Columbus Labor Law Attorneys

Last updated on December 23, 2025

The labor laws in Ohio are designed to protect employees and employers alike. While the state has many of its own laws, there are several cases in which the Ohio statutes do not mention certain employment issues. In these cases, employers are governed by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Although both the state and federal laws are quite strict, employers still sometimes violate them and cause harm to employees as a result. When that is the case, any wronged employee should speak to our Columbus labor law attorneys at Marshall Forman & Schlein LLC.

Minimum Wage

The Fair Labor Standards Act, which was enacted in 1938, requires most employers to pay their hourly employees a minimum wage. Currently, the federal minimum wage, which has not been adjusted since 2009, is $7.25. Ohio law, on the other hand, requires employers to pay the higher wage of $8.30 per hour, although next year, the wage is set to increase to $8.55 per hour for nontipped employees and $4.30 for tipped workers. Under federal law, when a state’s minimum wage is higher than the federal standard, employers are required to pay their employees the higher of the two amounts, which means that hourly Ohio employees who do not fall under one of the exempt categories must be paid no less than $8.55 or $4.30 per hour.

When an employer tries to avoid paying the minimum wage by miscounting tips and commissions or offering trainee wages to new workers, the wronged employee can hold the employer accountable by filing a claim with the EEOC or in court. Successful plaintiffs could recover back pay, attorneys’ fees, and liquidated damages.

Overtime Pay

Most employees in Columbus and throughout the rest of Ohio are entitled to overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in one workweek. Some employees are exempt from this law, such as salaried employees. However, employers sometimes misclassify employees or simply outright deny overtime pay when an employee has rightfully earned it.

Meal and Rest Breaks

Many employers in the state offer meal and rest breaks to their employees in recognition of the fact that workers are generally more productive when they are not tired or hungry. In Ohio, however, employers are not required to provide these breaks. Only employees under the age of 18 are required to have a 30-minute break after they have worked five hours or more.

When employers allow workers over the age of 18 to have meal and rest breaks, they must pay for that break if it is only for 20 minutes or less. Employers do not have to pay for breaks that exceed that time. Any break that is 30 minutes or longer must be uninterrupted and employees cannot be asked to perform work during that time.

Paid Time Off

Neither federal nor state law requires employers to provide paid vacation time, sick time, holiday pay or any other paid time off. Employees must be able to take unpaid leave to serve on a jury or to vote in an election.

Severance Pay

Although many employers offer their employees severance pay in the event that the worker leaves their position, not all employers do. Under the law, employers are not expected to provide any severance pay.

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 Labor and Employment Law Attorneys Can Help with Your Case

The labor laws in Ohio and throughout the rest of the country are extremely complex. Many employees are not aware of their rights, which makes it easier for employers to violate them. If you feel as though your employer has violated any state or federal labor laws, our Columbus employment law attorneys can help. At Marshall Forman & Schlein LLC, we are dedicated to helping employees when their rights are not upheld in the workplace, and we want to help you, too. Call us today at 614-762-9727 or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation with one of our knowledgeable attorneys.