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.
