Reynoldsburg, OH Employment Lawyers

Ohio Employment Law Questions Reynoldsburg Workers Ask

• When can I file a wage theft claim against my Reynoldsburg employer?

  Federal law gives you two years from each unpaid wage violation to file most wage theft claims, though willful violations extend the deadline to three years. Under the Ohio Prompt Pay Act, your employer must pay wages within 30 days of your regular payday, not immediately upon termination. If they fail to pay on time, you're entitled to liquidated damages of either 6% of the unpaid wages or $200, whichever is greater, plus attorney fees.

• What's the difference between filing with EEOC versus the Ohio Civil Rights Commission?

  The Ohio Civil Rights Commission handles state discrimination claims for employers with 4 or more employees, while the EEOC handles federal claims for employers with 15 or more employees. Recent changes now require filing with OCRC before pursuing most state discrimination claims in court.

• Can my employer fire me for complaining about wage violations or joining a class action?

  Absolutely not. Both federal and Ohio law prohibit retaliation against workers who assert wage and hour rights or participate in class action lawsuits. This includes termination, demotion, schedule reduction, or any other adverse employment action. Retaliation violations often result in additional damages beyond the underlying wage theft and can strengthen class certification arguments.

• What should I do if I think my Reynoldsburg employer is cheating multiple workers out of pay?

  Document everything you can safely gather: pay stubs, time records, company policies, text messages about work requirements, and communications about pay practices. Keep detailed notes about unpaid time, but don't violate company policies while gathering evidence. Contact us immediately for a confidential case evaluation. We can determine whether your situation supports individual or class action treatment while protecting your job security.

• How does Ohio's minimum wage differ from federal requirements in 2026?

  Ohio's minimum wage increases to $11.00/hour for non-tipped employees and $5.50/hour for tipped employees beginning January 1, 2026. This is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour. Tipped employees must receive the full minimum wage when tips don't bring their hourly earnings to $11.00. Employers may not use tip pools to subsidize management salaries or to pay non-tipped employees.

• What evidence do I need to prove unpaid overtime violations?

  Ohio follows federal overtime rules requiring time-and-a-half pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek. Strong evidence includes: time records showing actual hours worked, pay stubs proving you weren't paid overtime rates, emails or texts requiring work outside scheduled hours, evidence of off-the-clock activities, and proof you were improperly classified as exempt from overtime. Even if you don't have perfect records, we can often build cases using employer records obtained through litigation.