HOUSTON, Texas. Texas oil companies operate in states like Wyoming where there may be few protections for workers against retaliation from their employers. In fact, Wyoming is one state where workers are not able to sue their employers for unpaid wages until they no longer work for the company they want to sue. According to the Casper Star Tribune, there is nothing in Wyoming law that protects workers from retaliation when they make claims for unpaid wages. This means that workers can make a complaint and then be fired for doing so and still have no recourse. Wyoming law assumes that workers would quit their jobs if they were not paid properly, but the reality is far more nuanced than that.
For example, a worker might not be paid for things like overtime, or the worker may be asked to work some time off the clock. This, it itself, may not be enough to drive a worker to quit, but it can be enough to leave workers out of thousands of dollars of unpaid wages.
When workers aren’t paid properly, the cost of taking a claim to court can be high. In some cases, workers seek damages for their unpaid overtime and also for their attorneys’ fees.
However, in states where the courts do not always offer protections for workers, workers do have options. For example, the Casper Star Tribune notes that workers have the right to pursue claims in federal court. However, pursuing the case at the federal level can be costly. Generally, these cases tend to be class action lawsuits where a company is being accused of systemically violating the law.
Wyoming Department of Labor also notes that out-of-state workers and employers may be responsible for more of the labor disputes that arise.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workers have the right to seek back pay from employers if they believe that they were unpaid for overtime or other wages. Workers may also be able to pursue a lawsuit against their employers for unpaid overtime and these lawsuits can also include damages for attorney’s fees.
If you believe your employer has denied you overtime and may owe you back pay, it is important that you take steps to protect your rights. You may only have two years to make a claim for unpaid overtime or three years if you can prove that your employer willfully refused to pay overtime. In recent months and years, oilfield workers have been reported as facing many cases of wage violations.
Moore & Associates are oilfield unpaid overtime lawyers in Houston, Texas who work closely with workers who believe they may be owed back pay. Our firm can review your claims and fight to help you get the settlement you may deserve under the law. Visit us at https://www.mooreandassociates.net/ to learn more about your rights and options under the law. We fight to protect worker’s rights.
Moore & Associates
440 Louisiana Street, Suite 675
Houston, TX 77002
713-581-9001
