What Every Building Owner and Manager Needs to Know Before Their Next Contractor Transition
Prepared by JaniTek Cleaning Solutions, your trusted partner for compliant, high-quality commercial cleaning in California’s Greater Central Valley and Central Coast.
July 2026
Executive Summary
In commercial property management, changing janitorial contractors is often a necessary step to optimize costs, elevate service quality, or resolve operational challenges. Yet many building owners and facility managers unknowingly expose themselves to legal, financial, and reputational risks by not fully navigating California’s Displaced Janitor Opportunity Act (DJOA) (California Labor Code §§ 1060 et seq.).
Enacted in 2002, the DJOA protects experienced janitorial workers from abrupt mass layoffs during contractor transitions at the same facility. While the law primarily obligates successor contractors, awarding authorities (building owners and managers) have specific notification and facilitation duties. Overlooking these can lead to disputes, service disruptions, employee claims, regulatory issues, or litigation.
At JaniTek Cleaning Solutions, we believe in elevating the entire industry through transparency, compliance excellence, and seamless service delivery. With years of hands-on experience across the Greater Central Valley and Central Coast, we don’t just meet DJOA requirements: we help our clients avoid pitfalls and achieve smoother transitions that benefit everyone, owners, workers, and tenants alike.
This white paper reflects our commitment as an industry leader to educate building owners and managers. It outlines the DJOA’s key provisions, owner responsibilities, and practical best practices. By partnering with JaniTek, you gain more than a cleaning service: you gain a knowledgeable ally dedicated to protecting your facility and supporting a stronger, more professional janitorial industry.
Ready to safeguard your next transition? Contact JaniTek today for expert guidance and superior cleaning services.
The DJOA: Purpose and Scope
California’s janitorial workforce delivers essential services that maintain clean, safe, and productive environments in offices, medical facilities, industrial sites, and more. The DJOA provides a structured framework for contractor changes, balancing worker protections with business flexibility.
Key point for owners: The law does not require you to hire or retain janitors directly, and it does not prevent switching contractors or insourcing. Instead, it ensures orderly transitions when a new contract is awarded within 30 days of the prior one at the same site(s). It applies to contractors employing 25 or more individuals.
Key Requirements for Building Owners / Awarding Authorities
As an awarding authority, your role is facilitative but critical:
- Timely notification. When terminating a contract, notify the outgoing contractor whether a new contract will be awarded and identify the successor (name and address).
- Employee list facilitation. Ensure the outgoing contractor provides the necessary employee information (names, hire dates, job classifications), and promptly forward it to the successor.
- Flexibility preserved. You retain full control over vendor selection and contract decisions. The DJOA does not alter your core relationship with contractors or employees.
Proper adherence minimizes risks and supports continuity of high-quality service.
What Successor Contractors Must Do (and Why It Matters to You)
Understanding successor obligations helps you evaluate partners effectively:
- Written job offers in the employee’s primary language, with 10 or more days to accept.
- 60-day transition retention for eligible employees (4+ months at the site), with limited exceptions for just cause.
- Post-transition continued employment offers for satisfactory performers, and maintenance of a preferential hiring list.
JaniTek proudly exceeds these standards through proactive planning, experienced teams, and a focus on performance excellence, resulting in lower turnover and consistent results for our clients.
Why Partner with an Industry Expert Like JaniTek?
At JaniTek Cleaning Solutions, compliance isn’t a checkbox; it’s part of our culture of integrity and client-first service. We help building owners:
- Navigate DJOA requirements with confidence.
- Achieve seamless transitions with minimal disruption.
- Maintain or elevate cleaning standards from day one.
- Benefit from our deep local expertise, reliable crews, and customized programs (janitorial, floor care, carpets, windows, and more).
