Federal law generally requires employers in Texas and around the country to pay their employees at least $7.25 per hour, but many produce workers in the Rio Grande Valley are receiving less than half of this amount according to a local advocacy group. Texas Rio Grande...
Wage & Hour Laws
How to pursue a wage and hour violation claim
Most workers in Texas and throughout the country are covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act. The FLSA mandates that workers are paid a minimum wage and receive overtime pay when working more than 40 hours in a week. If an employer fails to abide by these rules, it...
Low-paid workers are often the primary victims of wage theft
It’s been called the crime hardly anyone talks about, and it’s hurting countless workers across America. According to the Economic Policy Institute, more than 2 million people have lost approximately $8 billion in yearly income from wage theft at the hands of...
Overtime exemptions in white-collar work
The general rule for most Texas workers is that hours worked over the regular 40-hour workweek entitle them to overtime compensation. The law exempts some types of workers from this rule and employers do not need to pay them overtime. Both employers and employees can...
Can I pump milk at work?
If you are a mother in Texas who is breastfeeding, you may wonder what your rights are in this area. For example, can you take breaks to express milk? Where can you do so? In general, the answers are positive, and they apply for one year after the birth of the child....
Houston case provides example of wage-and-hour violations
There are a number of regulations in place that are designed to protect workers in the United States. Some of these regulations were put forward with the intent of keeping the workplace safe; others with ensuring workers are fairly compensated. A case out of Houston...
Wages for food service workers in Texas: 3 things to know
The federal minimum wage is only $7.25 and hasn't gone up since 2009. But many state and local laws set higher minimums. What about Texas? If you work in the food service industry, here are three useful things to know about wagen-and-hour laws. Texas laws on minimum...
New overtime rules: Will they still take effect on December 1?
For months, employers have been planning for how to respond to new federal rules on eligibility for overtime pay that are due to take effect on December 1. Under current rules, if you make more than 40 hours per week, your employer might considered you exempt from...
How the new FLSA overtime rule affects higher ed employees
If you have been following recent news about updates to the Fair Labor Standards Act, you know that changes to overtime rules are coming. The new rules increase the rate under which an employee must be paid in order to be eligible for overtime pay. While this is...
New overtime rules: How will they affect the hospitality industry?
The new overtime rules that go into effect on December 1 will affect many different positions in industries of all types. There are, however, some industries that will be affected more than others. These include retail, higher education and the hospitality industry....