Protecting Retirement Security

A new rule from the Department will protect employee benefit plan participants and beneficiaries by ensuring that plan managers put workers financial interests first when deciding whether and how to vote proxies.

Religious Exemption Rule Issued

A new rule from the Departments Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs clarifies the legal requirements of religious exemption for federal contractors, helping encourage the full and equal participation of religious organizations as federal contractors.

$3.5 Million in Coronavirus Citations

Between Nov. 27 and Dec. 2, OSHA issued citations for coronavirus-related violations arising from eight inspections. In total, 263 inspections have led to coronavirus-related citations totaling $3,504,345.

COVID-19 UPDATES AND RESOURCES

• Release: The Department recovered back wages for 55 workers after a Louisiana seafood processor failed to provide required sick leave.
• Release: A Texas cabinet manufacturer has paid an employee $3,736 in back wages after wrongly denying coronavirus-related leave.
• Release: The operator of a Texas testosterone replacement center has paid $3,432 to an employee who was wrongly denied paid sick leave and terminated.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Flexibility for Grandfathered Plans

The U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury announced a final rule that provides greater flexibility for grandfathered group health plans and group health insurance coverage.

Record Benefits Recovery

In fiscal year 2020, the Department recovered more than $3.1 billion for employee benefit plans and their participants and beneficiaries a record year.

Combating Forced Labor

The Department applauded efforts by the Department of Homeland Security to combat forced labor in China by issuing a withhold release order on cotton harvested or processed by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

Wage Enforcement

A Florida restaurant will pay $70,575 in wages to 36 workers to resolve minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping violations.

Conciliation Agreement

Federal contractor Baker & Taylor has agreed to resolve allegations of race and gender-based hiring discrimination at its Illinois facility.

STAT OF THE WEEK

Job Openings Increase

The number of job openings rose to 6.7 million on the last business day of October, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this week.

COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE HIGHLIGHT

Holiday Safety

Is your workplace prepared for the holiday season? Use these worker training tips to prevent job hazards and implement safe work practices, and learn more at OSHA.gov/coronavirus.