Ohio’s labor laws are meant to protect workers while balancing the rights of employers. Both sides need to have a clear understanding of what’s allowed and what’s not for harmonious relationships in the workplace to exist.
With that in mind, the employee law experts at Dooley Gembala McLaughlin Pecora in Ohio wanted to offer reader this simple but comprehensive guide to illuminate key parts of Ohio’s labor laws, including wage and hour regulations, equal employment opportunity policies, workplace safety laws, and laws governing employee benefits.
Wage and Hour Laws
Wage and hour regulations are among the most basic components of labor law. Ohio follows both federal and state wage laws to ensure that workers are fairly compensated for their labor.
Minimum Wage
As of 2024, the minimum wage was $5.25 per hour for tipped employees and $10.45 per hour for non-tipped employees. The rate is adjusted annually per federal law. However, if you take a closer inspection to the law, you see that small businesses in the state which don’t exceed a certain yearly revenue amount are only required to adhere to the old federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour that hasn’t been raised since 2009.
Overtime Pay
Ohio adheres to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) when it comes to paying people overtime. If you’re a non-exempt employee and you work more than 40 hours in a week, you must be paid at least time-and-a-half for any hours over 40.
Certain jobs, like those held by some salaried executives and some types of professionals, are exempt from these requirements.
Employee Classification
It is crucial to ensure compliance with wage laws and benefits eligibility that employees are classified correctly.
Employee vs. Independent Contractor
Ohio adheres to federal standards when it comes to differentiating between employees and independent contractors. Employees receive a variety of benefits. Here are a few examples:
- Minimum wage
- Overtime pay
- Workers’ compensation
Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Laws
In Ohio, employees are safeguarded against discrimination based on a number of protected traits and classes, creating a fair and inclusive workplace. If you think you’ve been subject to this type of treatment at work, you should get in touch with Dooley Gembala McLaughlin Pecora in Ohio immediately.
Protected Classes
Discrimination against people because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability is illegal under the Ohio Civil Rights Act. So is discrimination against people who are 40 or older or who have a different ancestry or military status. These law protections apply to employers with at least four employees.
Sexual Harassment
Workplace discrimination takes many forms, and one of the most egregious is sexual harassment. Although this was classified as a form of discrimination many years ago, the nature of harassment in the workplace has evolved and continues to do so.
Unwelcome advances, inappropriate behavior, and, at times, the repulsive “quid pro quo” situations (where intimate “favors” are expected in return for employment or advancement) are sadly far from rare when it comes to the professional world.
Workplace Safety and Health
A key part of labor law in Ohio is ensuring that people can work safely and free from unnecessary risk or danger.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Ohio follows OSHA standards, which mandate that companies provide safe and healthy workplaces. They ensure that employees can and do work in what Ohio officials are likely to describe as quality jobs. To guarantee this, employees must be able to report unsafe conditions without fear of retaliation or the loss of their job.
Workers’ Compensation
A program financed by the state in Ohio provides workers’ compensation benefits. All employers, regardless of size, must cover their employees with this program. It pays benefits when a worker is hurt on the job.
Benefits include medical expenses, money payments when the worker can’t work, and money payments to help rehabilitate the worker back to health so he or she can go back to work.
Employee Leave and Benefits
Several laws in Ohio cover different situations to help workers take time off and receive benefits.
Family and Medical Leave
The federal law FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act), applies to workplaces in Ohio. The FMLA allows eligible employees to take as many as twelve weeks of unpaid leave for family or medical reasons over the course of a year.
This leave can be taken all at once or in smaller segments as necessary. Reasons for taking leave can cover a wide range of family and medical conditions but must meet the basic requirements of the FMLA.
Paid Sick Leave
There is no paid sick leave law for the entire state of Ohio. However, some local jurisdictions within the state do have their own laws that require paid sick leave. Additionally, some Ohio employers offer paid sick leave as part of their overall benefits packages.
Unemployment Benefits
Ohio offers unemployment compensation to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own and are eligible for such benefits. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services manages these benefits, which serve as a lifeline for many workers while they search for new jobs.
Termination and Wrongful Discharge
At-Will Employment
The at-will employment doctrine prevails in Ohio, permitting employers to discharge employees for any reason not prohibited by law. Yet, some employees have successfully sued for wrongful termination after being fired, usually for one of these reasons:
- Discrimination
- Retaliation
- Breach of contract
Retaliation Protections
When employees report legal violations, workplace safety concerns, or take part in discrimination investigations, they are protected from retaliation. If you believe you’ve been retaliated against for such an action, you can file a claim with either the Ohio Civil Rights Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.
Let Dooley Gembala McLaughlin Pecora in Ohio Assist You in Your Worker’s Rights Case
The laws governing labor help employees and employers work together while also understanding what their rights and responsibilities are. They span a number of topics from fair wages to workplace safety to anti-discrimination protections, among many others.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need the help of a specialist on worker laws, why not seek out the very best?
