In 2016, Helix Energy Solutions Group paid a tool pusher named Michael Hewitt more than $200,000 to oversee the drill and deck crews and the subsea department on an oil rig. Mr. Hewitt put in many overtime hours during the course of his employment at Helix and...
Wage & Hour Law
Are you getting the wage you’re owed?
If you have a Texas job with non-stop labor, your employer may expect you to work overtime. While the long hours can cut into your personal time, the extra money in your paycheck can be worth the work. When you receive your pay, you may assume that your employer...
Overtime laws to cover millions more workers
There are certain federal laws in place that protect workers in all 50 states. One of these laws is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Under the FLSA, employers are required to pay eligible workers overtime pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. The overtime...
Department of Labor: 4 Texas Oil and Gas Companies Owe $1.6 Million in Overtime Pay
Since 2012 the U.S. Department of Labor has launched more than 1,100 investigations of wage violations in the oil and gas industry, where contracting and subcontracting have traditionally defined (and often obscured) the worker-employer relationship. So far the Labor...
How Are Compensable Work Hours and Overtime Defined in Texas?
Although the Fair Labor Standards Act guarantees overtime pay for employees, claims of unpaid overtime are relatively common in Texas. In fact, each year millions of dollars are paid to employees to resolve unpaid overtime lawsuits. Here let's discuss some important...
Can a Texas Employer Deduct from an Employee’s Pay for Violating Company Rules?
Sometimes employees and employers in Texas are not fully aware of their rights and responsibilities regarding deductions from wages. For example, there may be confusion as to whether an employer has the right to deduct wages when an employee violates company rules....
Here’s a Rundown of New Rules for Overtime Pay
If you're an hourly worker, then your employer is required to pay you 1.5 times your regular rate when you work more than 40 hours in a week. The same is not necessarily true for salaried workers. Current federal rules allow for salaried employees to be exempted from...