HOUSTON, Texas. Back pay is the term used to describe any wages you may be owed by an employer. In some cases, workers are not paid for all the hours they worked. For example, oilfield employers may claim that time spent waiting is not payable, when it often is. Back pay may also be collectable if your employer fired you without due cause or if you were fired in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment. Basically, if you are not being paid for every hour you are working, including payment for overtime, you may be eligible to collect back pay. Employers are required to pay time and a half for overtime worked.
In some cases, employers are investigated by the United States Department of labor for failing to pay wages. Companies might be ordered to pay workers back pay, but not all workers may still work at the company. The United States Department of Labor has a system that allows workers to check to see whether they might be owed back pay. Visit the Workers Owed Wages system today to check and see if you might be owed wages.
How can you collect back pay if you believe you might be owed money for overtime, for hours worked that remain unpaid, or due to wrongful termination? According to the Balance, one way to recover back pay is through a lawsuit or through litigation. If your employer’s wrongdoing was pervasive, you may be able to join a class action lawsuit along with other workers. Moore & Associates are employment lawyers in Houston, Texas who may be able to help you get the back pay you may deserve through a lawsuit. If you must pursue a lawsuit because your employer refuses to honor a demand letter for back pay, you may also be entitled to collect court fees and attorney’s fees if you win your lawsuit.
According to the Balance, there may only be a two-year statute of limitations on back pay, which means that you have two years from the time you were owed back pay to claim the compensation from your employer. However, you may have a longer period of time to collect back pay if your employer willfully and intentionally violated the law.
One way an employee might be able to collect back pay is if he or she faced wrongful termination. If you believed you were fired for reporting sexual harassment or if you believe your employer fired you because you asked for the pay you felt you were entitled to receive, you may have the right to collect back pay.
Moore & Associates are employment lawyers in Houston, Texas who can assist you with your claim if you believe you may be owed back pay. There are a range of strategies we can pursue to help you receive the money you may be owed. Contact us today to learn more and to protect your rights.
Moore & Associates
440 Louisiana Street, Suite 675
Houston, TX 77002
713-581-9001
