Engineers for Oil & Gas Industry Win Collective Action Status for Unpaid Overtime

Engineers for MBI Energy Services (“MBI Energy”) filed a collective action lawsuit for wage and hour violations early last year and it continues to move forward successfully. MBI Energy provides well completion services throughout the United States, including in regions of North Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming. This lawsuit seeks to recover overtime compensation for salaried wireline engineers and all other similarly situated workers who work or have worked for MBI Energy Services, Inc., Missouri Basin Well Service, Inc., and High Plains Inc. in the United States.

On February 25, 2020, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado granted the workers’ Motion for Conditional Certification. In doing so, the Court has allowed company-wide notice to all Wireline Engineers who have worked for MBI Energy in the last three years. These employees will be able to join the case and seek their unpaid wages.

The lawsuit alleges that employees were wrongfully denied overtime compensation at 1.5 times their regular rate of pay, which includes all total earnings per workweek, for all hours worked beyond 40 per workweek. Specifically, the Plaintiff alleges, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, that MBI Energy improperly classified affected employees as exempt from overtime despite their non-exempt job duties. As a result, MBI Energy has failed to pay non-exempt Wireline Engineers for hours worked beyond 40 per workweek.

Due to the motion being granted, many hardworking workers will now be informed of their rights and will be given proper information about their options in potentially recovering their owed wages. If you or anyone you know has worked at MBI Energy and was improperly classified as exempt from overtime, call Fitapelli & Schaffer for a free and confidential consultation with one our available representatives. You can reach us at (212) 300-0375 or visit our website for more information.

You may also view the granted motion here.