Satellite and cable TV installers are frequently denied their overtime pay; Contact a Houston labor law attorney today to know your FLSA rights

Satellite or cable TV companies hire technicians to make customer service calls. We find that many employers in this industry violate the FLSA and also frequently misclassify their workers as independent contractors. We have found that many cable or satellite companies do not pay technicians standard overtime of time-and-a-half, but instead calculate their own methods of overtime pay.

Violations in this industry include:

• Piece-rate violations
• Independent contractor misclassification
• Failure to pay for drive time between jobs
• Working off the clock without pay

What's more, many field technicians are required to use their own vehicles and tools and work long day shifts, but they are often not reimbursed for gas or travel expenses on their paychecks. As a result, satellite installers and technicians end up paying money out of their own pockets for expenses they are never reimbursed for.

Piece-rate violations

Many times, satellite installers are not paid by the hour, but on a "piece-rate" basis for each job performed. Piece rate violations are common, and although technicians are eligible for overtime under the FLSA for hours worked over 40 in a workweek many company do not pay them overtime. Many satellite companies also frequently violate FLSA requirements for tracking and compensating technicians' hours, including:

• travel time,
• time spent between jobs,
• time spent at a client location,
• overtime compensation in accordance with the FLSA.

Independent contractor misclassification

Another way that cable installation companies attempt to get around paying their installers or technicians overtime is by misclassifying them as "independent contractors" or "1099 employees." This can lead to the employee being cheated out of required minimum wages, overtime pay, health benefits, retirement benefits, FICA taxes, unemployment benefits, and workers' compensation.

We are currently investigating cases in Texas and nationwide against:

• FTS USA
• Buccaneer satelite in Lufkin, Texas
• Buccaneer satellite in Lufkin, Texas
• Unitek USA
• Source Broadband Services
• Wave Comm GR
• Communications Unlimited, Inc
• Groupware, Rudder
• New Vision Telecommunications (NVT)

If you are a satellite or cable tv technician and you believe you have been victim to labor law violations, or if something on your paycheck just doesn't add up, your best recourse is to contact an employment lawyer as soon as possible.

Article: Independent contractors v. Employees under the FLSA.

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.