A LCO Bureau of Field Enforcement investigation
“The labor commissioner’s office employs investigators to look into business owners who are not treating their employees fairly or lawfully. At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet, it is important for workers to have protection and investigations into unscrupulous business owners who may not be fairly paying their employees.”
CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
LOS ANGELES – On April 23, 206, the California Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) cited Hart Placement Agency Inc., a Canoga Park based company, and its principals, Annie Ghaw and Hartmann Ghaw, $4,423,450 for misclassifying 144 caregivers as independent contractors while working in private homes throughout Los Angeles County.
An investigation by LCO’s Bureau of Field Enforcement (BOFE) found that Hart Placement, operated by a mother and son team, allegedly misclassified caregivers and denied them basic legal protections, including accurate wage statements and paid sick leave. Of the total $4,423,450 cited, $4,266,450 is owed directly to the affected workers.
“Caregivers perform difficult, essential work in people’s homes—bathing, dressing, cleaning and caring for people who cannot care for themselves. Many are already underpaid for this demanding work and misclassifying them compounds the injustice by denying workers the basic protections and rights they deserve,” said California Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower.
Workers in low-wage industries are particularly vulnerable to misclassification, which disproportionately harms those who already earn low wages and have limited bargaining power. Employers may use misclassification to skirt the law and gain an unfair advantage over employers who follow the law.
According to the LCO, from October 2022 through December 2024, Hart Placement required caregivers to obtain business licenses and file fictitious business name statements as part of a scheme to misclassify them as independent contractors. LCO’s investigation also found that Hart Placement maintained control over caregivers’ schedules, duties and compensation, as well as required caregivers to sign independent contractor agreements without providing copies.
Investigators further found that caregivers were instructed to falsify timesheets or sign documents to conceal shifts exceeding 12 or 24 hours and did not receive paystubs or paid sick leave required under California labor law.
LCO determined that Hart Placement willfully misclassified caregivers in violation of California labor law and committed additional violations including failure to provide accurate wage statements and required paid sick leave notices.
LCO initiated its investigation in December 2024 following a referral from Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California, a community-based organization that helped identify witnesses who cooperated with the investigation.
On October 1, 2025, LCO issued citations and Notices to Discontinue Labor Law Violations against Hart Placement Agency Inc. and its owners.
Employers cited by LCO have the right to appeal citations within 15 business days after service. The defendants have appealed, and a hearing date is pending.
