MYRTLE BEACH, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Monarch Co. – based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and operating as Monarch Roofing – will pay $156,346 in back wages to 84 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Fast Frontier LLC – based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and operating as Cricket Wireless – has paid $41,677 in back wages to 111 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at 54 locations in Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

ATLANTA, GA - The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and the Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta, Georgia, will host an education and outreach event to assist federal contractors in recruiting people with disabilities into the workplace and protecting those in the workforce from discrimination.

CONROE, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and the GEO Group Inc. – a company specializing in privatized corrections, detention, and mental health treatment – have entered into a conciliation agreement to resolve allegations of hiring discrimination at the company’s Joe Corley Detention Center in Conroe, Texas. The GEO Group Inc.

POMPANO BEACH, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Rivera Services Group Inc. – a construction labor provider based in Pompano Beach, Florida – has paid $102,088 in back wages to 79 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The company was assessed and paid a civil penalty of $1,323 for child labor violations.

MONTGOMERY, AL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), John Knox Manor Inc. – operating as John Knox Manor II – will pay $96,233 in back wages to 92 employees for violating the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at its nursing home facility in Montgomery, Alabama.

NORCROSS, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals Inc. – an herbal products manufacturer and distributer based in Norcross, Georgia – has paid $454,655 in back wages to 28 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

OPELIKA, AL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Hydro-Green Erosion Control LLC – an erosion control company based in Opelika, Alabama – will pay $113,984 in back wages and liquidated damages to 34 employees for violating minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

BOSTON, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Boston, Massachusetts-based contractor Tara Construction Inc. and its chief executive officer, Pedro Pirez, alleging that they retaliated against an injured employee by facilitating his arrest.

TOLEDO, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has renewed an alliance with the Toledo Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) to address safety and health hazards that Ohio's apprentice and journeyperson electricians may encounter while working in construction and general industry.

MILLIKEN, CO – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Burnco Colorado LLC - doing business as Bestway Concrete and Aggregates - has paid $77,238 in back wages to 406 employees to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) overtime requirements at the company's facilities in Milliken, Colorado, and Irvin, Texas.

MIAMI, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited The Higgins Group Corp. – operating as Higgins Premium Pet Foods – for exposing employees to amputation, fall, and other safety hazards at its facility in Miami, Florida. The company faces $95,472 in penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement regarding Women's History Month:

"Women's History Month is a celebration of women who succeed in every corner of the American economy. The Department of Labor is especially honored to have the first woman member of the President's Cabinet, Frances Perkins.

"As we commemorate 100 years of women's suffrage, we recognize the women who are making history today by breaking barriers and thriving in leadership roles throughout our nation."

NOKOMIS, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Olin Landscaping – based in Venice, Florida – for failing to protect employees working in excessive heat after an employee succumbed to fatal heat-related symptoms while performing lawn maintenance at a residence in Nokomis, Florida.

BEACH HAVEN, NJ – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Cramark Inc. – doing business as The Chicken or The Egg restaurant in Beach Haven, New Jersey - will pay $768,548 in back wages, liquidated damages, and penalties for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the labor provisions of the H-2B temporary visa program. Cramark Inc. will pay 23 employees $359,077 in FLSA back wages, an equal amount in liquidated damages, plus $7,792 in H-2B back wages to two employees.

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has entered a consent judgment requiring five South Jersey gas stations, and their main owner Gurmeet Singh to pay $325,000 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 29 current and former employees. The consent judgment comes after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and litigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of the Solicitor.

In the week ending February 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 225,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 216,000 to 217,000. The 4-week moving average was 229,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 235,750 to 236,000.

SEATTLE, WA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Good Shepherd Adult Family Home – a residential care company based in Shoreline, Washington –will pay $222,426 in back wages and liquidated damages to 19 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Department also assessed $17,442 in civil penalties against the employer for the willful nature of the violations.

HONOLULU, HI – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that an education and enforcement initiative by its Wage and Hour Division (WHD) focused on retail mall employers in Hawaii, recovered $698,120 in back wages and liquidated damages for 339 employees, and led WHD to assess $59,523 in civil penalties for child labor violations during Fiscal Year 2018.

LOS ANGELES, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Janray Homes Inc. – a residential care company based in La Mirada, California – will pay $61,846 to 10 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).