Labor News
Labor
BOSTON – Federal workplace safety investigators found that a Boston waterproofing contractor exposed employees to life-threatening cave-ins and excavation hazards at residential worksites in Arlington, Massachusetts, and Warwick, Rhode Island, twice in less than three months in late 2023.
Labor
US Labor awards over $39M in grants for apprenticeship program expansion
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the allocation of over $39 million in grants to 46 states and territories. These funds aim to enhance the capacity of Registered Apprenticeship programs across various key industries, providing workers with access to new, well-paying jobs under the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda.
Labor
Department of Labor recovers $172K for Richmond restaurant workers denied overtime wages
The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $172,392 for 21 workers following an investigation into wage practices at Chicanos Cocina Bar and Grill in Richmond, Virginia. The department's Wage and Hour Division found that the restaurant, operated by Chicanos Inc., failed to pay non-exempt kitchen salaried employees an overtime premium for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Additionally, tipped employees were not compensated at the correct overtime premium rate.
Labor
Alabama contractor cited by OSHA after fatal accident involving heavy container
A U.S. Department of Labor workplace safety investigation has found that an industrial concrete construction contractor failed to follow required safety procedures, which could have prevented a 65-year-old worker from suffering fatal injuries when a shipping container weighing more than four tons fell and struck the employee at a job site near Tuscaloosa.
Labor
Labor Department recovers $110K in back wages from New Orleans employer
The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $110,076 in back wages and damages for 46 workers employed by Southern Care Connection LLC, operating as #1 in Homecare, based in New Orleans. The investigation revealed that the company paid non-exempt employees straight time for overtime hours worked beyond 40 hours per week, violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Labor
US Department of Labor recovers $912K for New Hampshire taproom employees
A federal investigation has recovered $912,594 for 44 employees of a Londonderry brewery and restaurant that illegally kept workers’ credit card tips and incorrectly exempted several salaried employees, such as brewers, bartenders, cooks, and administrative staff from overtime pay requirements.
Labor
US Department of Labor offers webinars on workplace rights for new mothers in August
The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, in collaboration with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), will host a series of online webinars in August to coincide with Breastfeeding Awareness Month. These webinars aim to educate expectant and new mothers about their workplace rights.
Labor
Labor Department awards $800K to aid workers displaced by Montana lumber mill closures
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced an $800,000 award to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. This funding is intended for employment and training services for individuals in Montana affected by the closure of Pyramid Lumber and Roseburg Forest Products lumber mills in Missoula County.
Labor
Department of Labor schedules ERISA Advisory Council meeting for July
The Department of Labor will convene a meeting of the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, from July 8-10 at the department’s Francis Perkins Building in Washington. The meeting will be open to the public and accessible both online and via teleconference.
Labor
Labor Department hosts info session for nuclear weapons workers' benefits
The U.S. Department of Labor will host an information session in Lisle, Illinois, on July 18 for current and former nuclear weapons workers employed at covered facilities to discuss benefits available under the federal Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The session is also open to these workers’ survivors.
Labor
Houston-area contractor cited again for safety hazards after fatal incident
HOUSTON – A La Porte tank cleaning company has once again been cited for federal safety violations, similar to those that led to a previous fatality. In December 2023, just two days before Christmas, the wife and son of an employee at Qualawash Holdings LLC grew concerned when he did not return after his shift. Later that day, he was found unresponsive.
Labor
Department of Labor awards nearly $3.8M in funding to Florida for hurricane recovery
The U.S. Department of Labor announced the incremental award of $3,750,000 in funding to support continued disaster-relief employment and workforce training for eligible residents in Florida as the state recovers from Hurricane Ian.
Labor
Acting Secretary of Labor Su comments on June jobs report
WASHINGTON – The Acting Secretary of Labor, Julie Su, issued a statement regarding the June 2024 Employment Situation report.
Labor
U.S. Department of Labor obtains injunction against Benton restaurant over child labor allegations
LITTLE ROCK, AR – The owner of a Benton tavern and restaurant has agreed to comply with a preliminary injunction obtained by the U.S. Department of Labor to stop the employer from violating federal regulations.
Labor
Pennsylvania roofing contractor cited for exposing children to fall hazards
LIVERPOOL, PA – The owner of a Liverpool roofing company risked the lives of two of his children by exposing them to falls from heights while they worked on roofs atop a Mechanicsburg apartment complex in June 2024, a U.S. Department of Labor investigation has found.
Labor
Department of Labor awards nearly $47M in grants for job training
The U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of nearly $47 million in grants to 14 organizations aimed at overcoming structural barriers and improving access to employment opportunities. This investment will support communities addressing violence, crime, and poverty that limit educational and employment opportunities for individuals aged 15 to 24.
Labor
Department of Labor recovers $555K for Intuit employees due to recordkeeping errors
SAN JOSE, CA – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has revealed that Intuit, a Silicon Valley-based multinational provider of payroll and financial software applications, failed to keep accurate pay records and did not compensate employees for certain work hours, including required training time. This resulted in more than 2,500 employees being deprived of over $555,000 in overtime pay.
Labor
Georgia sawmill cited by US Department of Labor after fatal accident
SAVANNAH, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor has determined that a Hazlehurst sawmill could have prevented the fatal injuries of a 24-year-old employee if federal safety regulations had been followed.
Labor
Proposed labor rule aims to protect millions from extreme workplace heat
The U.S. Department of Labor has released a proposed rule aimed at protecting millions of workers from the health risks associated with extreme heat. If finalized, the rule would safeguard approximately 36 million workers in both indoor and outdoor settings, potentially reducing heat-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
Labor
Department of Labor awards over $56M in job training grants for justice-involved individuals
The U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of more than $56 million in grants aimed at reducing recidivism and assisting formerly incarcerated individuals in re-entering their communities. The Pathway Home 5 grant funding builds on findings from the Linking Employment Activities Pre-release pilots and implementation study, which emphasized the importance of partnerships between jails and workforce system partners for participant success.
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