Reopening Americas Workplaces

U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia joined Vice President Mike Pence in Florida and Georgia this week, where they discussed reopening American workplaces safely.

Saving Workers, Retires and Plans $3.2 Billion

The Department published a final rule that modernizes the delivery of retirement plan information while saving workers, retirees and plans $3.2 billion.

Protecting Meat Processing and Assembly Line Workers

OSHA released a new video outlining ways employers can protect meat processing and assembly line workers from exposure to the coronavirus. The video is also available in Spanish.

Making it Easier to Receive Bonuses

The Department announced a final rule that allows employers to offer bonuses or other incentive-based pay to employees whose hours vary from week to week.

Supporting Workers Impacted by COVID-19

An additional $26,751,963 in grants will help address workforce impacts of COVID-19 in six states, bringing the total amount awarded to states and territories to $198,221,958.

Protecting Religious Liberty

Secretary Scalia issued a directive and guidance to advance religious liberty protections.

COVID-19 UPDATES AND RESOURCES

• Release: Secretary Scalia has been added to the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
• Release: Resources to prevent unemployment insurance fraud or misuse
• Release: An Arizona school district has paid $1,000 in back wages to an employee who needed to care for her children due to their coronavirus school closure.
• Release: The U.S. Postal Service will pay $3,680 in back wages to an employee who needed to care for her child due to a coronavirus school closure.
• Webinars: Guidance on the wage and hour provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Blog: State occupational licensing reforms

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Enforcement Policies Updated

OSHA is increasing in-person inspections at all types of workplaces and has revised its previous enforcement policy for recording coronavirus cases.

Work Safety Grants Available

OSHA will make $11.5 million available in Susan Harwood Training Grants to fund training and education to help workers and employers identify and prevent workplace safety and health hazards, including the coronavirus.

New Wage and Hour Rule

The Department issued a final rule intended to provide more simplicity and flexibility for retail industry employers related to overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

OSHA Statement

Read excerpts from OSHAs principal deputy assistant secretarys prepared hearing statement on workplace safety and COVID-19.

Firm-Fixed Price Contracts

The Department awarded contracts to operate four Job Corps centers using a new firm-fixed price approach in Michigan, Wyoming, and New Hampshire, which will strengthen the financial oversight of the Job Corps program by increasing cost certainty.

Restoring Accountability

Secretary Scalia wrote an op-ed discussing new regulations that advance the President Trumps goal of restoring accountability in Washington.

COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE HIGHLIGHT

COVID-19 Benefit Plans Guidance

A Department of Labor notice, jointly issued with the Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service, offers COVID-19 guidance for employee benefit plans.