News Releases
May 17, 2021: District Attorney Gascón Seeks to Immediately Stop Handy from Misclassifying Its Workers
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Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced today the filing of a motion seeking to immediately halt Handy Technologies, Inc., from misclassifying its workers as independent contractors.
“This illegal and shameful practice must end,” Gascón said. “Employees deserve healthcare and workplace safety protections, especially during these precarious pandemic times. Additionally, competing businesses who follow the law deserve an even playing field.”
Gascón and San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin filed the motion Friday in San Francisco County Superior Court. It is part of their March 17 lawsuit against Handy that alleges unfair business practices.
Misclassifying workers as independent contractors rather than employees leaves them without critical protections such as the right to minimum wage, access to paid sick leave, family leave, reimbursement for business expenses, disability, and unemployment insurance.
Handy is a company that sells household services, including prearranged home cleaning and handyperson labor. Headquartered in New York City, Handy employs approximately 17,500 workers in California.
Under California’s protective labor laws, workers are presumed to be employees and employers must justify classifying workers as independent contractors.
The civil suit seeks restitution for Handy workers statewide, a permanent halt to the ongoing illegal misclassification and civil penalties.
