Want to start an argument? Suggest raising the minimum wage in Ohio. Everyone will have an opinion.
Some will declare the minimum wage rate is too low, and others will argue that it is too high. A few will propose eliminating the minimum altogether. Very quickly, the debate may shift to speculation as to how requiring employers to pay workers more will affect the availability of jobs at the lower end of the pay scale.
As attorneys dedicated to helping employees enforce their rights, we focus instead on holding companies and agencies accountable when they fail to pay minimum wage in Ohio. Employees must be paid at least minimum wage for every hour worked.
During 2019, Ohio set the minimum wage at $8.55/hour for most workers. The state also allows employers to pay employees who receive tips $4.30/hour, as long as their “tip credit” ends up being equal to minimum wage based on the number of hours worked in that week. Any additional amount to equal minimum wage, after the hourly rate and tip credit have been combined, must be paid by the employer.
Practically everyone who earns the minimum wage or tipped wage in Ohio is eligible to earn overtime by working more than 40 hours during a workweek. The standard overtime rate is 1.5 times the regular wage, and withholding overtime pay from employees who earn it is as illegal as refusing to pay the minimum wage.
Employers have many ways to cheat workers out of the minimum wage and overtime. Following are just a few examples:
At The Friedmann Firm, we partner with workers in Columbus and Cleveland to enforce minimum wage and overtime laws. We offer free consultations to all workers who have concerns about unfair pay practices, employment discrimination and harassment in the workplace. To schedule an appointment, call us at (614) 610-9755 or connect with us online.