News Releases

January 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Texas-Based Contractor Violated Wage Laws on Federally Funded Alabama Highway Project

BIRMINGHAM, AL – J&L Imperium Industries LLC – based in Dallas, Texas – has paid $24,072 in back wages to 10 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the company violated requirements of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA), the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), while operating at a worksite in Birmingham, Alabama.

January 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Urges Employers and Employees To Remain Vigilant About Possible Winter Hazards

KANSAS CITY, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reminds employers to stay vigilant when it comes to weather-related hazards that can put employees at risk when temperatures plummet in winter months.

January 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Alabama Roofing Contractor Violated Pay and Benefits Requirements on Federally Funded Project

TUSCALOOSA, AL – Maldonado Roofing LLC – based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama – will pay $57,428 in back wages, overtime, and fringe benefits to 41 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated requirements of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA), the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

January 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor and Turner Construction Partner To Promote Workplace Safety During Hospital Project in Erie, Pennsylvania

ERIE, PA - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Turner Construction Company have established a strategic partnership to promote workplace safety for a building project at UPMC Hamot hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania.

The partnership seeks to educate workers, control or eliminate serious hazards, and establish effective safety and health programs for the project. Located at 201 State Street, the project - scheduled for completion in 2020 - includes a 200,000 square-foot, seven-floor patient care building.

January 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Pennsylvania Excavation Company For Exposing Employees to Trenching Hazards

PENNSBURG, PA - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Spear Excavating LLC – based in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania – for exposing employees to trenching hazards at a worksite in Malvern, Pennsylvania. The company faces $106,057 in proposed penalties.

OSHA initiated an inspection on August 2, 2018, after receiving a complaint alleging the hazards. Inspectors determined that employees were working in an excavation that was accumulating water and did not have proper protection from cave-ins.

January 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Appointments to the Administrative Review Board

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced three appointments to the Administrative Review Board (ARB). The three members – William Thomas Barto, James A. Haynes, and Daniel T. Gresh – were appointed for two-year terms.

January 8, 2019

CORRECTION: U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds North Carolina Pizzeria Violated Minimum Wage and Child Labor Laws

SURF CITY, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Max's Pizza Inc. – a Surf City, North Carolina, pizza and sub restaurant – has paid a civil penalty of $14,287 for violating the minimum wage and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

January 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Roofing Contractor After Employee’s Fatal Fall at Missouri Jobsite

BOWLING GREEN, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Franklin County Construction LLC – based in New Haven, Missouri – after an employee suffered fatal fall injuries when a roof truss collapsed. The employee was part of a crew installing prefabricated roof trusses onto a commercial building under construction in Bowling Green, Missouri.

January 7, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Nebraska Restaurant Paying $145,987 in Back Wages and Damages

OMAHA, NE – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), a federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, entered a consent judgment ordering China Palace Inc. and owners and operators – Miao Hui Zhang and Jian Zhang – to pay $145,987 in back wages, liquidated damages and interest to eight current and former employees.

January 7, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Court Ordering Tennessee Construction Company to Pay $501,000 in Back Wages and Damages

NASHVILLE, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee has ordered Reynolds Baldwin III – doing business as Copperhead Construction LLC and formerly as Sara-Tech LLC – to pay $501,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 82 employees to resolve violations of the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Additionally, WHD assessed the Spring Hill, Tennessee-based company $29,000 in civil money penalties.

January 7, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Contractor Following Crane Collapse At New York City Construction Worksite

NEW YORK, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Western Waterproofing Co. Inc. – doing business as Western Specialty Contractors – for exposing employees to serious injuries at a New York City construction worksite. The St. Louis, Missouri-based contractor faces $155,204 in proposed penalties.

January 7, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor to Provide Educational Forum on Resolving Overtime and Minimum Wage Violations January 9, in New Orleans, Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS, LA - The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will present an educational forum about developments in its policies and regulations, and its Payroll Audit Independent Determination Program (PAID), in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 9, 2019.

January 4, 2019

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Acosta on December Jobs Report

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today issued the following statement regarding the December 2018 Employment Situation report:

"With more than 5,000,000 jobs added since the 2016 election, the American economy surpassed 150,000,000 jobs for the first time ever. 

January 3, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Court Ordering Nashville, Tennessee, Restaurant to Pay $220,000 to 31 Employees

NASHVILLE, TN – The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division, has ordered Hetal Patel Inc., Pankaj and Hetal Patel, and Madhusudhan Naik - operators of the Woodlands Indian Vegetarian Cuisine restaurant - to pay $220,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 31 employees at its Nashville, Tennessee, restaurant. The action comes after a U.S.

January 3, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Fourteen Los Angeles-Area Restaurants Paying $126,142 in Overtime Back Wages

WEST COVINA, CA – Fourteen restaurants in the greater Los Angeles area – operating under five different entities – will pay 100 employees a total of $126,142 after U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigations found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

January 3, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Departure of Acting Assistant Secretary for Veterans Employment and Training Service

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the resignation of Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) Matthew Miller, effective January 3, 2019.

January 3, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Federal Court Ordering Pennsylvania Printing and Bindery Company to Pay $598,366 in Back Wages, Damages, and Penalties

LANSDALE, PA – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has entered a consent judgment requiring Fox Bindery Inc. – based in Lansdale, Pennsylvania – and owner Henry J. Fox to pay $274,183 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 556 current and former employees. The Department also assessed the employer and its owner a $50,000 civil money penalty due to the willful nature of the violations.

January 3, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Contractor in Colorado For Exposing Employees to Trenching Hazards

DENVER, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited ContractOne Inc. – based in Avon, Colorado – for safety violations following a fatal trench cave-in.

January 3, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in North Central Washington Restaurant Employees Receiving $96,995

SEATTLE, WA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Oralia Magallanes and Juan Calderon – operators of three Mexican restaurants in North Central Washington – will pay $96,995 to 32 employees for overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

January 3, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor and Montana Contractors Association Sign Alliance to Foster Safer Workplaces

BILLINGS, MT – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Montana Contractors Association (MCA) have signed an alliance to foster safer workplaces.