Hot Issues in Wage and Hour Law 2026

Ms. Welton is the CORPS (Community Outreach and Resource Planning Specialist) for the Pittsburgh District Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Prior to becoming CORPS in 2016, she was an Investigator for the Wage and Hour Division since 1997. Ms. Welton has extensive training and experience in enforcing the Fair Labor Standards Act, Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and several other Federal labor laws including those dealing with government contracts, wage garnishments and H-2A and H-2B workers. She is the recipient of a Secretary’s Exceptional Achievement Award, an Administrator’s Impact Award, and a Distinguished Career Service Award. She has also been a Trainer at Basic I national training for new investigators and at a 2017 Government Contracts Prevailing Wage Conference. She is a graduate of John Carroll University with a BSBA in Management and Spanish and served one year in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in San Antonio, Texas. 

Dan Doherty is Assistant District Director with the United States Department of Labor Wage and Hour Divison’s Pittsburgh office.

George has been advising employers in labor and employment matters for more than 20 years, with a focus on traditional labor matters such as collective bargaining and union-management relations, employment litigation, and wage and hour advice and litigation in both the public and private sectors. George represents businesses, municipalities, nonprofits, and educational institutions in all aspects of labor and employment law, including federal and state court trial proceedings involving equal employment opportunity laws, such as Title VII, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. He has extensive experience handling wage and hour litigation under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour laws, including the defense of class and collective actions, as well as investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor and similar state and local agencies. George has advised employers facing workforce reductions and handled claims under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. George also drafts and negotiates executive and other employment contracts, advises on workplace policies and internal investigations, and handles OSHA investigations and unemployment claims. He has represented clients facing whistleblower claims under various statutes, common law claims including defamation and wrongful discharge, and First Amendment, due process, and other Constitutional claims. He has also represented railroads and airlines in litigation under the Railway Labor Act. George is recognized for his experience advising employers on complying with Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana law. He is a frequent speaker on the topic and has testified about complying with the law before a committee of Philadelphia’s City Council. Beyond his regular client practice, George serves as a member of the board of directors of Philadelphia’s Homeless Advocacy Project and also spends significant time providing pro bono service at homeless shelters and to various organizations and individuals unable to afford representation.

Joseph advises employers on a wide range of labor and employment matters, including negotiations, unfair labor practice charges, and discrimination cases. He returns to the firm after serving as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Pamela A. Carlos, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Prior to law school, Joseph worked in talent and labor relations for a large public school district where he led strategic projects to refine the district’s staffing model, selected and implemented new data systems, and improved overall teacher recognition. He also collaborated with district managers and vendors to comply with applicable collective bargaining agreements and managed the school district’s reduction-in-force strategy. Joseph also has experience as a strategy and operations consultant, working with state and federal government entities to implement new technology and streamline procedures. Joseph earned his law degree from the New York University School of Law where he served as casebook executive editor of the Moot Court Board. He also served as a teaching and research assistant and completed a practicum with the Center for Public Research & Leadership at Columbia Law School. He co-authored the article, “How the EEOC’s Maintenance of an ‘Alleged Offenders’ Log Can Help Prevent the Next Harvey Weinstein,” published in Justia. Joseph graduated from Princeton University and earned his Bachelor of Arts in public & international affairs.