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Harbor Freight Tools — Company research | Choice 0 Choice score Out of 100

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OpenSecrets’ records show Harbor Freight Tools-associated contributions in the 2024 election cycle totaling $48,624, with $42,236 (95.83%) going to Democrats and $1,837 (4.17%) to Republicans. The records say the figures cover contributions of $200 or more and were released by the FEC; the totals page also lists contributions across earlier cycles.

You decide Political spending
Sources
http://web.archive.org/web/20250821022156/https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/harbor-freight-tools/recipients?id=D000023238
<table> <thead> <tr> <th>Recipient</th> <th>Total</th> <th>From Individualsimore info </th> <th>From Organizationimore info </th> <th>Recipient Type</th> <th>View</th> <th>Type</th> <th>Chamber</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Harris, Kamala</td> <td>$22,549</td> <td>$22,549</td> <td>$0</td> <td>Candidate (D-PRES)</td> <td>Democrat</td> <td>Cand</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Democratic Party of Wisconsin</td> <td>$10,000</td> <td>$10,000</td> <td>$0</td> <td>Political Party</td> <td>Democrat</td> <td>Party</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Cantwell, Maria</td> <td>$7,110</td> <td>$7,110</td> <td>$0</td> <td>Candidate (D-WAS1)</td> <td>Democrat</td> <td>Cand</td> <td>Senate</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Rivas, Luz</td> <td>$6,600</td> <td>$6,600</td> <td>$0</td> <td>Candidate (D-CA29)</td> <td>Democrat</td> <td>Cand</td> <td>House</td> </tr> <tr> <td>DNC Services Corp</td> <td>$5,257</td> <td>$5,257</td> <td>$0</td> <td>Political Party</td> <td>Democrat</td>
http://web.archive.org/web/20241218085539/https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/harbor-freight-tools/totals?id=D000023238
<table> <thead> <tr> <th>Cycle</th> <th>Total</th> <th>Democrats</th> <th>% to Dems</th> <th>Republicans</th> <th>% to Repubs</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>2024</td> <td>$48,624</td> <td>$42,236</td> <td>95.83%</td> <td>$1,837</td> <td>4.17%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2022</td> <td>$226,267</td> <td>$172,885</td> <td>84.46%</td> <td>$31,812</td> <td>15.54%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2020</td> <td>$350,600</td> <td>$171,391</td> <td>97.82%</td> <td>$3,825</td> <td>2.18%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2018</td> <td>$132,657</td> <td>$91,076</td> <td>84.43%</td> <td>$16,797</td> <td>15.57%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2016</td> <td>$974,034</td> <td>$962,524</td> <td>99.95%</td> <td>$500</td> <td>0.05%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2014</td> <td>$325,050</td> <td>$224,800</td> <td>99.89%</td> <td>$250</td> <td>0.11%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2012</td> <td>$172,792</td> <td>$172,292</td> <td>99.71%</td> <td>$500</td> <td>0.29%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2010</td> <td>$54,100</td>

A proposed class action filed in Pennsylvania federal court in July 2019 alleged that Harbor Freight Tools USA violated state and federal overtime laws. The workers claimed the company required employees to clock out for meal breaks even when they continued working. The supplied account does not report a court ruling or outcome.

Against Labor & working conditions
Sources
https://www.law360.com/articles/1177002/workers-say-harbor-freight-fixed-time-sheets-to-avoid-ot
By Matthew Santoni ( July 10, 2019, 6:32 PM EDT) -- Harbor Freight Tools USA Inc. violated state and federal overtime laws by making employees clock out for meal breaks regardless of whether they kept working during the break time, according to a proposed class action filed Wednesday in Pennsylvania federal court. . . .

In December 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation said Harbor Freight agreed to a $1 million civil penalty under a consent order after failing to timely recall more than 800,000 noncompliant trailer-light kits. The company acknowledged delays in recalling, notifying owners and filing completion reports. $400,000 was due immediately; $600,000 was conditional on compliance.

Against Corporate conduct
Sources
https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-dot-imposes-civil-penalty-harbor-freight-tools-failure-recall-trailer-kits
After inquiries from NHTSA, Harbor Freight Tools acknowledged in October 2014 that certain light kits it imported and sold did not include rear side-marker lamps to improve night visibility, as required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The company did not indicate its willingness to issue a recall until December 16, 2014, and did not actually file notice of the recall until February 26, 2015. The Motor Vehicle Safety Act requires companies to issue a recall within five days of discovering a safety defect or noncompliance with Federal safety standards.

In July 2019, Harbor Freight Tools USA settled with the California Energy Commission for $557,636.13. The agency said its investigation found power tools, power banks and chargers sold in California from February 2013 to September 2017 failed efficiency or marking requirements and lacked certification. Harbor Freight agreed to discontinue or redesign affected models and certify products before further sales.

Against Climate & energy
Sources
https://www.energy.ca.gov/enforcement-case-settlements/harbor-freight-tools-usa-inc
This case was the result of an investigation performed by California Energy Commission (Energy Commission) staff. The Energy Commission's investigation and testing process identified that HFT was manufacturing and offering for sale power tools, power banks, and battery chargers containing a small battery charger system that did not meet the efficiency standard, failed the marking requirement, and were not certified to the Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System (MAEDbS).

In December 2023, the NLRB held that Harbor Freight’s “overly broad” no-solicitation rule violated workers’ organizing rights, according to Law360. The related NLRB docket, filed in 2018, lists a December 2023 Board decision and later administrative-law-judge orders in February 2024; the supplied excerpts do not describe the final case outcome.

Against Labor & working conditions
Sources
https://www.law360.com/employment-authority/articles/1777984/nlrb-says-tool-co-s-one-rule-is-illegal-other-needs-review
Harbor Freight Tools' "overly broad" no-solicitation rule violated workers' organizing rights under federal labor law, the National Labor Relations Board has held, upholding a board judge's decision on that rule and...
https://www.nlrb.gov/case/28-CA-232596
8(a)(1) Concerted Activities (Retaliation, Discharge, Discipline)

In November 2013, Harbor Freight Tools USA agreed to pay $94,200 to California’s Air Pollution Control Fund after CARB found generators intended for sale in California were mislabeled. The agency said the generators were otherwise compliant. Harbor Freight also agreed to comply with California labeling rules; the settlement noted that it removed the units and cooperated.

Against Climate & energy
Sources
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/harbor-freight-tools-usa-inc-settlement
In November 2013, Harbor Freight Tools USA, Inc. (Harbor Freight) agreed to pay $94,200.00 in penalties to the California Air Pollution Control Fund for violating air quality regulations. An investigation by CARB showed that Harbor Freight had non-complaint generators that were not legal for sale in California. Upon further investigation the generators were found to be complaint but had been mislabeled. To settle the case, Harbor Freight agreed to the $94,200.00 penalty and to comply with the 13 California Code of Regulations section 2404 with respect to the labeling provision. This settlement takes into consideration that Harbor Freight removed the units in question and was proactive and cooperative throughout the enforcement process.
About & ownership
Category
Home Improvement Retailers
Website
harborfreight.com
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