Tips For Protecting Your Paycheck as a Houston Plumber

But as FLSA and fair wage lawyers, we often come across situations where plumbers are not paid fair overtime and end up seeking the help of our attorneys after they have missed out on hundreds of dollars in wages.

How plumbers can help protect their paychecks and ensure that their compensation is what it should be:

• Know how overtime is calculated for commissioned employees. Many companies fail to calculate overtime properly, and it stems from miscalculating the regular rate of pay. The regular rate of pay is the normal hourly rate PLUS any commissions earn that week, divided by 40 hours. Make sure that your employer is factoring in your commissions earned, so that the when they go to multiply the number by 1.5 for overtime, it is at the correct, often higher rate. 
• Make sure that piece-rate work is calculated properly. If you are a piece-rate worker, or you are paid for each job you complete, your overtime pay would be calculated much like it is in the scenario above. All of your piece-rate earnings plus your straight wage should be factored in before dividing by 40 when calculating your rate of pay. Only then can the employer multiply by 1.5 to find your overtime rate. 
• Know what you should be paid for. Some employers try to convince plumbers that they are not entitled to be paid for the time it takes to travel to and from work sites, training that they are required to take, meetings that they must attend, or the work that they perform over their lunch break. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, plumbers are entitled to compensation for all of the previously mentioned situations, and they should always make sure that their paychecks reflect this.

Want more information on Texas wage claims or more tips on how to protect your paycheck? Contact the Texas fair overtime attorneys at Kennedy Hodges, LLP for your FREE copy of The Ten Biggest Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Wage and Overtime Claim by calling 888.449.2068. Or fill out our online form to schedule your free case evaluation.