WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that nine more organizations have been recognized as Standards Recognition Entities (SRE) overseeing the development of high-quality Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAP).

KALAMAZOO, MI – Three Kalamazoo, Michigan-area restaurants under joint ownership have paid $225,000 in back wages to 82 employees after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found minimum wage and overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ROCHESTER, MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Mr. C’s Car Wash – based in Rochester, Michigan – has paid $85,753 in back wages to 414 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime and minimum wage requirements at all nine of the employer’s Detroit-metro locations.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – BSN Sports LLC Indianapolis will pay $600,000 in back pay and interest to more than 3,000 job applicants at its Indianapolis, Indiana, production facility as part an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) to resolve alleged hiring discrimination.

In the week ending December 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 885,000, an increase of 23,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 9,000 from 853,000 to 862,000. The 4-week moving average was 812,500, an increase of 34,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 2,250 from 776,000 to 778,250.

SEATTLE, WA – The U.S. District Court of Oregon recently granted the U.S. Department of Labor’s motion for default judgment against Portland, Oregon-based National Security Retirement Plan LLC and Invest n’ Retire LLC for abandoning employer sponsored benefit plans while 31 participants’ assets, worth over $1,500,000, remained in them. The participants were employees of Retirement Solutions Advisors LLC, the National Association for Plan Liability and Keene Photography Studio.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a new initiative designed to assist states in aligning policy, programs and funding across multiple state agencies to increase competitive integrated employment for people with mental health conditions.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced two new grants, totaling $20 million, that will assist Mexico in meeting its labor obligations under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The grants announced today bring the total committed for this purpose by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) to nearly $50 million in 2020.

WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia discussed unemployment insurance reform during a virtual event with the American Enterprise Institute. View Secretary Scalia’s full remarks.

Secretary Scalia’s remarks included the following excerpts:

ST. JOSEPH, MI – A consent judgement issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Michigan has led Shoreline Building Services LLC – and its owner Crystal Middleton – to pay 11 employees $10,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to resolve overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of a new website, TrainingProviderResults.gov, which provides key outcome data such as training completion, credential attainment, employment and wages associated with training programs funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).  

PORTLAND, OR – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), three Oregon agricultural operators will pay a collective $11,418 in back wages after wrongly denying paid sick leave to employees whose healthcare providers advised them to self-quarantine following potential coronavirus exposures.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is updating its inspection program that directs agency enforcement resources to establishments with the highest rates of injuries and illnesses.

WASHINGTON, DC –The U.S. Department of Labor released the following response to the Office of Inspector General’s report regarding the 2017 Tip Rule Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

WASHINGTON, DC – This year, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) used its authority through a combination of traditional practices and unique approaches to assure safe and healthful working conditions for America’s workers.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a new exemption for investment advice fiduciaries.

WILDWOOD, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Galaxy Home Solutions Inc. – based in Wildwood, Florida – has paid $173,851 in back wages to 89 employees to resolve overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a joint final rule with eight other Agencies – the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Agriculture, the Agency for International Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs – to implement President Trump’s Executive Order No.

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a conciliation agreement with Crothall Healthcare, in which the Wayne, Pennsylvania-based health services provider will pay $120,000 in back pay and interest to 224 male applicants to resolve allegations of hiring discrimination.

WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement regarding a consent order entered in a federal court in Michigan today:

“The consent order entered today by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan takes an important step toward ending the corruption that in recent years has afflicted the leadership of the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW).