NEW ORLEANS – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found a restaurant kept tips earned by workers, in violation of federal wage law.

This new guidance represents a transparent and structured approach that will lower the cost of doing business for industries vital to America’s economic and military dominance while continuing to put injured workers first. It will also improve industry confidence regarding potential liabilities and how to improve their outcomes. Among the factors that are considered are the company’s financial health, experience writing LHWCA policies, and how quickly they pay accepted claims for injured workers.

FREMONT, NE – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Horizon Biofuels Inc. for willful and serious safety violations after a deadly explosion at the company’s Fremont facility in July 2025.An investigation was initiated on July 29, 2025, following the explosion that caused fatal injuries to a worker. OSHA cited Horizon Biofuels for violations including combustible dust buildup, failure to ensure equipment within the facility was protected from creating an ignition source and lack of fall protection for employees working at heights greater than four feet. The citations carry $147,542 in proposed penalties.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer issued the following statement regarding the January 2026 Employment Situation Report:

DENVER – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $61,568 in back wages for 11 workers after a federal investigation found a Denver restaurant denied the employees their full tips.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer concluded a four-state swing on her “America at Work” listening tour yesterday, where she met with engineers, farmers, and manufacturers to learn more about their unique experiences in the labor force.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division today announced a proposed rule designed to help workers and employers better understand how to determine when a worker is an employee and when the worker may be classified as an independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act and related federal laws.

REDWOOD CITY, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement agreement with the operator of a Little Caesars restaurant in Redwood City to pay $409,457 in back wages to 32 workers after an investigation found the employer failed to pay them the required minimum wage and overtime, in violation of federal wage law.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has launched a modern open data portal at data.dol.gov, making it more transparent and efficient for users to access data related to the American workforce. The portal helps bring the department into alignment with the OPEN Government Data Act of 2019 and the Federal Data Strategy established during President Trump’s first administration.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today issued guidance on the Registered Apprenticeship system designed to improve flexibility and reduce burdens for program sponsors, promote clarity and consistency in the registration process across states, elevate quality standards, and increase transparency surrounding the structure of the National Apprenticeship system.