212-583-9500

Department of Labor Recovers $1.5 Million for 430 HVAC Technicians Misclassified as Independent Contractors

In one of the largest wage theft recoveries of its kind, the Department of Labor has recovered more than $1.5 million in unpaid overtime wages and damages from a HVAC company that deprived 430 technicians of their rights and benefits under the law by misclassifying them as independent contractors. Because these workers were misclassified as independent contractors, the company did not pay them time and a half for hours worked after 40 in a workweek.

The Department of Labor investigation found that C&G HVAC LLC, located in Dallas, owed misclassified technicians $756,158 in overtime wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages. This investigation also highlights how such practices not only harm employees by denying them full wages but also provides certain companies with unfair advantages over competitors who adhere to federal and state labor laws.

“C&G HVAC denied these technicians their full wages, hurt taxpayers by not paying related payroll taxes and gained an unfair advantage over their law-abiding competition,” explained a Department of Labor representative. “These employees, who do essential work installing, maintaining and repairing cooling systems in North Texas, stand to collect thousands of dollars in back wages and damages owed to them for their hard work.”

It is a common wage theft tactic for employers to pay construction workers as so called “independent contractors” to avoid paying overtime. If you believe you are a victim of wage theft or have questions about your rights as a worker, contact the attorneys of Pechman Law Group at 212-583-9500. We have recovered over $30 million for victims of wage theft.

Categories

Share this article

Facebook
Email
Print

Related Articles