WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of Labor today was joined by the White House's Office of Science and Technology, the Chief Information Officer Council, and seven federal departments at the Department's headquarters in Washington, D.C. for the 2019 DOL Tech Day, which highlights emerging technology used by the federal government.

RALEIGH, NC – Securing Our Country LLC (SOC) - based in Chantilly, Virginia, and operating as Day & Zimmerman Federal Services - has paid $195,513 in back wages and fringe benefits to 22 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

In the week ending May 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 212,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 228,000. The 4-week moving average was 225,000, an increase of 4,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 220,250.

FREMONT, NE – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Daubert Construction – based in Fremont, Nebraska – for failing to protect employees from fall hazards.

An employee suffered a fatal injury after falling approximately 16 feet through an unguarded skylight. Inspectors determined that the Fremont, Nebraska, employer allowed employees to work on a mobile scaffold platform elevated with a forklift; and failed to train employees to recognize fall hazards. OSHA proposed penalties of $19,890.

LINCOLN, NE – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited T.H. Construction Co. after two employees suffered serious injuries when a trench collapsed at a construction site in Lincoln, Nebraska. OSHA proposed penalties of $106,078 for one willful violation of its trench safety standards.

Two employees suffered injuries when a portion of the trench wall caved in as they repaired fiber optic cable. A third employee escaped injury. OSHA cited the company for failing to use protective systems to prevent a collapse.

MANHATTAN, KS – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has found that Belfor Property Restoration and subcontractor Custom Crushing & Company – both based in Kansas City, Missouri – failed to comply with OSHA's asbestos removal standards while performing rehabilitation work at Kansas State University's Hale Library in Manhattan, Kansas.

OCALA, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Chewy Inc. – an online retailer of pet supplies – after a fatality at the company's Ocala, Florida, distribution facility.

The employee suffered fatal injuries while operating a stand-up industrial truck. OSHA cited Chewy Inc. for exposing employees to struck-by and crushing hazards. The company faces $14,323 in penalties, the maximum allowed by law.

CLARKSVILLE, TN – Hankook Tire Manufacturing Tennessee LP – based in Clarksville, Tennessee, and a subsidiary of Hankook Tire America Corp. – has paid $659,268 in back wages and liquidated damages to 136 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SAN JUAN, PR – The U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico has found Special Police Force Corp. – a security company based in Bayamon, Puerto Rico – and its owner Hector Rivera Ortiz liable for violations of the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

HUDSON, WI – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Market & Johnson have signed a strategic partnership to promote worker safety and health during the demolition, remodeling, and construction of Phillips-Medisize's 210,000 square-foot commercial building project in Hudson, Wisconsin.

HUNTSVILLE, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the Scott County, Tennessee, Government has paid $59,769 in back wages to 31 employees in the Scott County Sheriff's Department for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer was also assessed a civil penalty of $12,486 by WHD for repeat violations.

SAN DIEGO, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Window Restoration Acquisition Corp. – based in Los Alamitos, California – has paid $45,257 in back wages and liquidated damages to seven employees for violating the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ST. LOUIS, MO – The U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Missouri has ordered Kinder Kidz LLC and Teach Me Kidz Academy LLC – based in St. Louis, Missouri – to pay a $50 daily fine for failing to comply with the Court’s Orders requiring them to respond to federal subpoenas from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) to determine compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

LEBANON, KY – The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) has issued a decision against James L. Brady Sr. – a tobacco farmer based in Lebanon, Kentucky – after an investigation by the Department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found he violated provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA), and the H-2A visa program.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A restaurant enterprise with three locations in the San Francisco Bay Area will pay $224,465 in back wages to 25 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employers willfully violated the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Additionally, WHD assessed the enterprise $18,621 in civil penalties for the willful nature of the violations, and for a child labor recordkeeping violation.

SAN JOSE, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Yaana Technologies – a Silicon Valley data collection services company based in Milpitas, California – will pay $910,878 in back wages and liquidated damages to 34 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Additionally, WHD assessed $31,670 in civil penalties because of the repeat nature of the violations found.

WASHINGTON, DC  - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the upcoming resignation of Chief of Staff Nicholas Geale effective May 31, 2019.

"I want to thank the dedicated and professional staff of the Department of Labor for helping to do so much good work for our nation," said Geale. "I am very excited to spend time with my new family and take on the next challenges of our journey."

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its intent to award a $5 million grant for a project to economically empower vulnerable women and girls in the agricultural sector in Colombia, as part of the administration's support of the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP).

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its intent to award up to $4 million in grant funding to assist workers in priority sectors of Colombia in exercising their labor rights. Grant activities will focus on developing centers that educate workers on their rights, train them to identify potential labor law violations in workplaces, and assist workers to submit and track well-supported, well-articulated claims to initiate labor inspections and pursue legal remedies. 

RALEIGH, NC - Kingfisher Systems Inc. – a federal contractor that provides information technology support at two North Carolina military installations, and based in Falls Church, Virginia – has paid $342,334 in wages and fringe benefits to 45 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).