The Latest Breaking News from Department of Labor

Fox News reported on February 24 that the U.S. House will vote this week on a measure opposing the Labor Department’s rule allowing ESG consideration in ERISA-governed retirement funds:

PHILADELPHIA — Two years after his boss shorted him thousands of dollars in pay for his construction work, Marcos Tlacopilco won in court.

Twenty-five states announced on January 26 that they had filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration alleging that, in their view, the Department of Labor’s new rule allowing for the consideration of ESG factors in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)-governed retirement investments increased portfolio risk and violated the law:

A group of 25 Republican attorneys general sued Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and the Labor Department over a Biden administration regulation that gives retirement plan sponsors more freedom to consider environmental, social and governance factors when selecting investments.

Republican state attorneys general are trying to block a Labor Department rule easing the path for investors to consider ESG criteria.

As the new Republican House majority prepares to push back against ESG investing, some House Democrats have launched their own ESG-related caucus to counter Republicans’ efforts:

The U.S. health system benefits from potentially more than $5 billion in free volunteer labor annually

MOUNT PLEASANT, South Carolina — Most of the 30 volunteers who work at the 130-bed, for-profit East Cooper Medical Center spend their days assisting surgical patients — the scope of their duties extending far beyond those of candy stripers, baby cuddlers, and gift shop clerks.

The U.S. Department of Labor says that American Airlines discouraged flight attendants from reporting work-related injuries and illnesses and docked attendance points for complaining about jet fuel fumes leaking into aircraft cabins.