Oil and Gas workers have just received final approval for a $4.4 million settlement resolving claims of unpaid wages in California. ExxonMobil, PBF Energy Ltd. and Torrance Refining Co. LLC will be paying out this compensation after they were accused of not properly providing their workers with break times or paying them for all their hours worked. More than 335 oil and gas workers for these companies stand to benefit from this settlement.
The named plaintiffs in this matter alleged they worked as operators in these refineries and consistently worked long, 12-hour shifts in order to complete and oversee the safety process on site. The sensitive nature of their work forced them to remain alert and available throughout the entirety of their shifts without any designated rest breaks or relief. These companies allegedly failed to provide their workers with total off-duty rest breaks for every four-hour work period as required by law. Additionally, the complaint alleged these refineries broke the law by not paying their workers an extra hour of wages for each day they werent given these off-duty rest breaks. Affected workers in the class can expect to see an average payout of $9,500.
The oil and gas industry is notorious for requiring its workers to work weeks on end in extremely harsh conditions. Despite this, they often fail to pay them properly as required by law. Salaried, day rate, or per diem workers in the industry often do not get overtime pay rates calculated correctly. Additionally, as seen in this matter, break times are not taken seriously and are not paid out if missed. If you work in this industry, it may be worth your time to consult with an employment attorney to see if you may have a claim for owed wages. Fitapelli & Schaffer, LLP offers a free and confidential consultation with one of our attorneys regarding your potential claims. You can reach us at (212) 300-0375 or visit us here for helpful information on your rights.