The employment law in Columbus and throughout Ohio is confusing, and it is also always changing. There are many misconceptions out there about the law, and sometimes, workers think their employer is acting illegally. This is often true, but not always. For example, if your boss is simply being rude to you but they are not generally a polite person, their actions may not be considered illegal.
On the other hand, if your employer is not paying you fair wages, is harassing you, or otherwise not upholding your rights, you can hold them accountable for these illegal actions. Our employment law attorney in Columbus can help you do it.
The minimum wage in Ohio is one of the employment laws that change regularly. As of 2023, the minimum wage is $10.10 for non-tipped employees and $5.05 for tipped employees. Unfortunately, payroll is often the biggest expense for business owners, and not all employers want to pay their workers a fair wage. They may simply leave out hours to reduce the overall pay, or they may try to steal their employees’ tips. Wage disputes often begin with filing a complaint with the Ohio Department of Commerce. If the claim is rejected, workers can file a claim in civil court.
Many federal laws entitle workers to certain rights. For example, under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), certain workers are given the right to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a medical condition or to care for a family member suffering from a medical condition. Employers do not always uphold the rights provided under the law and may tell the worker that they do not qualify or that they did not follow proper procedure. Any time employers try these tactics, it is important to speak to an employment law attorney in Columbus.
Even when an employee is just exercising their rights granted to them under the law, employers still sometimes try to retaliate against them. An employer may demote an employee for taking their rightful FMLA leave, for example. Or, a business owner may greatly reduce an employee’s hours after they file a workers’ compensation claim. All of these actions are illegal, and employees can take legal action against their employer to make things right.
Discrimination is one of the most common complaints in the workplace, and it should never be tolerated. Everyone in Columbus has the right to be free from discrimination based on their race, gender, religion, disability, or other protected class. Discrimination is taken very seriously by the courts, and workers can be held accountable for it.
If you believe your employer has violated your rights, you need sound legal advice. At Marshall, Forman & Schlein, our employment law attorney in Columbus can provide it and explain the options available to you so you can claim financial compensation. Call us now or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
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