The Park at 14th, a four-story restaurant and nightclub in downtown Washington, has agreed to pay $243,350 after the D.C. attorney general found the venue denied workers wages and paid sick leave. Of that total, $127,321 is set aside for more than 270 current and former employees, while $116,029 will be paid in civil penalties to the District. Investigators also concluded that some staff were misclassified as independent contractors and that managers retaliated against employees who raised concerns about tips or pay.
Attorney General's findings
According to investigators with the Office of the Attorney General, The Park at 14th failed to provide paid sick leave to more than 200 workers between 2021 and 2024 and did not issue required written notices explaining pay rates, tip-sharing policies, or pay dates. As reported by WJLA, the probe also found that some workers were misclassified as independent contractors and that hours or pay were cut in retaliation when employees complained. Under the settlement, the business must overhaul its employment practices and submit annual compliance reports to the attorney general's office for the next three years.
What the settlement requires
“Today, we're putting money back in the pockets of hundreds of workers who were denied the compensation and benefits they were legally entitled to,” Attorney General Brian Schwalb said in a statement, as reported by WJLA. The agreement requires Park Place Inc. to pay $127,321 to more than 270 current and former workers and $116,029 to the District, and it directs the venue to provide retroactive sick leave to eligible current employees. The Park at 14th will also be monitored by the OAG through certified annual reports for three years to ensure compliance.
How this fits with a broader enforcement push
Schwalb's office has been leaning hard into wage-and-hour enforcement across industries. The OAG newsroom highlights larger recoveries, including a $3.75 million settlement with construction firm Power Design, and notes that its Workers' Rights unit focuses on misclassification, denied sick leave, and unpaid wages. The office says these actions are intended to return money to workers and uphold District labor laws. Workers who suspect violations can find guidance on the OAG Worker Rights page.
What workers and customers should know
The settlement directs payments to impacted workers and gives the attorney general's office oversight authority to enforce the terms going forward. Workers who believe they were affected or who have questions about restitution are encouraged to contact the OAG's Worker Rights unit. For a quick look at the venue's public records, see the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration license roster for The Park at 14th.
