Back to Texas Overtime and Labor Laws Page

What Can the Texas Department of Labor Provide for You?

Work 40+ Hours Per Week?
Not Paid Overtime?
Find out if you are owed back overtime pay now.
Get Your Free Case Review
No wage theft

What Does the Texas Department of Labor Provide?

The Texas Department of Labor provides unemployment and employment resources for Texas residents, as well as business and labor information and services. The laws set in place by the Texas Department of Labor cover everything from child labor laws to unemployment services.

For Employers

The Texas Department of Labor laws are of vital importance to employers, if an employer fails to follow the labor laws, whether knowingly or unknowingly, it could mean stiff penalties for the company. 

For Employees

The Texas Department of Labor laws are also of extreme importance to employees.  The services they provide to those who are employed and unemployed are invaluable. Texas Department of Labor laws unemployment services include:

  • filing a new claim for unemployment benefits,
  • And filing for weekly unemployment benefits.

Resources include:

  • unemployment information,
  • workforce development,
  • Welfare-to-work,
  • wage and hour laws,
  • and other employment information.
  • They also provide the employment and safety posters that employers are required to display to all employees. 

Other Areas the Texas Department of Labor covers include:


Labor Laws


Employee Rights


Payday Laws


Minimum Wage Act


Filing a Claim

Labor Laws in Texas

The Texas Department of Labor laws include:

  • Overtime provisions
  • The Texas Payday law
  • Child Labor laws
  • Minimum wage laws

Many of these laws strictly follow the federal statutes put in place by the department of labor.  For instance, the laws in Texas regarding overtime follow the federal statutes to the letter; however, the Texas Payday law was passed and implemented at the state level.

Protecting Employee Rights

The Texas Department of Labor Laws sets out rules and regulations to protect employee rights. Some of the areas covered by the Texas Labor Code include employment:

  • Discrimination
  • Employment of children
  • Wages
  • Staff leasing services—meaning temporary employee services
  • Employee benefits

Texas Payday Law

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, all business entities except public employers are covered by Texas Payday Law.

Texas Payday Law sets out how frequently employees must be paid, how an employee can be paid and when an employer can legally take deductions from an employee’s wages. Texas Payday Law requires that employers pay their employees in full, on time and on regularly-scheduled paydays.

Texas Minimum Wage Act

The Texas Minimum Wage Act sets out minimum wage guidelines for non-exempt employees. Furthermore, it requires non-exempt employees to be given a written earnings statement concerning their pay and provides civil remedies in the event that the Minimum Wage Act is violated.

As of July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage increased to $7.25 an hour.

Filing a Claim Against an Employer

The Texas Department of Labor laws also provide employees with information on how to file a claim against an employer who they believe is treating them unfairly and not following the labor laws.   While the Department of Labor can help an employee file a claim against their employer, it is recommended that employees retain a lawyer to help them with their claim.

Have your own questions?

Contact us and we can give you more information and review your specific circumstances. You can submit your information using the convenient case-evaluation-form, send an email or call Michael Lore.


Fill Out a Case Form

Michael Lore is the founder of The Lore Law Firm. For over 25 years, his law practice and experience extend from representing individuals in all aspects of labor & employment law, with a concentration in class and collective actions seeking to recover unpaid back overtime wages, to matters involving executive severance negotiations, non-compete provisions and serious personal injury (work and non-work related). He has handled matters both in the state and federal courts nationwide as well as via related administrative agencies. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Michael by using our chat functionality.