Columbus, OH Minimum Wage Attorneys

It seems simple enough. The law requires everybody to be paid at least minimum wage. How could employers get that wrong? It turns out, though, that there are a lot of ways companies can and do violate the minimum wage laws.

Our Columbus, Ohio minimum wage attorneys take on Ohio businesses that fail to follow the law regardless of their intent. Learn more below about minimum wages in Ohio, and contact Coffman Legal if your employer is breaking the law regarding your wages.

How Much Is Minimum Wage?

The Ohio minimum wage is significantly higher than the federal minimum wage. As of January 1, 2025, the minimum wage is $10.70 and the minimum wage for tipped workers is $5.35. Generally, Ohio companies must pay their workers the Ohio minimum wage, but there are some exceptions.

Businesses with annual gross receipts under $394,000 a year need only meet the federal minimum wage. Also, companies that legally employ 14 and 15-year-olds only have to pay those workers the federal minimum wage.

As a team of minimum wage lawyers in Columbus, Ohio, we work to ensure that workers’ rights are protected and that employees are fairly compensated for their labor.

Are All Employees Guaranteed a Minimum Wage?

Ohio law does exempt a variety of employees from the minimum wage requirement. Employees who do not have to be paid the minimum wage include:

• Workers employed by the United States
• Baby-sitters
• A live-in companion to a sick, convalescing, or elderly person, if their principal duties do not include housekeeping
• Newspaper delivery persons
• Charity workers in a hospital
• Police officers or firefighters
• Students working for the government on a part-time or seasonal basis
• Employees working at a nonprofit camp for children
• Any individual employed directly by the house of representatives or directly by the senate
• A person who workers for a motor carrier transporting property, if certain factors apply

How Do Employers Break the Minimum Wage Law?

Employers may face legal problems pertaining to minimum wage laws if they:

• Do not properly pay the required minimum wage
• Do not pay any wages for a period of time
• Make deductions from employees’ pay that lowers the employees’ rate of pay below the minimum wage
• Falsify time sheets
• Illegally make deductions on paychecks

In addition, an employer may wrongly conclude that an employee is not entitled to the minimum wage or pay employees at the federal level instead of the Ohio minimum wage rate. Employers may also take the wrong tip credit for tipped employees, putting their pay below the applicable minimum wage. These are just some of the ways employers run afoul of the law requiring the payment of a minimum wage.

What Industries Are Prone to Minimum Wage Violations?

Minimum wage violations are common in sectors such as the hotel and restaurant industries, among others. This is due to managers illegally withholding tips, paying their employees less than the required minimum wage, or not paying for overtime work. Ohio law frowns upon employers who do not pay the minimum wage, and our attorneys can help you if you have suffered through this experience.

What Can I Do If I Am Not Being Paid Correctly?

If you were not paid at least the applicable minimum wage, you could file a claim to recover the amount of unpaid wages plus two times such damages as liquidated damages, as well as have your attorney’s fees paid by the other party.

Our team of experienced employment lawyers are adept in minimum wage issues and we regularly take on employers on behalf of large classes of employees who have been underpaid because of minimum wage violations or other unpaid wage issues.

Why You Should Hire a Minimum Wage Lawyer

Coffman Legal has extensive experience in minimum wage cases and can work to get you the justice you deserve. Our team can help you understand the minimum wage laws in Ohio and the compensation that you could be entitled to receive.

As Columbus minimum wage attorneys, we can support you through every step of the legal process and fight for your employee rights. Check out our page for cases we are currently litigating, and our testimonials page to see how our past clients have had positive experiences working with the Coffman team.