DC workers are the backbone of our local economy.

We will use every tool to ensure they get the wages and benefits they earned — especially as the cost of living in DC keeps rising.

If your worker rights have been violated in DC, contact us at workers@dc.gov, trabajadores@dc.gov, or 202-724-7730.

Now, Brother Mechanical will pay $500,000 in worker restitution and $1 million in penalties.

Critically, the company will also be required to prevent worker misclassification by reviewing subcontractors' payrolls, conducting audits, and training workers.

And OAG will monitor future compliance.

Worker misclassification is illegal and hurts both workers and the District.

Workers are deprived of basic protections like overtime pay, paid sick leave, and paid family leave.

And companies avoid paying taxes that fund Social Security, unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation.

Brothers Mechanical and its subcontractors worked on major developments in DC.

This includes The Armature Works, The Gantry, Cielo, and The Hale in NoMa — as well as Urby in Navy Yard and The Stacks in Buzzard Point.

OAG uncovered evidence that workers at these sites were illegally misclassified.