While the national conversation turns toward labor rights and fair wages, a small business in Cypress, Texas, is drawing outrage for all the wrong reasons. In a Reddit post, video footage and testimony accuse Master Tech Transmissions of denying overtime, underpaying a worker, and retaliating when he asked to be paid what he earned.
The incident revolves around a now-former employee who, according to the post, worked 52 hours a week at $10/hour for six months, without a dime of overtime. Originally hired to clean restrooms, he was allegedly “promoted” to technician in title only: no pay raise, no paperwork, and certainly no bump in treatment. He was also the only non-white employee on staff, and, not coincidentally, the only one being shorted.
A “Promotion” With No Pay, No Dignity, and Roofing Duties?
Beyond the unpaid overtime, the post alleges the worker was instructed to perform personal errands for the business owners, like removing shingles from the owner’s home, during company hours. Still for $10/hour. When he finally confronted them about the missing money, he was allegedly told it was his fault for working more than 40 hours a week.
“They don’t offer overtime,” one of the owners allegedly said, as if labor law was optional in their ZIP code.
After confronting them, the worker was told to stay home. When he returned to collect his final paycheck, he was handed just $72, down from his usual $560 weekly pay, with the owners claiming he owed money for car parts.
“They must really think we’re stupid. “Glad they have time for this f**in sht.”
When his girlfriend came inside to ask for an explanation, the situation exploded. One owner, Tom, allegedly told her to bring back uniforms if she wanted the check. Then the other owner, Patty, reportedly got in her face, unleashed a barrage of profanity, and refused to pay the rest.
Racial Overtones, Labor Violations, and a Predictable Pattern
The Reddit poster claims that racial slurs were routinely used by staff, particularly when customers of color left the shop. Her boyfriend, she says, was the only employee of color and the only one being underpaid, painting a disturbing picture of racially discriminatory labor practices under the guise of small-town business as usual.
“They openly use racial slurs when customers of color leave. My boyfriend was the ONLY worker of color there.”
While some users debated legal specifics, many pointed out the absurdity of calling someone a contractor while making them wear uniforms, work set hours, and follow orders. One commenter laid out the clear standard: If you’re doing roofing jobs during shop hours and wearing their uniform, you’re an employee.
“Unless authorized by a court or contract, Texas law doesn’t allow withholding pay for uniforms. Contractors don’t wear uniforms either.”
Even Reddit’s more skeptical voices couldn’t ignore the inconsistency:
“If he makes $10/hour, and earns $560 a week, that’s clearly more than 40 hours. So either he’s getting paid more than $10, or they owe him back pay for overtime.”
Texas law gives workers up to 180 days to file a wage complaint. Multiple users urged the poster to gather timecards, pay stubs, and any written communication to present a case. Several noted that even a small wage theft case is actionable, especially when combined with potential racial discrimination.
“Labor lawyers would eat this up.”
If the owners of Master Tech Transmissions are more focused on dodging overtime pay than following labor laws, they could soon be forced to justify their practices to the Texas Workforce Commission or in front of a judge.
