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| Two D.C. employers to pay almost $500,000 in wage theft cases | Two D.C. employers to pay almost $500,000 in wage theft cases |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The District’s attorney general said Thursday that two employers will pay almost $500,000 in penalties to their workers and the city after investigations into wage theft. | The District’s attorney general said Thursday that two employers will pay almost $500,000 in penalties to their workers and the city after investigations into wage theft. |
| The attorney general’s office said it investigated Rock Spring Contracting, a Maryland drywall contractor, and J.D. Nursing and Management Services, a home health-care provider that was based in the District until it closed in 2016. | The attorney general’s office said it investigated Rock Spring Contracting, a Maryland drywall contractor, and J.D. Nursing and Management Services, a home health-care provider that was based in the District until it closed in 2016. |
| In a statement, the attorney general’s office said Rock Spring misclassified 75 drywall workers as independent contractors from 2015 to 2017 and will pay more than $225,000 in penalties to the city and more than $56,000 in restitution to employees. | |
| Under D.C. law, businesses must pay employees at least $14 per hour and provide overtime pay. | Under D.C. law, businesses must pay employees at least $14 per hour and provide overtime pay. |
| In the other case, the attorney general sued J.D. Nursing and Management Services in 2017, alleging it failed to pay more than 20 personal-care aides more than 150 hours worth of wages each, officials said. After the city won a court ruling in the case last month, that company will pay about $195,000 in damages to 26 workers and more than $22,000 in penalties to the District. | In the other case, the attorney general sued J.D. Nursing and Management Services in 2017, alleging it failed to pay more than 20 personal-care aides more than 150 hours worth of wages each, officials said. After the city won a court ruling in the case last month, that company will pay about $195,000 in damages to 26 workers and more than $22,000 in penalties to the District. |
| A call Thursday to an attorney for J.D. Nursing and Management Services was not returned. A representative for Rock Spring Contracting declined to comment. | |
| In an interview, D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine said his office has sought to crack down on wage theft in a battle against “a stubborn minority” of employers who “look to cheat employees.” | In an interview, D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine said his office has sought to crack down on wage theft in a battle against “a stubborn minority” of employers who “look to cheat employees.” |
| His office has launched more than 30 investigations into the practice, he said, including the construction industry, where a report he commissioned last year found those who commit payroll fraud unfairly underbid those who don’t. | His office has launched more than 30 investigations into the practice, he said, including the construction industry, where a report he commissioned last year found those who commit payroll fraud unfairly underbid those who don’t. |
| “Employers should follow the law in the District of Columbia,” he said. “We’re supporting employees, supporting the rule of law and supporting what is supposed to be a genuinely competitive business.” | “Employers should follow the law in the District of Columbia,” he said. “We’re supporting employees, supporting the rule of law and supporting what is supposed to be a genuinely competitive business.” |
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