PetSmart has agreed to pay Colorado $225,000 to resolve a lawsuit accusing the pet retail giant of luring dog groomers into training agreements that came with steep repayment penalties—requiring up to $5,500 if workers left before completing two years of employment, the state attorney general announced.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser revealed the deal Thursday, calling the Nov. 10 settlement a decisive conclusion to the suit his office filed in July. He said the resolution ensures that no future PetSmart employee “is deceived about training opportunities,” describing the case as a reminder that misleading onboarding practices won’t escape state scrutiny.
AG Warns Employers Against ‘Deceptive’ Training Agreements
“For all employers, this action is a clear reminder that they must not use deceptive and unfair training agreements — and that our department is committed to taking action to address any such conduct,” Weiser said, framing the settlement as both restitution and warning.
