Lisa Law View

The state of Texas recovered $9.9 million in unpaid wages on behalf of workers in 2006 and 2007.

The Texas Workforce Commission collected the back wages through its enforcement of the Texas Payday Law, which requires private employers to provide workers with earned compensation in a timely manner.

"Texans who have not been paid for work have a true resource in the Texas Workforce Commission," says Larry Temple, executive director of the Texas Workforce Commission. "Services from our Labor Law Section are at no-cost to the worker, and we work aggressively to collect unpaid wages once we determine wages are due."

Texas Workforce Commission Labor Law investigators annually conduct more than 15,000 wage claim investigations across the state.

TWC also makes presentations to employer organizations, education service centers and workforce boards to educate the public about the Texas Payday Law, the Texas Child Labor Law and the Texas Minimum Wage Act.

Labels: Texas Compensation Law

In Texas, workers’ compensation is not a mandatory state program that requires business employers to have insurance policies covering employees for job-related injuries.

However, employers who choose not to accept the provisions of this program will lose the right to assert certain defenses if they are accused. So, employers must give notice to their employees whether they are covered by workers’ compensation insurance.

Texas is the only state in which the employer may optionally purchase workers’ compensation insurance. Employers may choose between providing worker’s compensation coverage, or being subject to a civil suit in the case of worker injury. Worker's compensation insurance may be provided by a private insurance carrier, a competitive state fund, or the business employers may self-insure. In any case, the Texas Workers Compensation law will protect injured workers from any unlawful acts by their employers following an injury.

Labels: Texas Compensation Law