A Virginia contractor will pay $725,000 to settle allegations that it violated District of Columbia wage and hour laws on more than a dozen public housing projects.
An investigation by the D.C. Office of the Attorney General (OAG) accused Sterling, Va., exterior contractor Christian Siding of failing to pay prevailing wages to workers on three publicly funded affordable housing projects in the District and misclassifying employees as independent contractors on 13 additional projects. The investigation, which examined Christian Siding’s employment in the district from 2021 to early 2024, also alleged that the company deprived workers of wages and overtime benefits such as paid sick leave and overtime pay for working more than 40 hours a week.
Under the terms of a settlement with the OAG, Christian Siding will pay more than $364,000 to 229 injured workers, as well as $360,000 in penalties to the district. The company will also be required to implement new processes to ensure that all workers hired for projects in the District are properly classified under District law and receive all wages and benefits they are legally owed. The OAG will monitor Christin Siding’s compliance for two years and will impose additional penalties for any future misclassification of workers.
Christian Siding cooperated with the investigation, according to a statement from the OAG, although he denied the allegations. The Company’s agreement to enter into the settlement does not constitute and shall not be construed as an admission of any illusion or liability under the terms of the settlement.
Christian Siding did not respond to ENR’s request for comment.
