Employment Law
Ohio Employment Law & Discrimination Attorneys
While Ohio is an “at-will” employment state, working Ohioans do have certain legal rights. Those rights include: the right to work in an environment free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Disabled employees have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodations for their disability. Eligible employees have the right to use Family Medical Leave to protect their job while off work due to a serious health condition. Every employee has the right to be paid correctly for all hours worked, including overtime, when applicable. Our employment law attorneys are prepared to aggressively represent you if you have been the victim of wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, or you have suffered some other violations of your rights.
Employment Discrimination Lawyers for Ohio Workers
Employment discrimination happens when an employer treats you differently because of who you are rather than how you do your job. If you were passed over, paid less, harassed or let go because of a protected characteristic, an employment discrimination lawyer can help you understand whether the law was broken and what you can do about it.
Who Is Protected From Discrimination at Work?
Ohio law and federal law prohibit employers from making job decisions based on:
- Race or color
- Religion
- Sex, including pregnancy
- National origin or ancestry
- Age, if you are 40 or older
- Disability
- Military status
Under federal law, discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is also a form of sex discrimination.
What Workplace Discrimination Can Look Like
Discrimination is not always an open comment or a single event. It can show up as:
- Being fired, demoted or denied a promotion
- Being paid less than coworkers doing the same work
- Being left out of hiring, training or assignments
- Harassment that creates a hostile work environment
- Being denied a reasonable accommodation for a disability or pregnancy
- Retaliation after you report discrimination or take part in an investigation
Deadlines for Discrimination Claims in Ohio
In most cases, you must file a charge of discrimination with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission before you can file a lawsuit under Ohio law. That charge generally must be filed within two years of the discriminatory act. Claims under federal law have their own, shorter deadlines for filing with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Because these deadlines can affect whether you have a case at all, it is best to talk with an attorney as soon as possible.
How an Employment Discrimination Attorney Can Help
An Agee Clymer employment attorney can review what happened, help you gather evidence like emails, performance reviews and pay records, file your charge on time and represent you through the investigation or lawsuit. If you were let go or offered a severance agreement, we can also explain what you may be giving up before you sign.
Employment Law Cases We See the Most Include:
- Discrimination and Harassment
- Disability Discrimination
- Family and Medical Leave Act Leave Requests
- Retaliation
- Sexual Harassment
- Unpaid Wages
- Unpaid Overtime
- Whistleblower Protection
- Wrongful Termination
- Severance Agreements
- Non-Compete and Arbitration Agreements
- Prevailing Wage
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA prohibits discrimination against workers with disabilities. We have successfully handled ADA cases in Columbus and statewide. Our goal is to ensure that disabled employees enjoy the same career opportunities as their co-workers without regard to their disability. An experienced ADA attorney can help you hold your employer accountable when they take adverse action against you because of your disability. Learn more about our process and how to get started
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Our Top Priority: Making Sure Your Rights Are Protected
No one should feel like they have to work in a dangerous work environment. If you feel like you’ve been a victim of sexual harassment, denied accommodation, retaliated, or discriminated against in the workplace, don’t hesitate to speak with an employment attorney. Contact our office for a free consultation at 614-221-3318.