Employment Law Attorneys Columbus

Employees are sometimes faced with situations that make them uncomfortable or frustrated while they are at work simply trying to make a living. In some instances, the workplace issue the employee is dealing with may violate laws designed to protect employees. Often employees are not fully aware of laws that may help them and how the laws work. If an employee believes an employer is not following the law the employee should speak to an employment attorney in the Central Ohio area. An attorney can ensure employees are receiving the proper wage and benefits they should, and that they are free from retaliation and discrimination.

Wages and Overtime

The minimum wage in Ohio frequently changes. Currently, it is $8.70 for non-tipped employees and $4.35 per hour plus tips for employees that receive gratuities. Sometimes employers try to take shortcuts and not pay their employees properly in an attempt to save money. When this is the case, employees have options.  They can consult an attorney for advice,  file a claim with the U.S. Department of labor and/or the Ohio Department of Commerce. If the employer is not paying the employee overtime, minimum wage, or not at all, the employee may be able to file a lawsuit to recover unpaid wages, damages, and attorney’s fees and costs. 

Employee Benefits

Some employees are entitled to certain benefits, such as health and dental insurance provided by their employers. Employees are also entitled to federal benefits such as the right to take leave from work for medical reasons without losing their job. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides these rights if an employee and the reason for requested leave meet certain criteria Effective April 1, 2020, the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) and the Families First Corona Response Act (FFCRA) were enacted to help employees affected by COVID-19.  if you believe your rights have been violated, you should speak to an employment law attorney in Columbus who can help.

Harassment

No one should ever have to face unlawful harassment at work. Sexual harassment is unfortunately still prevalent in the workplace and can include acts ranging from threats or actual physical contact to detrimental job action, unwelcome comments, and passing around or posting inappropriate material on social media, such as lewd pictures. There are laws to help victims of this type of harassment and an employment attorney can help.

Discrimination

There are many state and federal laws that protect employees from discrimination based on their race, sex, religion, disability, pregnancy, age and other protected characteristics. No one should have to face job discrimination based on these characteristics. If you believe your employer has discriminated against you, you should speak to an attorney to discuss your options, which may include filing a discrimination charge with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, (EEOC) and/or a lawsuit. 

Employer Retaliation

Although it is against the law, sometimes employers retaliate against employees who file workers’ compensation claims, take FMLA leave, file discrimination complaints, or otherwise exercise rights protected by law. An attorney can help employees understand their rights and help hold employers accountable for their actions.

Wrongful Termination

Ohio is an at-will employment state, which means generally employers can fire employees at any time and for any reason, or for no reason at all. However, there are times when an employer terminates an employee for an unlawful reason. If you suspect the reason for termination violates the law, you should speak to an attorney right away to help determine if the termination was wrongful. 

Our Ohio Employment Law Attorneys Can Help

When you are facing an issue at work that you believe has infringed on your rights and you need to correct the wrong, our employment law attorneys in Central Ohio can help. At Marshall Forman & Schlein LLC, we are dedicated to helping employees. If you have an employment issue, call us today or contact us online to schedule a meeting with one of our attorneys.