Last Update :9/18/2018

DOL Investigations Target Southeast Employers of H-2B Workers

Golf Course Owners and Operators 

Many of our member courses along the east coast depend on H-2B workers to ensure they have sufficient workforce to meet the demands of their seasonal business activity. To ensure compliance with federal wage laws, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is undertaking an initiative in Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina to strengthen compliance with the labor provisions of the H-2A and H-2B temporary visa programs. In addition to improved educational efforts, they are increasing their site investigations. 

NGCOA encourages members who participate in the H-2B program to review your procedures and ensure you can provide investigators appropriate supporting documentation reflecting appropriate local recruitment efforts that failed to attract the workers required to perform the advertised positions.

While the initial DOL actions target these four states, we can expect similar activity in other sectors of the United States, especially those employed in the landscaping industry. The fines and penalties for failing to comply can be expensive as well as being ineligible for future access to this critical workforce.

If you have been visited by an investigator, we would like to hear from you. How was your experience? Any lessons learned? Please post your thoughts and comments on this post so others can learn from your experience.

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Ronnie Miles
Director of Advocacy
NGCOA
Daniel Island SC
[843-471-2714]
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