D.C. Accuses Construction Firms of Misclassifying Workers (1)

A construction contractor engaged in a pervasive worker misclassification scheme by hiring workers from four subcontractors that “routinely” label their employees as independent contractors, according to a new lawsuit from District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb.

The complaint, filed Tuesday in District of Columbia Superior Court, alleges that W.G./Welch Mechanical Contractors LLC worked with Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Mechanical Plumbing Crew Co., Ramirez Plumbing Inc., and Ginco HVAC LLC to strip more than 370 construction workers of the benefits and protections employees get under local ordinances. They include minimum wage, overtime pay, and paid sick leave.

Welch’s conduct resulted in ...