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Common Ways Houston Paralegals Miss Out on Overtime Pay

Most employees have experienced the stress that comes along with trying to complete all of their work by the end of the day. Eight hours tends to fly by, especially if you are struggling to keep up with the work that just does not seem to end. One moment you are arriving to the office, and the next time you look up, it’s time to leave.

The legal industry is no exception, especially for Houston paralegals. Paralegals often take their work home with them, to help move along cases that are typically held to strict deadlines.

But what constitutes working from home? Some employers are OK with paralegals bringing files home for review, and accept the hours that the paralegal may submit for overtime. Others are not so open to working outside the typical hours of nine to five. Regardless of how your employer feels about paying the overtime, if he or she requires you to complete the work, then you are entitled to payment.

Here are some common examples of “working from home” that many paralegals fail to realize is time that they should be paid for:

• Answering your boss’s work-related emails. 
• Making any type of phone calls related to a case. 
• Visiting the homes of clients for the purpose of obtaining signatures or providing information pertinent to their case. 
• Traveling to the courthouse to file motions or other legal documents. 
• During trips to the store to purchase supplies for trials (i.e. materials to present evidence)
• Time spent ordering supplies for the office, including time spent shopping on sites like OfficeMax.com.

Don’t let the hard work and overtime you perform as a Houston paralegal go unpaid just because you didn’t complete it at your desk. Contact the Houston fair overtime lawyers at Kennedy Hodges at 888.449.2068 for guidance on your rights under the FLSA in Texas, and how it affects your paycheck each pay period.