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).

MADISONVILLE, KY – United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman announced the charging of an additional former supervisor and safety official from Armstrong Coal, in addition to the eight previous officials charged by a federal grand jury, for conspiracy to defraud an agency of the United States government by deceit, trickery, and dishonest means.

LUBBOCK, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Lee Lewis Construction recently signed a partnership to help protect construction workers during construction of the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences in Lubbock, Texas.

EL PASO, TX - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Bruce Foods Corporation – a Mexican food manufacturer based in El Paso, Texas – after an employee suffered an amputation. The company now faces $194,350 in fines.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Revel Systems Inc. – a software company based in San Francisco, California – has paid $791,935 in back wages to 333 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

PHOENIX, AZ – The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a consent judgment against Austin Electric Services LLC and its president Toby Thomas that orders the Avondale, Arizona-based electrical contractor to pay $925,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 366 employees and $75,000 in civil money penalties for a number of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced updates to its procedures for processing H-2B applications. 

DUBLIN, OH – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Check Smart Financial LLC – based in Dublin, Ohio, and operator of 530 CheckCashing USA locations in 12 states – will pay $80,593 in unpaid wages to 474 current and former employees.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – After several investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Best One Tire Group – based in Monroe, Indiana – has agreed to pay $1,023,808 in overtime back wages and liquidated damages for 1,056 employees nationwide for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ATLANTA, GA – Five Kani House restaurants operating in the Atlanta, Georgia-area will pay $361,288 in back wages and liquidated damages to approximately 190 employees after the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia issued a consent judgment against the employer for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SUNRISE, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), J & J Inc. – a painting and water-proofing company based in Sunrise, Florida – will pay $86,530 in back wages to 25 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ODESSA, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has renewed an alliance with West Texas Safety Training Center to help protect the safety and health of oil and gas workers involved in service, transmission, exploration, and production throughout West Texas.