South Texas workers across the energy, maritime, hospitality, and service sectors often work long hours for wages that fall short of what federal law requires. Understanding your rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the first step to recovering what you are owed. Anderson Alexander PLLC represents workers throughout South Texas in wage and hour disputes, and our attorneys are rated by Super Lawyers.

Federal Minimum Wage and Texas Law

Texas does not set its own minimum wage above the federal floor. The state minimum wage equals the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which has not increased since 2009. This means South Texas workers are entitled to at least $7.25 per hour for every hour worked. Some employees, including tipped workers in the service and hospitality industries, may receive a lower base wage from their employer — but their tips must bring total compensation to at least $7.25 per hour for every shift. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.

Overtime Rules Under the FLSA

Most employees who work more than 40 hours in a workweek are entitled to overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular rate of pay. In South Texas, industries like oil and gas, maritime, trucking, and healthcare often involve irregular schedules, shift work, and pressures to work off the clock. Employers who fail to pay overtime — whether by miscalculating the regular rate, averaging hours across pay periods, or misclassifying employees as exempt — are violating federal law. Common exemptions include executive, administrative, and professional employees, but these exemptions require meeting specific salary and duties tests. Many workers classified as exempt do not actually qualify.

Common Wage Violations in South Texas

Anderson Alexander regularly sees specific patterns of wage theft in South Texas industries. In the oil field, workers are sometimes told that waiting time, travel time between locations, or mandatory safety meetings are not compensable — but under the FLSA, they often are. In maritime and port operations, employers may manipulate schedules to avoid paying overtime. In the service industry, tip pool arrangements are sometimes structured illegally, or managers improperly take a share of tips. Retail and healthcare workers may be asked to clock out but continue working. These practices are illegal, and the FLSA gives workers the right to recover unpaid wages, an equal amount in liquidated damages, and attorney's fees.

How to Calculate What You Are Owed

Calculating a wage claim starts with determining your regular rate of pay for all hours worked, then identifying which workweeks included more than 40 hours. The FLSA allows workers to recover up to two years of back wages — three years in cases of willful violations. If your employer has violated the FLSA, you may be eligible to participate in a collective action lawsuit along with other similarly situated employees, which can be a powerful tool for recovering wages owed to a group of workers. The FLSA specifically protects employees who file complaints or participate in wage investigations from retaliation.

Anderson Alexander Is on Your Side

Both Austin Anderson and Clif Alexander of Anderson Alexander PLLC are rated by Super Lawyers, reflecting their reputation and experience in employment law and complex litigation. Our firm handles wage and hour cases on a contingency fee basis — no fee unless we win. We serve workers in Corpus Christi, McAllen, Laredo, Brownsville, and throughout South Texas.

Call Anderson Alexander for a Free Consultation

If your employer has failed to pay you minimum wage or overtime, you may be entitled to recover back wages plus additional damages under the FLSA. Contact Anderson Alexander PLLC today for a free consultation. Call (361) 452-1279 to speak with a South Texas wage and hour attorney. Anderson Alexander PLLC · 101 N Shoreline Blvd, Suite 420, Corpus Christi TX 78401 · (361) 452-1279