Houston Minimum Wage Dispute Lawyer

The Fair Labor Standards Act established the minimum wage to protect workers. States have the power to mandate a higher minimum wage, but not a lower one. Texas uses the federal minimum wage, which was raised to $6.55 per hour in July 2008 and is set to be raised to $7.25 in 2009. The number has changed repeatedly since the Act was passed, but the principle has remained: employers must pay their workers at least the minimum wage and employees cannot offer their services at a lower rate to undercut competition.

If your employer has underpaid you, then you are entitled to sue for unpaid income, penalties, interest, and legal fees. Contact the Houston minimum wage dispute lawyers of the Ross Law Group at 713-482-6910 for the experienced representation you need.

Hidden Violations

Due to Texas' proximity to the border and abundance of agricultural jobs, many employers sadly take advantage of eager workers who do not have a firm grasp on the language or the laws. Sometimes, they even threaten to report an employee's friends or relatives to immigration authorities. This intimidation is not the only means by which employers break the law. Even those who understand may be unaware that some employment practices which reduce their pay constitute violations of minimum wage law. The following actions are prohibited:

• Docking pay for the purchase of equipment, uniforms, or repairs if the resulting average pay dips below the minimum
• Compulsory tip-sharing that thrusts an employee's wages below the limit
• Not paying an hourly wage to tip/commission oriented workers

Contact Us

Anyone living on the minimum wage knows that it is barely enough to keep a family afloat. When an employer violates that standard and pays less, it makes the financial life of a worker remarkably difficult. Contact the Houston minimum wage dispute attorneys of the Ross Law Group at 713-482-6910 if you have not been properly compensated for your labor.