TCA § 50-2-104 — Misrepresenting wages in new employment

Any employer who misrepresents to any employee the amount of wages that the employee is to receive on entering into a new contract of employment commits a Class C misdemeanor. Further, any employer who misrepresents to any employee the amount of wages that the employee is to receive on entering into a new contract of employment shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) at the discretion of the commissioner or the commissioner's designated representative. If the commissioner or the commissioner's designated representative determines that the violation was unintentional, there shall be a warning, in lieu of a penalty, on the first offense. On second or subsequent violations, the civil penalty is applicable and may be assessed at the discretion of the commissioner, or the commissioner's designated representative. It shall be at the sole discretion of the commissioner to elect to proceed either civilly or criminally upon any violation of this part; however, the employer shall not be charged both civilly and criminally for the same violation.