Investigation By Janitorial Watchdog Group Leads CA Labor Commissioner’s Office To Cite University and Janitorial Contractors For Violations
LOS ANGELES, CA – The California Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) has cited Pepperdine University and four janitorial contractors $80,000 for failing to comply with state requirements for janitorial employers, thanks to a referral from janitorial watchdog group, the Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund (MCTF).
The MCTF investigates wage theft and labor violations that impact janitors and helps bring non-compliant businesses out of the shadows of the underground economy. MCTF identified several janitorial companies that were not properly registered to legally operate in California, and referred them to the Labor Commissioner’s Office to formally investigate, hold irresponsible contractors accountable, and uphold labor standards in the janitorial industry.
LCO investigators discovered that, although Pepperdine University had previously hired registered janitorial contractors, the university later switched to using companies that were not properly registered as required by state law.
Under the Janitorial Registration Program, janitorial contractors must register annually with the state. Furthermore, clients that contract with law-breaking contractors can be held jointly liable. Pepperdine University was fined the maximum penalty of $10,000 per violation for contracting with four former unregistered janitorial employers, totaling $40,000 in penalties under Labor Code section 1432(b). Each of the unregistered contractors were also cited $10,000 under Labor Code section 1432(a) for operating without registration.
The janitorial contractors cited are:
- WFF Facility Services LLC, dba HES Facilities Management – Knoxville, TN
- TM Janitorial Services, Inc. – Tujunga, CA
- Lyncroft Advisors, Inc. – Torrance, CA
- Supreme Facilities Services LLC – Agoura Hills, CA
Yardenna Aaron, the Executive Director of the Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund, which referred this case to the Labor Commissioner’s Office, reiterated the important responsibilities employers have in upholding labor laws:
“Just as Pepperdine University prides itself on supporting academic excellence inside its classrooms, it should maintain similarly high standards for the cleaning contractors it does business with. Today’s action sends a crystal-clear message to contractors and the institutions that hire them that they must comply with labor laws or face the consequences”
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About the Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund
The MCTF is a California statewide watchdog organization whose mission is to abolish illegal and unfair business practices in the janitorial industry. The MCTF investigates allegations of employment law violations and partners with local, state, and federal enforcement agencies to hold unscrupulous contractors accountable.