DALLAS – Soon after federal workplace safety inspectors arrived at a Dollar Tree store in Mount Pleasant, Texas, they found the national discount retailer again shortchanging employee safety – continuing a pattern of disregard dating back to 2017 – by allowing storeroom merchandise to block exits and walkways and stacking boxes high enough to fall on workers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor, the IRS and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation today released Federal Register notices that announce changes to the 2023 Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan and Form 5500-SF Short Form. These changes are estimated to reduce overall filing costs for employee benefit plans by $95 million annually.

In the week ending February 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 192,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 194,000 to 195,000. The 4-week moving average was 191,250, an increase of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 189,500 to 189,750.

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment that orders a Salinas labor contractor – who withheld final paychecks and transportation expenses – to hundreds of farmworkers to pay more than $460,000 in damages and penalties, following the department’s investigation and litigation.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Wage and Hour Division will offer online seminars for contracting agencies, contractors, unions, workers and other stakeholders on the requirements for paying prevailing wages on federally funded construction and service contracts.

MANCHESTER, NH – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered more than $3.1 million in back wages and fringe benefits for more than 3,100 workers at a California subcontractor that provided enrollment and dental and vision benefits support to federal employees, retirees and their dependents.

Employer: Window World of Southwest Virginia Inc.

Investigation site: 565 East Main St., Wythevillle, VA 24328                                                                                                           

Employer:                                   IPD Company Inc., operating as IPD

Investigation site:                  7808 Pineville Matthews Road, Suite 12

                                                          Charlotte, NC 28226

ERIE, PA – A federal investigation has found the franchise operator of seven McDonald’s locations in Erie and Warren illegally allowed 154 minors, ages 14- and 15-years-old, to work at times not permitted by child labor laws and for more hours per week than allowed. The employer also assigned nine workers under age 16 to operate deep fryers in violation of federal law.

NUEVA YORK - Una investigación federal ha recuperado $113,613 en salarios atrasados e indemnización por daños y perjuicios para 71 empleados de una empresa de administración hotelera de Nueva York que les negó el salario completos, incluyendo las horas extras, al clasificar erróneamente a muchos de los trabajadores afectados como contratistas independientes.

ORLANDO, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $253,044 in back wages for 93 workers of four Florida restaurants after an investigation found the enterprise did not pay servers any wages and failed to pay other workers overtime rates.

NEW YORK – A federal investigation has recovered $113,613 in back wages and liquidated damages for 71 employees of a New York City hotel management company that denied them their full-earned wages, including overtime, by misclassifying many of the affected workers as independent contractors.

Labor Department fines pizza restaurants $30K for child labor violations, recovers $12K for two managers illegally denied overtime wages

Mio’s Pizza in Cincinnati, Milford allows minors to operate dangerous equipment

URBANA, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a federal court order requiring an Illinois home healthcare provider to pay 69 workers $1.1 million in back wages and damages for its failure to pay these workers for all hours worked.

Who:               U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration

                        Journey Group Inc.

                        South Dakota State University OSHA Consultation

What:              Strategic Partnership

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX – Two workers at a North Texas dental practice will share $15,706 in back wages to be paid by the dentists who fired them for raising concerns about COVID-19 safety measures in Spring 2020, following a federal whistleblower investigation and litigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.  

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

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.

WASHINGTON – When MasterBrand Cabinets announced plans in December 2022 to close its Newton, Kansas location, the area lost one of its largest employers, displacing more than 400 workers.

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.