Moore & Associates are Houston, Texas employment lawyers who assist oilfield workers who have been denied fair wages, who are owed unpaid wages, or who may have been denied benefits. How do you know if you have been underpaid or denied wages? Here are three tactics the oilfield industry has been known to use to deny workers their wages:
- Full-Time Workers Misclassified as Independent Contractors. One way that the oilfield industry cuts corners and denies oilfield workers overtime pay is by classifying workers as independent contractors. Misclassifying certain workers as independent contractors can have certain benefits to the companies doing the misclassification. For one, the companies don’t have to provide benefits such as health insurance or worker’s compensation for independent contractors. Employers also don’t have to pay employment taxes for these workers (the workers have to pay these taxes themselves). Another issue is that workers may not be compensated if they work overtime. When a worker is an independent contractor, they are permitted to set their own hours and rates. However, the oil industry may abuse this by telling workers what rates they will pay and by requiring workers to put in overtime without compensating them for the overtime hours they work. Full-time workers in most industries are entitled to receive time and a half overtime pay for every hour of work they put in above and beyond a 40-hour workweek. If you were classified as an independent contractor, were asked to work more than 40 hours a week, and believe you may have been misclassified, you may have the right to seek unpaid wages, back pay, and overtime wages. Moore & Associates are oilfield unpaid overtime lawyers who help individuals who have suffered wage violations in the oil industry in Houston, Texas.
- Paying Workers Daily Rates Rather Than By the Hour. If you worked for an oilfield company that paid you a daily rate, rather than an hourly rate, you may have a wage violation case against the company. Many oilfield workers have been denied overtime wages because oil companies chose to pay them a daily rate rather than an hourly rate. If you are an employee, you are entitled to receive overtime pay for every hour you put in over a 40-hour workweek. Daily rate employees are still protected under overtime pay laws.
- Paying Workers Per Piece Rates Rather Than Hourly Rates. If you were paid by the job, or otherwise worked long workweeks and weren’t compensated for your overtime pay, you may be entitled to seek unpaid overtime wages. Some oil companies paid workers by the job, not compensating them for overtime if a job took longer to complete. If you believe you may have been denied overtime pay, Moore & Associates are unpaid oilfield lawyers in Houston, Texas who may be able to help you.
These are just some of the ways that oilfield workers have been denied wages or have been denied overtime pay. Some of these accounting methods have also denied workers access to worker’s compensation and access to health benefits. All of these losses can be financially devastating to workers. If you believe you have been denied overtime pay or have been misclassified by your employer, contact Moore & Associates, unpaid oilfield lawyers in Houston, Texas today.
Payment for Medical Expenses and Other Losses Following Misclassification
If you have been misclassified as an independent contractor, the consequences can be far greater than unpaid wages and lost income. The oilfield can be a dangerous work environment. If you were hurt on the job, you could find yourself disabled, facing high medical bills, and unable to make ends meet. When oilfield workers are properly classified as employees, they have access to worker’s compensation, which can cover medical bills, compensate them for lost wages, and assist them with work re-training, if needed. However, if you were misclassified as an independent contractor, you may not have had access to worker’s compensation benefits. You may have had to shoulder medical expenses out of pocket, may have struggled with lost wages without any kind of compensation, and may be struggling to find new work if you have been seriously injured or disabled. Moore & Associates are employment lawyers in Houston, Texas who may be able to assist you with making a claim for unpaid worker’s compensation claims. Contact our lawyers today to learn more and to protect your rights.
Seek Justice Today
When oil companies take advantage of workers and deny them their rights, everyone suffers. If you believe you may be owed backpay, or unpaid wages, or believe your employer may have misclassified you, you may have the right to seek unpaid wages. Contact Moore & Associates, employment lawyers in Houston, Texas today to learn more about how we may be able to help you.
