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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. 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.
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 for Texas businesses 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.
The Texas Department of Labor laws include overtime provisions, the Texas Payday law, Child Labor laws, as well as 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.
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—and employee benefits.
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.
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.
The Texas Department of Labor laws follow the federal regulations on overtime set by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Under the FLSA, some workers can be exempted from overtime pay, however, those workers must fit the criteria the FLSA sets out for exemption. For those employees who are not exempt, overtime pay should be one and one half times the amount of an employee’s regular pay. Texas laws also apply to employment subject to the FLSA. In cases where both the FLSA and state law apply, the law setting the higher standards and most favorable to the employee must be observed.
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 questions about your own situation? Contact us and we can give you more information and review your specific circumstances. You can also submit your information using our convenient case-evaluation-form by clicking the button below, or call 866-559-0400.
