Columbus Employment Law Attorney

People go to work every day to earn an honest living and support themselves. No one ever expects their employer to discriminate against them, steal their wages, or harass them. When any of these things happen, it is shocking for employees, and they often do not know what to do. If you have been treated unfairly by your employer, a Columbus employment law attorney can outline the remedies available and help you claim compensation for your losses.

Discrimination in the Workplace

Federal law protects employees in Columbus, and throughout the rest of the country, from being discriminated against while they are at work. The protected classes outlined in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 include race, religion, gender, pregnancy status, age, nationality, and more. Ohio law also has its own separate anti-discrimination laws that largely mirror the federal law.

Discriminating against individuals based on these characteristics is against the law. Still, employers discriminate against employees within these protected classes by refusing to hire them or by wrongfully terminating them. When that is the case, employees and employment candidates can file a claim or complaint against the employer to stop it from happening again.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Disabled individuals are another protected class employers are prohibited from discriminating against. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is illegal for employers to discriminate against disabled individuals by demoting them, refusing to hire them, or taking other discriminatory action. The ADA also gives disabled individuals the right to request reasonable accommodations for their disability and employers must provide it. There is one exception, and that is when doing so would cause the business substantial harm.

Wage and Hour Disputes

Some of the most common disputes that arise in the workplace surround an employee’s hours of work and wages. Employees that work more than 40 hours in one workweek are entitled to one and a half times their regular wage. Employers in Ohio must also pay all employees the appropriate minimum wage as outlined in the statutes.

Employers sometimes violate these laws by not paying their employees the appropriate wages, or by miscalculating their hours to avoid paying overtime. Employers also often misclassify employees as independent contractors so they are not subject to the state’s wage and hour laws.

Wrongful Termination

Like most employees in the country, workers in Ohio are considered at-will, which means they can be hired or fired at any time. However, there are still times when wrongful termination occurs. These include when an employer fires an employee before the end date outlined in an employment contract, or when a firing is based on discrimination. Employees that are wrongfully terminated can file a claim against their employer to recover back and future pay, lost benefits, and more.

Call Our Employment Law Attorney in Columbus Today

If your employer has acted unfairly and you have suffered losses as a result, our Columbus employment law attorney can advise on your case. At Marshall Forman & Schlein LLC, our experienced attorneys know how to hold employers accountable for their unfair actions and we will help you recover any damages you deserve. Call us now or fill out our online form to request a consultation with one of our seasoned attorneys.