In 2016, Helix Energy Solutions Group paid a tool pusher named Michael Hewitt more than $200,000 to oversee the drill and deck crews and the subsea department on an oil rig. Mr. Hewitt put in many overtime hours during the course of his employment at Helix and believed he was owed overtime pay, but his employer claimed he was exempt from overtime because of how highly compensated he was. In a ruling that is sure to send shockwaves through the energy industry, the 5th U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the employee. The dissenting judges, and Helix’s legal team, argued that Hewitt was perf ..read more

In 2016, Helix Energy Solutions Group paid a tool pusher named Michael Hewitt more than $200,000 to oversee the drill and deck crews and the subsea department on an oil rig. Mr. Hewitt put in many overtime hours during the course of his employment at Helix and believed he was owed overtime pay, but his employer claimed he was exempt from overtime because of how highly compensated he was. In a ruling that is sure to send shockwaves through the energy industry, the 5th U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the employee. The dissenting judges, and Hewitt’s legal team, argued that Hewitt was per ..read more

Whether you are a hiring manager or an employee, you have likely seen at least one Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. After all, most U.S. employers have a legal obligation to verify all new hires’ identities and work eligibility within the first three days of employment. When completing the first section of the I-9, employees must designate whether they are U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, or other individuals with valid work authorization. They must also provide documents from the I-9’s List of Acceptable Documents that prove they are who they say they are and have the a ..read more

The obvious types of discrimination that workers faced in previous decades are, thankfully, not as common as they once were. You’re not going to apply for a job and be told you can’t get it because of your race — at least, not outside of the most extreme situations. Most companies fully understand how they’re expected to treat workers and they do so. However, that does not mean that you won’t face discrimination in other ways while you’re on the job. The issue could just be the constant presence of microaggressions. What are microaggressions? Overall, a microaggression is something that may ap ..read more

If you are someone who struggles with debilitating migraines, you’re not alone. There are millions of people who deal with migraines and their triggers each and every day. Many of them work full-time jobs, but triggers there could lead to serious headaches, time off work and a loss of productivity. Employees with migraines may be protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act if their episodes are completely debilitating to the point of being unable to work. In those cases, it may be time to ask an employer for reasonable accommodations to help avoid the triggers that affect them in the work ..read more

Even though your employer has the legal right to terminate your employment at any time, this doesn’t mean they can violate the law while doing so. Should that happen, you may be able to take action on the grounds that you were wrongfully terminated. There are a variety of reasons for wrongful termination, including the following: Discrimination: This comes in many forms, including but not limited to national origin, age, gender, color, race and age. Retaliation: For example, your employer could retaliate against you for filing a workers’ compensation claim or whistleblower claim. There are fed ..read more

A workplace injury can mean going weeks without income and needing medical care and rest to recover. If you hurt your hands, arms, legs, back or shoulders, you may have a hard time performing the job that your employer pays you to do, which means time off of work in many cases. Workers’ compensation benefits will replace a portion of your wages during your recovery, but they can leave a significant gap in your budget. Being able to go back to work, even while you’re still healing, can be beneficial financially. In order to make that happen, you may need to request accommodations from your empl ..read more

The whole point of having a job is to work and earn money. Your employer likely relies on you and expects a good attendance record, but sometimes life puts you in a position where you need time away from work. You may come down with an illness or suffer an injury that requires rest as part of your recovery. You could find yourself on the verge of welcoming a new member to your family. You might even have to provide recovery care for a loved one after their surgery or a car crash. While it is sometimes inconvenient for employers to accommodate the needs of their employees for extended time off ..read more

Imagine a situation in which you suffer a serious injury on the job. Not only does this result in health concerns and a potentially long recovery process, but it could also have an impact on your personal finances. Fortunately, you come to find that you’re eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits until you can return to work. While you’re 100% entitled to these benefits, it’s possible that your employer may not agree with your decision. There are many reasons for this, including the fact that filing a claim will cost them more money in insurance premiums over the long run. Your emplo ..read more

Just because you’re terminated from your position doesn’t necessarily mean your employer violated the law and/or your employment contract. However, if you have reason to believe this is the case, it’s critical to dig around for additional information to back up your claim. There are many steps to take as the victim of wrongful termination, with these helping to guide you through the process of protecting your legal rights: Keep your cool: Regardless of how you learn about your termination, take a deep breath, think things through and don’t make any rash decisions. For example, if your supervis ..read more