Whenever you accept a position at a new company or in a new department, you should read their employee handbook from cover to cover. This will ensure you have a thorough understanding of your employer’s policies and procedures regarding everything from holidays to sick leave.
A comprehensive employee handbook should contain information about the company’s policies regarding overtime, as well; however, it is important to remember that not everything you read in the handbook may be accurate or even legal. For example, many companies tell employees that they will not compensate them for unauthorized overtime.
Pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act, though, employees must be compensated for work that has been suffered or permitted, regardless of whether it was authorized ahead of time. Despite what the handbook may say, company policies cannot trump federal law.
If you ended up working more than 40 hours in a week but your employer did not pay you overtime, contact Moore & Associates. Since 2001, we have been helping clients resolve their complex employment law issues. Call 713-581-9001 to schedule a consultation with a Houston unpaid overtime lawyer.
What Should I Do If I Cannot Finish My Work During Normal Work Hours?
It does not matter why you remain on the clock and continue working beyond the standard 40-hour workweek. Pursuant to Section 785.11 of the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, you must receive overtime pay if you stayed on to finish an assigned task, correct errors on already completed tasks, or prepare time reports and other documentation.
If you are staying on voluntarily but your supervisor has not approved the overtime, your employer still has a legal obligation to pay you for the time worked; however, they also have the right to discipline you. At the end of the day, it is up to management to ensure employees leave when their shifts have ended.
If you are not staying on voluntarily but rather you are forced to work overtime in order to complete your job duties, it is up to you to discuss the situation with your supervisor. Depending on the nature of your position, you may be able to send the message that completing all of your required duties without authorized overtime is unreasonable by clocking out once you have worked 40 hours and leaving certain tasks unfinished.
If you complete essential tasks that you cannot leave unfinished, though, you may need to have a talk with management about the company’s expectations. It is unfair and unreasonable for them to demand that you perform more than 40 hours’ worth of work without authorizing you for overtime.
If you worked unauthorized overtime and your employer is refusing to compensate you fairly, contact Moore & Associates. An unpaid overtime lawyer in Houston will help you secure the wages you deserve.
Call 713-581-9001 to schedule a case evaluation. You can learn more about employment law in Texas by visiting the USAttorneys website.
