Occidental Owes Mechanical Inspectors Overtime Wages, Suit Says

Occidental Petroleum Corp. allegedly failed to pay overtime premiums to mechanical inspectors who receive day rates and work more than 40 hours per week, a new suit says in federal court in Texas.

Mark Grandstaff and other mechanical inspectors regularly worked more hours than the standard 40, but the oil and gas company paid them a flat rate for each day—not a guaranteed salary—and never provided overtime compensation, according to the complaint he filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Grandstaff often worked more than 12 hours per day for Houston-based Occidental for about five ...