D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine’s office has filed a lawsuit alleging a company providing local janitorial services hammered employees with illegal fees and denied workers sick leave.
According to the complaint, Georgia-based Jan-Pro Franchising International and local affiliate Jan-Pro of Washington, D.C., “systemically misclassified” employees as “independent contractors,” thereby denying workers their full rights under the District’s Wage Payment and Collection Law.
“This illegal scheme was a clear bait-and-switch, which effectively forced workers to shoulder Jan Pro’s business costs,” Racine said in a news release. “If any company steals their employee’s hard-earned wages and benefits, my office will hold them accountable.”
The investigation that led to the lawsuit — filed Wednesday in the civil division of D.C. Superior Court — is one of more than 75 conducted since the 2021 creation of the Workers’ Rights and Antifraud Section, Racine said. Those cases have included investigations into companies accused of withholding tips, alleged failures to implement coronavirus restrictions and alleged failures to pay minimum wage.
When reached for comment, Jan-Pro Franchising International’s general counsel said the company had not yet seen the lawsuit and declined to comment. Jan-Pro of Washington, D.C., also declined to comment at this time.
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