News and reports from the Department of Labor.

A trench collapse in Georgia, which led to the hospitalization of one worker and the tragic death of another aged 20, could have been avoided, says the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has found that a plumbing contractor based in Macon, Georgia, failed to ensure adherence to safety protocols.

A liquor store based in Granger, Indiana is currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) due to allegations of intimidation tactics used against employees seeking back wages. The federal agency is seeking a temporary restraining order from a court against the business owner.

The number of U.S. workers participating in strikes saw a significant increase in 2023, according to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) based on fresh data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, the research also highlights the urgent need for federal and state lawmakers to reinforce American workers' rights to join unions and bargain collectively.

A sawmill based in Phenix City, Alabama has been fined approximately $2.5 million by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) following a fatal incident at its facility in August. This represents the second employee fatality at the company within a span of three years.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has imposed a fine of $348,683 on Kenric Steel LLC, a New Jersey-based steel fabrication business. The company is accused of exposing its employees to safety hazards at their Millville headquarters. The investigation into the case was initiated last summer following a complaint.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) recently organized its inaugural youth summit with a focus on creating a workforce and economy that prioritizes guiding young people towards high-quality jobs. The event provided policymakers an opportunity to engage directly with the youth.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has unveiled a revised Equity Action Plan, aimed at aligning with the Biden administration's objective to ensure fairness and equity are integral principles in the government's daily practices. The report now states, "equal opportunity is the bedrock of American democracy, and our diversity is one of our country’s greatest strengths."

The U.S. Department of Labor has imposed fines on a maintenance and repair contractor based in Birmingham, Alabama, and a distributor of bulk cement based in Port Everglades, Florida, in connection with the death of a 39-year-old worker at a Fort Lauderdale job site. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) concluded after an investigation that the two contractors could have prevented the fatality by adhering to safety regulations and maintaining effective communication.

The U.S. Department of Labor's year-long investigation into Forge Industrial Staffing, originally prompted by allegations made in a New York Times article related to child labor, has yet to find evidence of violations at the company. Forge has cooperated with the department's investigation, except to provide the confidential client information - an action Forge says would deal significant damage to the company regardless of the inquiry's outcome.

Tufco LP, a Green Bay-based industry leader in the manufacturing of branded and industrial wet and dry wipe products, has been fined $194,000 for violating federal regulations. The violation pertains to an incident involving the amputation of an employee’s fingertips last summer. It was also discovered that the company neglected to report the incident as mandated by federal law.

A Korean restaurant based in Boston has been mandated to pay $320,000 in back wages following a finding by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division that it failed to inform some workers about their cash wage and tip credit. The department established that the restaurant was not adhering to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), with 59 current and former workers implicated in the dispute.

Employees working in businesses with less than 100 workers are significantly less likely to have an employer-provided retirement plan, despite the incentives available for small businesses to offer such plans. This issue is the focus of a research brief published by the Washington, D.C.-based Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI).

A collective of community nonprofits, children's advocacy organizations, and other interested parties are appealing to the Florida legislature to reject two bills that could potentially undermine the protections provided by the state's child labor law. The group contends that these rollbacks would escalate the health and safety risks faced by young workers in Florida.

Two former employees of two distinct Tennessee-based healthcare providers are set to receive $47,728 in back wages and liquidated damages in relation to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This decision follows an announcement by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that their employers failed to notify them of their eligibility under the act. The DOL utilized its Wage and Hour Division investigators to scrutinize these cases.

President Biden has renominated Julie Su for the position of U.S. Secretary of Labor, despite opposition from Democrats due to her progressive past. As reported by the Federal Newswire, Su is the former California Labor Secretary.