If you believe you may be owed unpaid wages and overtime, you may have many questions. The information below is designed to offer you general information about steps you may be able to take to claim unpaid wages and overtime. However, if you have questions about your specific situation, Moore & Associates are unpaid wages and overtime lawyers in Houston, Texas who may be able to help you get the back pay you may deserve.
- When am I entitled to receive overtime pay? With a few exceptions, employees who work longer than a 40-hour workweek are entitled to receive time-and-a-half overtime pay for every hour they work over 40 hours. This means that for every hour you work overtime in a work week, you are entitled to time, plus one half of your regular hourly rate. Employers are not required to count weekends, holidays, or evening work as overtime. However, they are required to calculate your weekly work hours in a consistent manner and pay you for time and half, unless you are an exempted employee. If you have not been paid time and a half for overtime, consider reaching out to Moore & Associates, unpaid wages and overtime lawyers in Houston, Texas today.
- Which workers are exempted from time and a half overtime pay? According to the United States Department of Labor, certain workers are exempt from time and a half pay. These include firefighters, public agency workers, nursing home workers, and managers or other personnel with certain types of special training or managerial skills. Is your employer telling you are exempt from overtime pay? Are you sure you are truly exempt or are you possibly being misclassified? Moore & Associates are unpaid wages and overtime lawyers in Houston, Texas who can look at your situation and help you understand whether you are being properly classified.
- I’m on salary, am I entitled to overtime pay? Unless you are an exempt worker, you may be entitled to overtime pay even if you are a salaried worker. Based on your salary, Moore & Associates can calculate your hourly rate, and calculate the hourly pay you may be entitled to receive for time and a half worked.
- What is considered work time? Sometimes workers are asked to wait off the clock, do paperwork after hours, answer phone calls, or do work during meal breaks. Any work you do should be compensated. Wait time should be compensated. Time you spend training or in safety programs should be compensated in most cases. Contact Moore & Associates today, unpaid wages lawyers in Houston, Texas who can help you seek back pay for unpaid wages.
- What happens if I didn’t keep clear records of the time I was unpaid? Under the law, employers are required to track the time their workers spend on the job. If employers fail to honor this obligation, then the employee can offer his or her good faith estimate of the extra unpaid time he or she worked without compensation. So, if you can reasonably say you were made to wait a half hour every morning without pay, were asked to work for about 15 minutes of your lunch break every day, or were asked to take a few phone calls every week from home, Moore & Associates are unpaid wages attorneys in Houston, Texas who may be able to help you seek the compensation you might be entitled to receive.
- What am I entitled to receive if I wasn’t paid overtime? If your employer failed to pay you the overtime you were owed, you may be entitled to seek double your regular hourly pay for every hour of overtime for which you did not receive compensation (the additional money to time and a half is designed to compensate you for damages resulting from your employer’s failure to meet their obligations). Moore & Associates are Houston, Texas unpaid wages and overtime lawyers who can help you understand what back pay you may be entitled to seek.
- I was classified as an independent contractor; can I receive time and a half? Independent contractors generally set their rate based on a contractual agreement and are generally not entitled to overtime pay unless that is agreed upon in their contract. However, there are instances where workers are misclassified as independent contractors. If this describes your situation, you may be entitled to seek unpaid overtime. Moore & Associates can review your situation and help you understand your rights.
- Was I misclassified as an independent contractor? Independent contractors are generally workers who run their own business, have control over the hours they work, when they complete their work, and have their own equipment. There are standards that must be met when hiring independent contractors. Moore & Associates can look at your contract to determine whether you were properly classified and possibly help you seek back pay if you were misclassified.
- How do I get back pay I might be owed? You can make a complaint with the United States Department of Labor, but you may have to wait until the investigation is completed before you can receive compensation. Some employees choose to sue their employers or former employers for unpaid wages or unpaid overtime. Moore & Associates are unpaid overtime lawyers in Houston, Texas who can walk you through your options.
- What if I suffer retaliation if I ask for back pay? Workers are protected from retaliation from employers for asking for unpaid wages, back pay, or for asserting their rights. If you think you might be fired or might be facing retaliation from your employer, reach out to Moore & Associates, unpaid overtime lawyers in Houston, Texas today.
It has come to light that some workers in the oil industry were not paid the overtime they may have deserved. Other workers were misclassified or were asked to work off the clock. While oilfield workers might have received high salaries and big pay checks, it has come to light that these pay checks could have been even bigger, in some cases. If you believe you may be owed unpaid wages or overtime, speak to Moore & Associates, Houston, Texas unpaid overtime lawyers today. Our firm can help you fight back and seek justice and the money you may deserve.
