OHIO EMPLOYMENT LAW
Employment Law (or Labor Law) includes numerous matters inherent in the employer-employee relationship. Wrongful termination, health and safety, discrimination at the workplace, wages and hours, hiring and termination practices, sexual harassment and disability law are a few of the matters covered by Ohio Employment Law.
Because they are complicated and necessitate the compilation of vast amounts of evidence, cases involving wrongful termination, harassment, and discrimination should not be filed without the aid of an Ohio employment attorney. Seeking help from an Ohio employment lawyer is, however, generally advised to get answers to your worries and questions.
Why Hire An Ohio Employment Attorney?
There is an intricate interaction between state and federal law in Ohio employment law and wrongful termination cases. As such, an Ohio employment lawyer should be hired to investigate the interplay between state and federal law, so you can be sure to succeed in your case. Ohio employment attorneys can also dispute your wrongful termination, file your claim for unpaid wages, fight against your wrongful termination, structure your discrimination claim against your employer and assist you in deciding whether you have a legitimate complaint against your boss under Ohio employment law so that you do not squander your money and time on a trivial claim.
In particular, wrongful termination claims can be awkward, stressful and complicated for a former employee to file against his old boss. An Ohio wrongful termination lawyer can communicate with the worker's former employer, guide the worker on how best to obtain recovery for his claim, and be of great assistance in helping to file a claim with Ohio agencies, or answer general questions about a worker's benefits and rights under Ohio employment law.
Wrongful Termination in Ohio
Employees in Ohio work at the will of their employers. An employee can leave his employ at any time, for any reason, or without a reason. Similarly, a worker can be fired at any time, based on any reason, so long as the reason is not illegal. However, if the worker has an employment contract, the worker can only be fired for reasons specified in the contract.
If an employer's termination of an employee is based on illegal factors, the worker can file a wrongful termination lawsuit. It is against the law for a worker in Ohio to be fired for:
Discuss your wrongful termination situation with an Ohio wrongful termination attorney if you have questions.
As previously mentioned, when an employee is fired because of discriminatory factors, it is considered wrongful termination. Federal and Ohio State Law do not allow discrimination in employment—so, if a person is, for example, not hired, or is terminated solely based on a disability or on age, but is otherwise qualified for the position his termination is against the law. Similarly, if pregnancy is seen as a disability by the employer and a woman is fired based on her pregnancy, this termination is illegal. It is also illegal for someone to be fired based on religion, sex, race, or national origin. If you believe you were fired illegally, make sure to contact an Ohio wrongful termination attorney immediately.
Employee Wage/Hour Concerns In Ohio
The Ohio minimum wage is $7.30 an hour as of 2010. Ohio employers must pay their employees semi-monthly, on the first and fifteenth days of each month.
Talk to an Ohio employment attorney about filing a lawsuit against your employer for unpaid wages if your employer fails to pay you on time or at all.
Working over 40 hours a week entitles you to time-and-a-half, or overtime pay. The United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division deals with claims for unpaid overtime pay. The need for overtime pay is mandated by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Discuss your claim for unpaid overtime with an Ohio employment lawyer and submit your claim to the closest federal Wage and Hour Division.
Contact an Ohio employment lawyer if you are not certain how or where to file a claim for unpaid wages or overtime, or if you have questions concerning employee wages.
Ohio Employment Benefits
Ohio employers are not required to provide paid vacation days, sick leave, medical benefits, or life insurance; but, some employers may choose to do so. Employees in Ohio are also not required to have meal or rest breaks during the work day. It is worth noting that Ohio law also does not mandate maternity leave or short-term disability. However, federal law in the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave for expectant mothers.
Ohio disability law encompasses workers who have occupational injuries or illnesses because of the nature of their work, or because of work-related accidents. If you have been injured or become ill because of your work, get in touch with an Ohio workers' compensation lawyer. Ohio disability law does not mandate that workers whose disabilities result from occurrences outside the workplace or unconnected to their jobs be compensated.
Ohio Employment and Labor Law Statutes
Ohio Revised Code—Labor and Industry
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