July 21, 2023

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina enters agreement with US Department of Labor to resolve alleged hiring discrimination

COLUMBIA, SC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina have entered into a conciliation agreement to resolve allegations that the company systemically discriminated against 117 Black, Hispanic, Asian and multi-racial applicants for a student entry-level training program at its Columbia headquarters.

July 21, 2023

US Department of Labor investigation finds Bucks County contractor employed 5 minors illegally, failed to pay overtime

WARRINGTON, PA – In the construction industry, falls are among the leading causes of injuries and fatalities. The risks faced by roofing workers are even greater given how they spend much of their workdays, and why federal law prohibits roofing as a hazardous occupation for workers under the age of 18.

July 20, 2023

El Departamento de Trabajo de EE. UU. determinó que el franquiciado en Houston de Denny’s no pagó el salario mínimo, el sobretiempo, realizó deducciones ilegales por uniformes

HOUSTON  – A medida que los niveles de personas vacunadas aumentan y la temperatura sube en los Estados Unidos, más estadounidenses están volviendo a cenar afuera. La industria de los restaurantes cambió mucho desde 2020, pero algunas cosas no cambiaron. Los camareros permanecen entre los trabajadores peor pagados y brindan un buen servicio con la esperanza de ganar buenas propinas para llegar a fin de mes. Dependen de que se les pague todos sus salarios duramente ganados.

July 20, 2023

US Department of Labor finds Houston Denny’s franchisee failed to pay minimum wage, overtime; made illegal deductions for uniforms

HOUSTON – As vaccination levels rise and weather warms in the U.S., more Americans have returned to dining out. Much has changed in the restaurant industry since 2020, but a few things have not. Servers remain among the lowest-paid workers, and provide good service in the hope of earning good tips to make ends meet. They depend upon getting paid all of their hard-earned wages.

July 20, 2023

Bergen County roofing contractor violates agreement to protect its workers, faces more than $600K in penalties

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ – A Bergen County contractor who agreed to make safety improvements after federal safety inspections in 2019 identified nine violations with proposed penalties of $121,687 has instead violated its settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor. Following inspections in 2020 and 2023, the company now faces $600,741 in penalties for 10 more violations.

July 20, 2023

US Department of Labor announces $10M funding opportunity to support efforts to enhance resolution of labor disputes in Mexico

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $10 million in grant funding to improve the resolution of labor disputes in Mexico. The project seeks to increase the effectiveness of conciliation mechanisms to resolve labor disputes in support of Mexico’s 2019 landmark labor reform.

July 19, 2023

Federal inspection finds El Paso metal stamping manufacturer willfully exposed workers to amputation dangers; worker suffers severe injury

EL PASO, TX – An El Paso metal stamping manufacturer with a history of workplace safety violations failed again to protect its workers from the dangers of moving machine parts. As a result, a worker suffered the amputation of two fingers inside a 500-ton hydraulic press.  

July 19, 2023

US Department of Labor seeks Guam building, residential, heavy and highway construction industries’ input for wage survey

HAGATNA, GUAM – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is asking Guam’s building, residential, heavy and highway construction employers to help the agency establish accurate rates and complete wage determination by participating in a prevailing wage survey.

July 19, 2023

US Department of Labor recovers $158K for 19 police employees after investigation finds City of East St. Louis failed to pay overtime

EAST ST. LOUIS, IL – After a long shift patrolling the streets of East St. Louis together, the city’s K-9 unit police officers returned home and groomed, fed and cared for their trusted furry, four-legged partners. While these officers are legally entitled to be paid for this additional work, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has found the City of East St.

July 19, 2023

US Department of Labor cites three employers for exposing workers, residents to asbestos at Missouri residential care facility

MONETT, MO – Three employers at a Missouri residential nursing facility exposed workers and residents to asbestos hazards and failed to ensure safe removal of the known carcinogen during a flooring replacement project, a federal workplace safety inspection alleges.

July 19, 2023

US Department of Labor recovers $17K in back wages for 20 equipment rental company workers paid straight time for overtime work

DEDEDO, GUAM – Heavy equipment operators often work long hard days outdoors to meet deadlines and complete projects on schedule. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division exists to ensure that their employers pay them the wages they have legally earned, and takes action when they do not.

July 19, 2023

US Department of Labor awards $816K incremental funding to continue employment, training services to combat Massachusetts’ opioid crisis

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $816,675 in incremental funding to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to support job creation and workforce training services in eight areas affected significantly by widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose.

July 16, 2023

Federal court orders Chicago-area company to pay whistleblower $95K in back wages after US Department of Labor investigation

NORTHBROOK, IL – A federal court has approved the settlement of a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration whistleblower investigation that determined a Northbrook waste management company violated federal law when it retaliated against a former truck driver who reported a workplace injury and raised concerns to the company that an unrepaired truck was unsafe to operate.

July 16, 2023

US Department of Labor recovers $280K for 36 workers of Medford restaurant that withheld cash, credit card tips; failed to pay overtime

MEDFORD, OR – Diners at Misoya Bistro in Medford were likely unaware that, for nearly two years, the owner was withholding nearly all of their workers’ tips.

July 16, 2023

US Department of Labor announces $3M funding opportunity to strengthen enforcement of labor standards in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $3 million in grant funding to support progress on labor standards, including occupational safety and health, hours of work and wages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

July 15, 2023

Colorado court sentences Avon construction company owner to jail, orders restitution for family of worker killed in Granby trench collapse

AVON, CO – A Colorado state court has sentenced the owner of an Avon construction company to jail and ordered restitution for the family of a 50-year-old company worker who suffered fatal injuries in a preventable trench collapse at a Granby work site in June 2018.

July 15, 2023

Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. recuerda a los empleadores del Pacífico Noroeste que protejan a los trabajadores contra los peligros del calor

SEATTLE – Con la subida de las temperaturas en Washington, Oregón y Idaho, la Administración de Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional del Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. recuerda a los empleadores que protejan a sus trabajadores expuestos a temperaturas de calor extremo.

July 15, 2023

US Department of Labor reminds Pacific Northwest employers to protect workers from the dangers of heat illness

SEATTLE – As temperatures rise in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration reminds employers to protect their employees when they work in hot weather.

OSHA’s message is simple: Water. Rest. Shade. To protect their employees, employers should: