Chillicothe Employment Lawyer
Last updated on December 29, 2025
Employment law can get complicated quickly. There are state and federal laws that apply, and employers must comply with all of them. Some Ohio laws provide greater protection to employees than federal laws do.
Employment law encompasses many elements. For example, workers are to be paid a fair wage that meets or exceeds minimum wage law requirements.
Wage issues are not the only issues that you may encounter in the workplace. Discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination and benefits are also important issues that workers face. If you have employment concerns, seek legal help from the Chillicothe employment lawyers at Marshall Forman & Schlein LLC.
Common Employment Law Issues
Some of the most common employment law issues include the following:
- Minimum wage disputes: Minimum wage disputes are some of the most common employment law issues. Your employer is required to pay you at least the state’s minimum wage for all work performed and cannot force you to work for tips without paying you other wages.
- Overtime disputes: A workweek consists of 40 hours. If you work more than 40 hours in one week, Ohio’s overtime law requires that you be paid 1.5 times your regular hourly rate. So, instead of $20 an hour, for example, you would be paid $30 an hour. Some professions are exempt from this law, though.
- Discrimination: Discrimination refers to unfair treatment toward a person based on a protected class such as age, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy and genetic information. It is still a huge problem in many workplaces across the United States.
- Harassment: There are two main types of harassment in American workplaces – sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other types of verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. A hostile work environment occurs when a person’s conduct unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance or creates an offensive work environment.
- Wrongful termination: Wrongful termination occurs when an employer fires an employee for the wrong reasons. Some examples include race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and religion. A person also cannot be fired in retaliation for actions such as serving on a jury, filing a workers’ compensation claim or being the victim of sexual harassment.
- Salary misclassification: Employers often engage in salary misclassification to avoid paying an employee for overtime. They also do this to avoid having to pay for workers’ compensation benefits. This is done by classifying a nonexempt employee as an exempt one.
Wage Disputes
The law regarding minimum wage in Chillicothe and throughout Ohio is always changing. Employers have a legal obligation to stay up to date with the most recent changes to make sure they are paying their workers appropriately and are not violating their rights. Any time an employee works more than 40 hours in one workweek, employers must pay them overtime pay. Overtime pay is the equivalent of one and a half times the regular wages the employee earns.
When employers do not pay their workers proper wages, employees have legal options. They can first file a complaint with the Ohio Department of Commerce. If the department rejects the claim, employees can then file a claim against their employer in civil court.
Harassment in the Workplace
There are two types of harassment that can occur in the workplace. The first is quid pro quo, which is rarer today than it was in years past. “Quid pro quo” literally means “a favor for a favor.” When referring to workplace harassment, quid pro quo typically means a worker doing something for an employer or person in a position of authority in exchange for something of value. For example, if an employer offered a worker a raise in exchange for going on a date, that would constitute quid pro quo harassment.
Harassment can also create a toxic work environment. In these situations, the harassment must be so pervasive that it impedes the victim’s ability to perform their employment duties. The harassment must also be ongoing and not a one-time event. Harassment that creates a toxic work environment is the most common type today.
Discrimination in the Workplace
Discrimination in the workplace is one of the most common violations of employment law in Chillicothe and throughout Ohio. Workplace discrimination refers to any time an employee of a protected class is treated differently or unfairly. State and federal law both outline protected classes as individuals of a certain religion, race, disability, pregnancy status, age, gender and more. It is against the law for employers to take these classes into consideration when making decisions about a person’s employment status.
Contact a Chillicothe Employment Lawyer
Employment law encompasses many aspects. If you have concerns about wages, benefits, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination or other issues, you need to speak to someone who can help you understand your legal rights.
If you are dealing with a legal issue in the workplace, contact the Chillicothe employment lawyers at Marshall Forman & Schlein LLC. We are willing to do what it takes to protect you. Schedule a consultation by calling us at 614-762-9727 or filling out the online form.