Tex. Codes » Labor Code · TITLE 2. PROTECTION OF LABORERS · SUBTITLE C. WAGES · CHAPTER 61. PAYMENT OF WAGES
Texas Codes

Tex. Lab. Code § 61.053 (2026)

Bad Faith; Administrative Penalty

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 61.053. BAD FAITH; ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. (a) If the commission examiner, a wage claim appeal tribunal, or the commission determines that an employer acted in bad faith in not paying wages as required by this chapter, the examiner, tribunal, or commission, in addition to ordering the payment of the wages, may assess an administrative penalty against the employer.

(b) If the commission examiner, a wage claim appeal tribunal, or the commission determines an employee acted in bad faith in bringing a wage claim, the examiner, tribunal, or commission may assess an administrative penalty against the employee.

(c) An administrative penalty assessed under this section may not exceed the lesser of:

(1) the amount of the wages in question or claimed; or

(2) $1,000.

(d) In determining the amount of an administrative penalty assessed under this section, the commission examiner, a wage claim appeal tribunal, or the commission shall consider:

(1) the seriousness of the violation;

(2) the history of previous violations;

(3) the amount necessary to deter a future violation; and

(4) any other appropriate matter, including mitigating circumstances.

Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 378 (S.B. 1408), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2005.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2002–2025 · leading case: Abatement Inc. v. Williams, 324 S.W.3d 858 (Tex. App. 2010).
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Abatement Inc. v. Williams, 324 S.W.3d 858 (Tex. App. 2010). “Compare Tex. Lab.Code Ann. § 61.051(c), with Tex.”
Swanson v. Image Bank, Inc., 43 P.3d 174 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2002). “” Tex. Lab. Code Ann. § 61.053 (West 2001).”
Terry v. Chi. Bridge & Iron Co., 283 F. Supp. 3d 601 (S.D. Tex. 2017). “See Tex. Lab. Code § 61.053. Thus, the fact that the TWC did not impose an administrative penalty on Defendant CBI Services, Inc.”
Six Bros. Concrete Pumping, LLC v. Texas Workforce Comm'n & Martin Tomczak (Tex. 2025). “See Tex. Lab. Code § 61.053(a) (permitting penalties where “the commission determines that an employer acted in bad faith in not paying wages”).”
— Tex. Lab. Code § 61.053(a) — 1 case
Six Bros. Concrete Pumping, LLC v. Texas Workforce Comm'n & Martin Tomczak (Tex. 2025). “See Tex. Lab. Code § 61.053(a) (permitting penalties where “the commission determines that an employer acted in bad faith in not paying wages”).”
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