Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb announced that two related cleaning companies, Mardone Inc. (doing business as J&B Cleaning Services) and Cuzco Facilities Services, LLC, will pay $290,000 to resolve allegations that they failed to pay 323 housekeepers working at hotels across the District overtime wages they had earned. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) learned of wage and hour issues at the companies via a tip from UNITE HERE Local 25 and subsequently uncovered evidence that hundreds of employees were not paid legally required overtime wages when they worked more than 40 hours in a workweek. Now, as part of a settlement with OAG, the companies will pay $215,000 in relief to workers, pay $75,000 in penalties to the District, and change their practices.

“This settlement puts money back where it belongs—in the pockets of hard-working hotel housekeepers who, despite working physically demanding jobs, were not paid the overtime wages they had earned. Especially as the cost of living continues to increase and working families struggle to make ends meet, I will continue to fight to ensure that all Washingtonians receive the wages and benefits they are legally entitled to, and that all businesses compete on a level playing field. I encourage anyone who has experienced wage theft, or who is aware of any violations of the District’s labor laws, to file a complaint with my office.” – AG Schwalb