News and reports from the Department of Labor.

Labor News

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The U.S. Department of Labor has announced an award exceeding $1 million to Texas aimed at providing employment and training services for individuals affected by the permanent layoffs at the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin.
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Labor Department allocates over $2M for disaster recovery in Texas

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced an initial award exceeding $2 million in emergency dislocated worker grant funding to Texas. This funding aims to support cleanup and recovery activities in 26 counties affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that began on April 26, 2024.
Labor

Department of Labor recovers $124K for restaurant employees' unpaid wages

The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $124,904 in back wages, withheld tips, and liquidated damages for 126 employees of Tito’s Taqueria LLC, a restaurant chain with locations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
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Labor Department sues North Houston restaurant owner over tip misappropriation

HOUSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit requesting that a federal court mandate the owner and operator of three popular restaurants in north Houston, specifically in Tomball and Spring, to repay wages and damages to workers affected by the alleged misuse of their tips for business expenses.
Labor

Blaze Pizza franchisee fined $277K for illegal child labor practices

The U.S. Department of Labor has imposed $277,414 in civil penalties on the operators of 10 Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza locations in Las Vegas and Henderson after federal investigators discovered that the employer had illegally employed dozens of children for hazardous tasks and excessive hours on school days.
Labor

State Street allocates $4.2M for future pay adjustments amid gender wage discrimination claims

The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and State Street Corp., a federal financial services provider, have entered into a conciliation agreement in which the employer has agreed to allocate $4.2 million for future pay adjustments to resolve alleged compensation discrimination.
Labor

Department of Labor completes year-long mine safety review

The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has released the results of a Pattern of Violations (POV) screening aimed at identifying chronic violators and mine operators who disregard miners' health and safety.
Labor

Winter Haven contractor cited again for willfully exposing workers to fall hazards

The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Winter Haven contractor for the second time in five years for exposing workers to potentially deadly falls. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that Carpenter Contractors of America Inc. allowed employees to work without adequate fall protection at an Ave Maria residential job site in January 2024.
Labor

Department of Labor launches online system for abandoned employee benefits plans

The Department of Labor has announced the launch of an online system by its Employee Benefits Security Administration to aid qualified termination administrators in submitting information for the Abandoned Plan Program.
Labor

Global ink maker cited by OSHA for safety violations after Lisbon facility incident

The operators of a global ink and coatings manufacturing company could have prevented an employee at its Lisbon facility from suffering burn injuries from a flash fire that erupted in an industrial mixing vessel containing flammable liquids and vapors by following federal regulations for handling highly hazardous chemicals, a U.S. Department of Labor investigation has found.
Labor

Department of Labor announces $65 million grants for community college training programs

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the availability of $65 million in funding to support programs aimed at helping community colleges enhance affordable, high-quality workforce training. This initiative seeks to meet the skill development needs of employers and workers in critical industry sectors, including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, semiconductors, and biotechnology.
Labor

Federal investigators cite waste management firm for safety lapses leading to severe injury

Federal investigators have determined that inadequate safety measures at John’s Disposal Service Inc. and John’s Recycling Inc. in Franksville, Wisconsin, led to severe injuries for a temporary maintenance worker in January 2024. The worker's jacket sleeve was pulled into an engine while servicing a vehicle.
Labor

Department of Labor recovers $64K from Dallas piercing salon for withheld employee tips

The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $64,656 in back wages from LaLobe Inc., a family-owned piercing salon in Dallas, Texas. The recovery follows an investigation by the Wage and Hour Division, which found that the employer had illegally withheld tips from three employees.
Labor

Department of Labor recovers $288K from property management group

The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $288,979 in back wages and liquidated damages for 92 employees after its investigation found an Atlantic Beach property management group’s improper pay practices denied them overtime wages they earned.
Labor

Labor Department announces $99M funding for youth education and job training programs

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the availability of $99 million in funding to support pre-apprenticeships in high-demand industries, including construction, clean energy, healthcare, infrastructure, information technology, and hospitality.
Labor

Labor Department recovers $74K for Southwest Louisiana construction workers

The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $74,546 in back wages and damages for 19 construction workers employed by PAR Construction LLC in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The recovery follows an investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division.
Labor

Department secures injunction against USPS over employee injury reports

SEATTLE – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Tacoma, including a landmark injunction that permanently prevents the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from retaliating against employees at up to 59 locations in the State of Washington.
Labor

Departamento laboral busca distribuir $1.1M recuperados en investigación salarial

El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. ha recuperado más de $1,1 millones en salarios no pagados y compensación por daños de operadores de un contratista textil de Los Ángeles que negó deliberadamente el pago de horas extras a sus empleados. Ahora, el departamento busca distribuir estos salarios a todas las personas que los ganaron.
Labor

Court orders Detroit-metro Leo's Coney Island franchisee to maintain accurate wage records

The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a consent preliminary injunction against the Michigan operator of Leo’s Coney Island franchise locations in Clarkston, Dearborn, Livonia, and Sterling Heights. This follows a history of non-compliance with overtime regulations and wage shortchanging.
Labor

US Department of Labor seeks nominations for ERISA Advisory Council

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that its Employee Benefits Security Administration is seeking nominations to fill five three-year vacancies on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council. The deadline for submissions is August 26, 2024.
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