Ohio ( OH ) Wage and Hour Laws

It is important for both employers and employees to keep up with current Ohio (OH) wage and hour laws. These laws serve to establish a standard for all workers and employers.

Ohio’s minimum wage is currently $5.15 per hour, which is the same wage requirement set by the federal government. There is some talk to raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 using a three-step wage increase process. This could affect states like Ohio who still pay their workers the current federal minimum wage.

Ohio employees are only required to give a 30 minute break after five hours worth of work to those aged 17 and younger. In addition, Ohio (OH) wage and hour laws have adopted federal standards in regards to breaks for workers 18 and over.

Federal laws, not Ohio (OH) wage and hour laws, have provisions regarding the breaks given to those over 17. However, Ohio follows the federal standard for breaks given to adult workers. Therefore, Ohio employers who give break that are 20 minutes or longer must pay for that time. If they give breaks that are 30 minutes or longer those breaks do not have to be paid for by the employer if the employee is free from all duties.

Overtime must be paid to employees who work more than 40 hours within a seven day work week. Those who work overtime will be paid one and a half times the regular pay for those extra hours work. Employees in Ohio that are not required to pay overtime include certain agricultural workers, as well as administrative, professional, and executive employees.

In addition, Ohio (OH) wage and hour laws state very clearly that paid hours such as holiday time, sick leave, vacation days, or time off are not counted as actual work hours. Therefore, those hours do not count towards overtime pay.

Ohio (OH) wage and hour laws are primarily adaptations of federal wage and hour laws. These laws were created to help improve working conditions within the United States, including in the state of Ohio.