S. Secretary of Labor Acosta Discusses Administration Efforts to Assist Wildfire Recovery in California

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today visited California to discuss Administration efforts to assist American workers who are recovering from last month’s devastating wildfires. Secretary Acosta toured impacted areas of Paradise before participating in roundtable discussions in Chico with job creators, fire fighters, and public officials.

December 10, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites South Florida Commercial Printer For Exposing Employees to Amputation, Electrical, and Fall Hazards

DORAL, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Nupress of Miami Inc. for exposing employees to amputation, electrical, and fall hazards. The Doral, Florida, commercial printer faces $71,139 in penalties.

December 10, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Provides Continued Assistance to California Counties Recovering from 2017 Wildfires

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced additional incremental funding for a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the California Department of Employment Development to assess workforce needs in response to wildfires that affected the state in October and December 2017.

December 10, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Approves New Assistance to Dislocated Workers after Wildfires in Northern and Southern California

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) has been approved for the California Department of Employment Development to assess workforce needs in response to November 2018 wildfires throughout California. The funding will assist the state in response to the Camp Fire in Butte County, which is now the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history.

December 7, 2018

Florida Farm Labor Contractor Pays $53,428 in Back Wages After Failing to Meet Requirements of U.S. Department of Labor’s H-2A Visa Program

MT. DORA, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), SOL Harvesting LLC – a Haines City, Florida, farm labor contractor – has paid $53,428 in back wages for violating labor provisions of the H-2A visa program.

December 7, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Florida Wholesale Bakery Paying $28,055 in Back Wages and Liquidated Damages to 18 Employees

SANFORD, FL – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Central Florida Bakery Inc. – based in Sanford, Florida – has paid $28,055 in back wages and liquidated damages to 18 employees for violating minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). WHD also assessed the company a civil money penalty of $5,455.

December 7, 2018

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Acosta on November Jobs Report

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today issued the following statement regarding the November 2018 Employment Situation report:

"President Trump's policies continue to fuel strong and steady job growth. Two full years since the President's election, 4.6 million jobs have been created, including 155,000 in November. Job gains were significant in manufacturing and transportation and warehousing.

December 6, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in North Dakota Company Paying $1,174,291 in Back Wages to 275 Current and Former Employees

DICKINSON, ND – Wyoming Casing Service Inc. – based in Dickinson, North Dakota – will pay $1,174,291 in back wages to 275 current and former employees after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) revealed violations of the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

December 6, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor to Provide Educational Forums in Missouri to Discuss Wage Laws, and Payroll Audit Independent Determination Program

ST. LOUIS, MO ­- The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will present educational forums about developments in its policies and regulations, and its Payroll Audit Independent Determination Program (PAID), in Jefferson City and in St. Louis, Missouri, on December 11, 2018, and December 20, 2018, respectively.

December 6, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Recovered $1.5 Million in Back Wages and Damages for Southern California Garment Industry Employees This Year

LOS ANGELES, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor recovered more than $1.5 million in back wages and damages for 668 Southern California garment industry employees in investigations by its Wage and Hour Division (WHD) in Fiscal Year 2018.

WHD investigations found employers paid below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. WHD also determined that employers it investigated often failed to pay employees overtime at time-and-one-half of their regular rates of pay when they worked more than 40 hours in a week, as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

December 6, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor and Lamar Outdoor Advertising Company Renew Alliance to Protect Workers

BRIDGEPORT, CT – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Lamar Outdoor Advertising Company have renewed an alliance to help protect the safety and health of employees in the outdoor advertising industry in Connecticut and western Massachusetts.

December 6, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage Hour Division Expands Staff in Alaska Interior Region

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor has placed a Wage and Hour Division investigator in Fairbanks, Alaska, to enhance its outreach and enforcement activities, and to ensure compliance with federal labor laws in the Alaska Interior Region.

December 6, 2018

U.S. Secretary of Labor Acosta Statement Regarding National Miners Day

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta released the following statement regarding National Miners Day:

December 6, 2018

Florida Contractor to Pay $102,767 in Back Wages For Wage Violations After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

LEESBURG, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), White Aluminum & Windows LLC – based in Leesburg, Florida – will pay $102,767 in back wages to 41 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

December 6, 2018

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending December 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 231,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 234,000 to 235,000. The 4-week moving average was 228,000, an increase of 4,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 223,250 to 223,750.

December 4, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Conducting Wage Survey Of Indiana Residential Construction Projects

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting a statewide survey of active residential construction projects in Indiana between August 1, 2017, and July 31, 2018, to establish prevailing wage rates, as required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. The data collection initiative is not limited to federally funded construction projects.

December 4, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Michigan McDonalds Franchisee Paying $26,487 Penalty for Child Labor Violations at 10 Restaurants

JACKSON, MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Stejoca Inc. - a Jackson, Michigan, operator of 10 McDonalds’ restaurants - has paid $26,487 in civil money penalties for child labor violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

December 4, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Returns to Normal Enforcement In Northern Mariana Islands Following Typhoon Yutu

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has returned to normal enforcement operations throughout the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) following Typhoon Yutu. OSHA will continue to provide compliance assistance and outreach through the CNMI Onsite Consultation Office.