Offshore Drilling Employee Sues Exxon Mobil Over Alleged Wage Violations

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Exxon Mobil Corporation is facing a proposed class action that was recently removed from state to federal court and alleges violations of California labor law. The plaintiff in the case claims he worked as an operator for the defendant’s offshore drilling operation off the California coast. The plaintiffs and others allegedly performed their work in “hitches” – multiple-day shifts spent on oil platforms or traveling between them – and would be transported by boat or helicopter to their designated platforms. For the entirety of each hitch, employees were paid an hourly wage for 12 hours each day, according to the complaint.

The suit argues that under California law, “hours worked” is defined as “the time during which an employee is subject to the control of an employer,” including time that the employee is not required to perform his or her specific job duties. The complaint claims the plaintiff and others were under the defendant’s control for the entire duration of each hitch – as they were confined to offshore oil platforms and remained on call – and should have been paid for each hour they spent at their workplace.

The case further argues that employees were not paid an extra hour’s wages for each meal and rest break they spent on duty and were denied accurate paystubs that reflected their hours and wages.