Payroll, Deductions & Pay FAQs

Paycheck deductions, compensable time, on-call pay, and the payroll practices that generate the most wage claims in Texas.

Last updated: July 03, 2026 • 20 answers in this category

• Can a Texas employer change an employee pay rate without notice?
• Can a Texas employer collect missed benefit deductions from an employee paycheck?
• Can a Texas employer deduct cash shortages or damages from final pay?
• Can a Texas employer deduct uniforms or equipment from an employee paycheck?
• Do Texas employers have to pay employees for mandatory training time?
• Does a Texas employer have to pay an employee who worked without permission?
• Does a Texas employer have to pay an employee who works through lunch?
• Does a Texas employer have to pay unauthorized overtime?
• What happens when nonprofit staff behavior damages public trust?
• What HR problems arise from mandatory overtime in police, fire, EMS, dispatch, or utilities?
• What HR problems happen when public works or utility employees are on call?
• What HR risks arise when a grant does not cover overtime?
• What HR risks arise when payroll and benefits records do not match?
• What payroll mistakes create the most HR risk for Texas small businesses?
• What should a Texas employer do after underpaying an employee by mistake?
• What should a Texas employer do if an employee says their paycheck is short?
• What should a Texas employer do if benefit deductions were taken incorrectly?
• What should a Texas employer do if payroll deductions were wrong for months?
• When does on-call time have to be paid for Texas employees?
• When does travel time have to be paid for Texas employees?

Curated and reviewed by Dr. Thomas W. Faulkner, DBA, MBA, MSML, SPHR, LSSBB, principal consultant at Faulkner HR Solutions.