Businesses operating in Texas have direct access to one of the largest economies in the country. Texas contains some of the nation's largest companies hiring in the energy, medical and tech sector. Jobs range from the knowledge sector to skilled labor.
That being said, the state employment requirements and the high standards of employees working in Texas can make it challenging to hire an employee in Texas.
To make an effective hire in Texas, follow the guidelines of this post and present new hires with all federally required forms and information.
Evaluate the Job You Are Offering in Texas
To make skilled hires in Texas, you must be sure that the compensation you're offering is appropriate for the area you operate in and the level of experience you want from candidates. This can differ throughout the different cities in Texas.
Along with the actual compensation offered, you should evaluate other job characteristics that talented candidates will be interested in, like:
- The level of autonomy, creative control or budgetary discretion they will have
- Health benefits, retirement, and other business perks
- The tools and resources they will have access to
- Your company's reputation as an employer
You can use Glassdoor Salaries to see the salary range for the position you're offering in your area and ensure that you aren't marketing a job that is impossible to hire.
[Related: 5 Tips for Filling Hard-to-Fill Positions]
Hiring an Employee in Texas
The salary you're offering needs to be appropriate when you're hiring an employee in Texas, but your open job also needs to be marketed in the right way.
People working in some of Texas's most popular industries, such as energy and tech, expect a lot from their employer, and will pass on job opportunities that don't align with their salary expectations or needs.
Many companies hiring in Texas devote much more of their job descriptions to appealing to readers and explaining their company's culture, than enumerating job requirements. When your job advertising speaks to readers at a high level and is more geared toward explaining what your company offers as an employer, it will impress candidates who know they are qualified for your open roles. You can get into more specifics once they have applied, but to get their interest in the first place, it is best to summarize requirements that will be understood by high-level candidates.
To see some examples of how jobs are being marketed in your area, you can search Glassdoor Jobs for the position you're hiring for, and get some ideas for your job description.
Evaluate Candidates in Texas
When evaluating candidates for an open job, it's important to think about fit, both in terms of the work that a candidate will do and in terms of their fit with your company.
No matter how proficient a candidate is at completing the work you need done, they won't be retained in the long term if they don't experience fit with your company or their co-workers. Because of this, candidates should be evaluated for:
- Technical skill to complete work required by the role
- Aspirational fit with work required by the role
- Personality fit with co-workers and direct managers
- Personal and ethical fit with your company
When interviewing candidates, it is important that you do not ask any questions that are considered discriminatory on the basis or race, gender, gender identity, religion, age or other demographic information that is protected by discrimination law.
[Related: 15 Interview Questions to Ensure Candidate Quality]
Comply With Texas State Employment Standards
Texas is generally considered an employer-friendly state, but all employers must comply with these basic standards and regulations. Here are the employment requirements that all employers must meet in Texas when hiring a new employee:
Federal and State Employment Required Posters in Texas
Employers in Texas are required to display both federal and state employment posters:
- Equal Employment Opportunity Act/Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990
- Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)
- Employer's Notification of the Ombudsman Program to Employees (ENOPE)
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Job Safety and Health Protection Posters (OSHA)
- Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA)
- Texas Payday Law (English or Spanish)
- Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
- Workers Compensation Posters (English or Spanish)
- Notice No. 5
- Notice No. 6
Employees in Texas must be presented with the following forms and informational pamphlets as they undergo new hire orientation. Forms must be filled out completely, unless these forms are specific claims and informational resources must be read completely by new employees:
- I-9, Employment Eligibility Form
- W-4, Federal Tax Withholding Form
- DWC 1, Workers Compensation Claim Form (for future reference)
- Disability Self-Identification Form (if business is done with government)
- Notice of Workers Compensation Coverage Form
- Consent for Background Check Form ( if you plan on doing one)
Employers must also follow all requirements of Texas's New Hire Reporting Program. The following information must be included in the report of new hires:
1. Company name
2. Company address
3. Company federal tax ID number
4. Employee's name
5. Employee's social security number
6. Employee's address
7. First day of paid work
- Employers must deposit and report federal employment taxes to the IRS by following IRS procedures for payroll reporting and payment
- Follow all Texas EEO standards during the hiring process
Optional Documents and Paperwork for New Hires in Texas
- Acknowledgment of the Employee Handbook
- Consent for Alcohol and Drug Testing Form
- Video Surveillance Policy Form (if your company conducts video surveillance)
- Wage Agreement Form
- Pay Deduction Form
New Hire Checklist and Reporting Texas
There's a lot to keep track of when making a new hire in Texas, so you can use this checklist to help you as you hire new employees.
Required Employment Forms in Texas
The new hire has signed the following forms:
1. Signed Job Offer Letter
2. W2 Tax Form
3. I-9 Form and Supporting Documents
4. Direct Deposit Authorization Form (Template)
6. Employee Personal Data Form (Template)
7. Company Worker's Compensation Insurance Policy Forms
8. Company Health Insurance Policy Forms
9. Disability Self-Identification Form (if business is done with government)
10. Company Non-Disclosure Agreement (if applicable)
Texas Payroll Tax and Reporting Requirements
- Report new employees within 20 days of start of their work date with a Report of New Employee(s)
- Deposit and report federal employment taxes to the IRS by following IRS procedures for payroll reporting and payment
You should also check with your city and country to see if they have any other requirements for the hiring of new employees and any employment standards in addition to the statewide requirements.
