Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
The Texas state agency administering employment-related programs including unemployment insurance, the Civil Rights Division (TCHRA enforcement), workforce development, child labor enforcement, and wage claims under the Texas Payday Law. Established in 1995, the TWC consolidates functions previously distributed across multiple state agencies.
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the Texas state agency administering employment-related programs including unemployment insurance, the Civil Rights Division (TCHRA enforcement), workforce development, child labor enforcement, and wage claims under the Texas Payday Law. Established in 1995, the TWC consolidates functions previously distributed across multiple state agencies. The TWC is the principal state-government interface for Texas employers on employment regulation matters.
Unemployment insurance administration
The TWC administers Texas unemployment insurance: (1) employer registration, quarterly UI tax returns; (2) UI tax assessments, based on payroll and experience rating; (3) claim processing; (4) appeals, examiner determination, appeal tribunal, then Commission review, followed by judicial review; (5) employer hearing participation.
Civil Rights Division
The TWC Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD), formerly the Texas Commission on Human Rights, administers TCHRA. The Division receives TCHRA charges, conducts investigations, operates work-share with EEOC (charges filed with either agency typically deemed filed with both), issues right-to-sue letters, and conducts conciliation for reasonable-cause findings. Because Texas has a state agency with authority over the practice, the Title VII charge deadline in Texas is 300 days. The TCHRA deadline is 180 days, or 300 days for a complaint alleging sexual harassment.
Texas Payday Law administration
The TWC administers the Texas Payday Law (Tex. Lab. Code Ch. 61): (1) wage claims, employees can file claims for unpaid wages with TWC; (2) 180-day filing deadline; (3) investigation and determination; (4) appeal procedures; (5) collection. Common claim types: unpaid final wages, commission disputes, vacation/PTO payouts, wage rate disputes.
Workforce development services
The TWC provides workforce development services: (1) WorkInTexas.com, state job search platform; (2) Workforce Solutions, local centers; (3) job training programs, Skills Development Fund, JET grants; (4) employer services, recruitment, hiring assistance, layoff assistance; (5) veteran employment programs; (6) vocational rehabilitation services.
Common employer interactions
Recurring employer-TWC interactions: (1) quarterly UI tax filings and payments; (2) UI claim responses; (3) UI appeals; (4) TCHRA charge responses through Civil Rights Division; (5) Payday Law claim defense; (6) experience rating assessments; (7) workforce development partnerships; (8) occasional audits.
TWC handles unemployment tax and claims, TCHRA complaints and Payday Law wage claims. A wage claim must be filed within 180 days after the wages became due (Tex. Lab. Code § 61.051(c)). A TCHRA complaint must be filed within 180 days, or 300 days for sexual harassment (§ 21.202).