NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Wage and Hour Division’s New Orleans district office has signed a collaborative agreement with the Southeast Louisiana Building and Construction Trades Council to protect workers and promote compliance with federal labor laws. 

CROSSVILLE, TN – The owner of 20 Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries locations has entered an enhanced compliance agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor that aims to improve working conditions for minor-aged employees and compliance with federal labor regulations at their 20 locations in Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the appointments of 30 members to serve on the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship to advise the Secretary of Labor on issues related to the national apprenticeship system. Through their work on the committee, members will leverage their knowledge and experience to provide advice and recommendations on ways to use the apprenticeship training model to improve equitable access to career pathways for America’s workers and jobseekers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’ today announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration has unveiled an online platform to help miners and their families navigate the process of finding healthcare providers, facilities and related resources.

Empleador:    Jani Enterprises Inc., que gestiona un restaurante Subway en Des Moines y otro en Kent, WA

Employer:      Jani Enterprises Inc., operating one Subway restaurant in Des Moines and one in Kent, WA

Keeyarah Enterprises Inc., operating two Subway restaurants in Lake Stevens, WA

Nombre del empleador:        Boom-a-Rang Diner

Lugar de la investigación:    53 locales en Oklahoma

Employer name:        Boom-a-Rang Diner

Investigation site:      53 locations in Oklahoma

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found 53 locations of 

Boom-a-Rang Diner failed to include employee monthly performance bonuses to non-exempt management personnel in their regular pay rate when computing overtime wages, as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

HENRY, TN – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a complaint and motion seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent a Henry County farm from allegedly retaliating against two workers who asked about their wages, a protected activity under the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the appointment of five members and leadership for the 2024 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council.

The 15-member council provides advice on policies and regulations affecting employee benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $90 million in grant funding to support workforce training for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents to prepare them to obtain, retain and advance in agricultural jobs or start new careers. 

Employer:      H.K. Construction Corp. 

                        2046 South King St.

LAONA, WI ‒ A Wisconsin hardwood flooring manufacturer continues to ignore federal safety and health regulations and expose workers to multiple hazards at its Laona mill, federal inspectors found. 

SOUTH BEND, IN – The U.S. Department of Labor asked a federal court to issue a temporary restraining order and injunction against Vishav Inc. – operating as Mega Liquor & Smoke – and its owner, Bhola Singh, to stop the Granger, Indiana-based company from retaliating against and intimidating employees owed back wages and liquidated damages. Singh owns and operates 61 Mega Liquor & Smoke stores in Indiana and Michigan. 

MACON, GA – Federal safety investigators found a Macon plumbing contractor could have prevented a fatal trench collapse -- that claimed the life of a 20-year-old worker and hospitalized another worker -- by following required safety procedures. 

SIOUX FALLS, SD – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is surveying the building and heavy construction industry of South Dakota to set prevailing wage rates, as required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, for the payment of construction workers on federally funded and federally assisted construction projects.

VANCE, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $438,625 in back wages, unpaid bonuses, equitable remedy and liquidated damages for two former Mercedes-Benz workers in Alabama after the employer violated their rights to protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

In the week ending February 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 215,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 201,000 to 202,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,500, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 215,250 to 215,500.

Date of Action:          Feb. 28, 2024

Type of Action:         Employee Retirement Income Security Act default judgment

Company/Owners:    Elmhurst Academy of Early Learning Inc.

                                    Colleen Odegaard

                                    Elmhurst Academy of Early Learning Simple IRA Plan

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration joined Restaurant Opportunities Centers United for a listening session with restaurant workers on the importance of protecting workers from extreme indoor heat in the workplace on Feb. 21, 2024.