Houston Wage and Hour Lawyer
Do you suspect that your Houston employer has withheld pay, wages, benefits, or other compensation from you? That could be a violation of federal and state law.
Contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers to find out how our Houston wage and hour lawyers can help you fight to hold your employer accountable and recover the compensation you’re owed.
Wage and hour disputes can be confusing and overwhelming. You probably have a ton of questions. That’s why we offer a free initial case evaluation.
This way, you have the opportunity to sit down and tell your side of the story to an attorney with decades of experience handling wage and hour cases like yours. Contact our law office, give us a call today at (713) 500-5000 and speak with one of our lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers.
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How Can Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers Help If I Have a Wage and Hour Dispute?
There are state and federal laws in place to protect employees from unfair wage practices. Under the law, employers not only have to treat employees with respect, but also pay a fair and agreed-upon wage.
Additionally, employers have to satisfy certain mandatory conditions – such as issuing overtime pay and keeping meticulous records.
However, not all employers follow the law. Why? Your employer is in the business of making money. The more you work and the less they pay, the more money they can pocket. So, some employers engage in practices that violate wage and hour regulations.
When you catch on, they hope that you’ll be too scared to say anything for fear of losing your job, or that their word will carry more weight than yours.
You can strip your employer of any advantage or edge they might have had by hiring the experienced lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers. Our team knows how devastating a wage and hour violation can be. You rely on your paycheck to make ends meet.
If you’re paid less than you’ve earned and are rightfully owed, it can have catastrophic ripple effects throughout your life. You might find that you’re unable to purchase necessities and take care of your day-to-day expenses, putting both you and your family in harm’s way. If this has happened because of your employer’s unlawful behavior, we won’t let that stand.
Our attorneys are prepared to stand up to your employer, hold them accountable under the law, and force them to take responsibility for their actions.
We’ll aggressively pursue all of the wages and benefits you’ve been deprived of, as well as damages for the harm they’ve caused.
Give us a call today to learn more. Our compassionate team is ready to get started when you are.
Common Wage and Hour Violations in Houston, TX
How can you know if you’ve been the victim of a wage and hour violation in Houston? You might want to consider a claim if:
- You haven’t been compensated for overtime work
- Your overtime pay has been calculated incorrectly
- You haven’t been paid a minimum wage
- You haven’t been paid at all
- You didn’t receive the correct amount of pay when you were terminated or stopped working for the employer
- You’ve been misclassified as an independent contractor
- You’ve been denied overtime pay simply because you’re a salaried employee
- Your paycheck has been docked because of the quality or quantity of your work
- You were paid less as a result of tip pooling
- You didn’t receive proper shift-differential compensation, or
- You did not receive bonuses or commissions you earned.
It’s important to note that wage and hour law is complicated. Many times, an employer’s obligations depend on whether an employee is classified as “exempt” or “non-exempt” under the law.
So, requirements can vary from one employee to another. The only way to know whether your employer has violated wage and hour law in regard to you is by enlisting the help of an experienced attorney.
How Common Are Wage and Hour Violations in Texas?
There are tons of allegations of wage and hour violations in the state of Texas. Since 1984, Fair Labor and Standards Act (FLSA) violations have cost employers in Texas more than $316 million.
That breaks down to roughly $10,387 per employer accused of a violation. Based on cost-per-employer, Texas ranks fifth in the nation, behind only Arkansas, Arizona, Massachusetts, and New York.
Which Employees Tend to Suffer From FLSA Wage and Hour Violation Claims?
All employers – private and public – have to treat employees with respect and pay a fair wage. So, no matter what industry you work in, you have rights. However, employees in certain industries tend to suffer wage and hour violations more than others. These include:
- Restaurant workers
- Hotel workers
- Health care workers
- Factory workers
- IT workers
- Oil and gas workers
- Retail workers
- Sales representatives
- Sanitation workers, and
- Truck drivers.
Have you experienced a wage and hour violation at work in Houston, Texas? If so, contact our skilled attorneys for immediate assistance. Your initial case evaluation is 100 percent free.
What Damages Can I Recover If I File a Wage and Hour Claim?
The fact that your employer has made a wage and hour violation is unacceptable. Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers is prepared to work tirelessly to hold them legally and financially accountable. Our law firm will aggressively pursue damages for all of the violations you’ve experienced.
Damages that you might be entitled to recover include:
Unpaid Minimum Wage: The federal minimum wage is $7.25. Unlike many others, Texas hasn’t volunteered to increase that at the state level. So, when you work in Texas, you must be paid at least $7.25 an hour. If you’re a restaurant worker, you can be paid a lower hourly rate but must make up the difference in tips. If you’ve been paid less than the minimum wage, our lawyers will work to obtain compensation for the difference. We’ll determine the difference between your wage and the minimum wage, and then multiply that against the number of hours you’ve worked at a substandard rate.
Underpaid or Unpaid Wages: Employers have to keep meticulous employee records. If there’s a problem with the books, you might receive less money than you’re owed or no money, at all. Our lawyers will calculate the amount you’ve been underpaid and fight to get it in your hands.
Unpaid or Miscalculated Overtime Wages: When you work overtime, you can be entitled to additional pay. Some employers fudge the numbers on purpose to limit the amount of overtime they have to pay. Others simply have incredibly poor records, and things get lost in translation. Either way, our lawyers will aggressively pursue any overtime wages you have not received.
Compensation For Breaks: Neither federal law nor Texas state law requires employers to give employees breaks during the workday. However, some employers offer breaks as a perk or incentive, anyway. If your employer offers a break, anything under 20 minutes must be paid. We can seek compensation for wages you should have been paid during a short break. Additionally, if you were forced to work on a longer break, we can seek money on your behalf. If you’re working, you’re on company time. So, you should be paid accordingly.
Lost Benefits: Our attorneys will also pursue other types of compensation that you’ve been deprived of unlawfully, such as commissions or bonuses.
Liquidated Damages: Finally, when you are the victim of a wage and hour violation, you can recover liquidated damages. These are essentially awards paid on top of the money and benefits you didn’t receive. In Texas, liquidated damages can equal 100 percent of your unpaid wages. So, if you weren’t paid $1,000, your liquidated damages about equal $2,000. You’d then be entitled to $3,000 at the end of the day.
Our team will also pursue court costs and attorneys’ fees on your behalf, which are available in certain cases.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wage and Hour Violation Complaint in Texas?
Wage and hour violations are handled by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). To initiate an action, you’ll have to submit a wage claim no later than 180 days after you were supposed to be paid.
You can also seek compensation by filing a lawsuit against your employer. The statute of limitations for wage and hour lawsuits is two years.
Do not wait too long to file your wage or overtime claim or lawsuit. If you hesitate and let too much time go by, you will lose the right to recover the money you deserve.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Houston Wage and Hour Lawyers
Have you been the victim of a wage and hour issue in Houston, Texas?
If so, contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers for immediate legal advice and assistance. Our Houston wage and hour attorneys can help you fight to recover the compensation you’re owed. Your first consultation is free, so give us a call or connect with us online now.
