Most Hotel Employees Entitled to Overtime Pay

Since many hotels and motels are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it is not uncommon for employees of these types of establishments to work more than 40 hours in a normal workweek.

This is why the Texas overtime lawyers at Kennedy Hodges want to remind hotel and motel employees to consult the Fair Labor Standards Act for whether or not they are entitled to overtime, instead of just taking an employer's word for it.

Hotel workers are protected under the FLSA, as long as the company generates sales of $500,000 or more from one or more establishments and there are at least two employees engaging in interstate commerce. Interstate commerce can include using U.S. mail to conduct business, shipping or receiving packages from out of state, or making credit card transactions.

Other standards set by the FLSA regarding hotel employees include the right to minimum wage, the issue of receiving tips, and the cost of uniforms.

If a hotel employee is nonexempt and thus entitled to overtime, he or she is also entitled to an hourly minimum wage of $7.25. If the employee regularly receives more than $30 in tips each month, then tips may be included in the individual's wages, but the employer must pay the employee at least $2.13 per hour. The employer also must make sure that the $2.13 plus the amount of tips equals or exceeds the federal minimum wage of $7.25. If it doesn't, then it is the responsibility of the employer to make up the difference.

Also, if the hotel requires a uniform, which is often the case for the housekeeping and maintenance staff, then the cost of such a uniform can only be deducted from pay if that does not cause the employee's hourly wages to drop below the federal minimum wage.

Hotel employees who are minors also have rights under the FLSA; those under 20 years old must be paid at least $4.25 as a minimum hourly wage during the first 90 consecutive days of employment. It is important to note, however, that it is illegal to replace a hotel employee with one who is under 20 of age in order to save the $3.00 per hour on payroll.

If you feel that you are being unfairly treated as a hotel employee, you need to know that you are not alone and that you should seek help immediately.

Let the Houston overtime lawyers at Kennedy Hodges help you get back the pay that you deserve. You also can order a free copy of Ten Biggest Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Wage and Overtime Claim by calling 888.449.2068. Or fill out this online form to schedule your free case evaluation today.

The Texas overtime lawyers at Kennedy Hodges represent workers nationwide and across Texas in:
Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Pasadena, Laredo, Sugar Land, Lubbock, Illinios, New York, Massachusetts, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Jose, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Columbus, Charlotte, Detroit, and more.