WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor today released a policy statement regarding Association Health Plans (AHPs). The Department disagrees with the district court's ruling in The State of New York v. United States Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Justice filed an appeal on April 26, 2019. 

MANCHESTER, NH – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), The Spot LLC – owner of two Burlington, Vermont, restaurants – has paid $55,546 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 91 current and former employees to resolve overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid $2,360 in penalties for child labor violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it has issued a new opinion letter that addresses compliance issues related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). An opinion letter is an official, written opinion by the Department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) on how a particular law applies in specific circumstances presented by the individual person or entity that requested the letter.

The opinion letter issued today is:

LONGWOOD, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Competitive Edge Group Inc. – operating as Competitive Edge Landscaping and based in Longwood, Florida – will pay $44,280 in back wages to 75 employees for violating the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

DURHAM, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), five Subway fast food franchise locations in North Carolina – owned and operated by Mahmoud Alkurdasi and Hala M. Saleh – have paid $13,970 in back wages to 150 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

MANCHESTER, NH – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Nordic Construction Services LLC – based in Berlin, New Hampshire – has paid $38,678 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 45 employees to resolve overtime and record keeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

LUBBOCK, TX – In a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor, Allegiance Behavioral Health Center of Plainview doing business as Inspirations, a subsidiary of Allegiance Health Management Inc. based in Shreveport, Louisiana, will pay $22,000 in back wages and compensatory and liquidated damages to a former employee for violating the anti-retaliation provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

CHICAGO, IL – The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, granted a motion allowing Morgan Administration Inc. and associated debtors doing business as Home Owners Bargain Outlet (HOBO), to engage Paradigm Health Plans, the approved third-party administrator, to reconcile and administer outstanding medical claims for employees participating in HOBO's health plan.

MOBILE, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Ampac Mobile Holdings LLC – operating as ProAmpac – for exposing employees to caught-in and struck-by hazards at the packaging manufacturer's facility in Mobile, Alabama. The company faces $75,156 in penalties.

JACKSONVILLE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has expanded its alliance with the SAFETY Alliance, to raise awareness about hazards associated with the construction industry. This new agreement includes the organization's Jacksonville Chapter.

BOISE, ID – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Any Weather Exteriors LLC – a construction contractor based in Star, Idaho – will pay $51,328 in back wages and liquidated damages to 25 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

HESSMER, LA – To resolve a lawsuit filed with the Department of Labor's Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ), Earl Roy Farm of Louisiana LLC – based in Hessmer, Louisiana – has signed consent findings and will pay $71,611 in back wages to 76 employees, and $33,388 in civil money penalties. The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigated the company and found it had violated the labor provisions of the H-2A temporary agricultural visa program.

Specifically, the WHD found that Earl Roy Farm of Louisiana LLC:

SAIPAN, CNMI – The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a $3,360,000 consent judgment against the developer of the Imperial Pacific Resort Hotel and Casino in Garapan, Saipan, for minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by contractors working on the construction project.

BRENTWOOD, CA – J. Carmen Mora – a Northern California farm labor contractor – has paid $143,078 in back wages to 199 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found multiple violations of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA). Additionally, WHD assessed the employer $23,048 in civil penalties.

FRESNO, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), M&L Plumbing Co. Inc. – a plumbing company based in Fresno, California – will pay $113,351 in back wages due to 39 employees for violating overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA).

DALTON, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Plaze Aeroscience – operating as Plaze GA – for exposing employees to fire and burn hazards at the company's facility in Dalton, Georgia. The specialty chemical manufacturer faces $107,164 in penalties.

GAINESVILLE, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Riverside Military Academy Inc. – a military college preparatory academy in Gainesville, Georgia – for exposing employees to trenching hazards. The company faces $381,882 in penalties, including citations for the maximum penalties allowed by law.

In the week ending April 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 230,000, an increase of 37,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 192,000 to 193,000. The 4-week moving average was 206,000, an increase of 4,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 201,250 to 201,500.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced Women's Bureau Director Patricia G. Greene will be returning to the private sector effective April 26, 2019.

"For a year and a half as Director of the Women's Bureau, Dr. Patti Greene has led the Women's Bureau mission to support America's working women, and ensure that they have access to good, family-sustaining jobs," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "We are grateful for her service, and wish her success in her future endeavors."

DALLAS, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) have renewed an alliance to help protect construction industry employees in the Rio Grande Valley.