Texas Business Requirements

The Texas state economy is one of the largest in the county, home to six of the top Fortune 500 companies and regionally diversified into different sectors. Texas’ economy is varied and relies heavily on oil and natural gas, fuel processing, biomedical research, agriculture, information technology and manufacturing. Texas requires that employers follow the appropriate business and commercial codes and the laws set forth by the Texas Workforce Commission.

The Texas Governor’s office has started several initiatives to aid businesses in the State. For example, the Small Business Development Center was created to foster the development of entrepreneurs and start-up businesses as they bring new ideas and services to the market and create jobs that help to stimulate the economy. The Texas Economic Development Bank provides funding and tax incentive programs and small business assistance with the goal of expanding business and capital in the state. MyTexasBiz is an online program that makes it easier for people to start businesses.

Once you’ve got a business up and running, you’ll need to make sure that you are in full compliance with all labor laws. All businesses are required to post Texas labor law posters in common employee areas such as break rooms or Human Resource departments. The following posters may need to be displayed:

Texas payday law – This should be filled out by employers and include information on scheduled paydays.

Notification of Ombudsmen Program – All employers who offer worker’s compensation must display this poster, which notifies employees that they are entitled to an Ombudsmen, who can aid in the case of a dispute between insurance carrier and employer’s insurance, should a worker’s compensation claim arise.

Worker’s Compensation - These labor law posters must be posted in English and Spanish.

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act – This notification protects the rights of individuals to leave the workplace (voluntarily or involuntarily) to serve the country.

Fair Labor Standards Act – This is a federal labor law poster that includes information on the federal minimum wage ($7.25), as well as child labor and tip credit.

Employee Polygraph Act – This poster cover the rights of employees to refuse to take a lie detector test, and the fact that they cannot be fired for such refusal.

Family Medical Leave Act – This federal requirement specifies that employers must provide (12) weeks of unpaid leave for personal or immediate family health issues or pregnancy.

There are other labor law posters that may apply, depending on the industry. For example, the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act applies to all farmers, whereas youth labor laws applies to businesses employing students. No matter your business, it’s best to stay on top of current labor laws and check with the Texas Department of Labor to ensure that all paperwork and compliance is in order.