Scoop: Which Denver businesses paid the most in wage restitution
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Wage theft is surging in Denver, with workers recovering more unpaid wages this year than ever before, according to a new report from the city auditor's office.
Why it matters: Thousands of Denver workers — often those earning the least — are being shortchanged by employers who fail to follow basic wage laws, whether intentionally or not.
By the numbers: The Denver Auditor's Office recovered a record $2.3 million in unpaid wages across nearly 900 cases between November 2024 and October 2025.
- That meant 7,200 workers got back the money they were owed — up 60% from last year.
Zoom in: Roughly 45% of those recovered wages came from just 10 companies, spanning industries from construction to cleaning to hospitality, per data first reported by Axios Denver.
- True Cleaning Solutions topped the list with $185,500 in restitution, followed by McCarthy Building Companies ($175,800) and Rocky Mountain Valet ($117,600).
- Other companies included major hotels and restaurants such as Hyatt Regency, Las Margs Tavern and Denver Chophouse.
The other side: Eight of the top 10 offenders did not return Axios Denver's requests for comment.
- Hyatt Regency's head of labor relations, Michael D'Angelo, said its case stemmed from collective bargaining talks with the union Unite Here Local 23, with whom they reached "a resolution." The city then "closed the case with no finding of wrongdoing or penalties," he said.
- A spokesperson for Nail Story declined to comment.
Context: Wage theft covers a range of violations, including unpaid overtime, minimum wage shortfalls, denied sick leave and misclassification of employees as independent contractors.
The big picture: The auditor's office reviewed more than 100,000 payroll records, uncovering violations in workplaces from real estate firms and tech companies to barbershops and yoga studios.
What they're saying: "We are committed to helping everyone. Especially those who may otherwise remain silent because they fear retaliation or are not able to speak up for themselves," Denver Labor executive director Matthew Fritz-Mauer said in a statement.