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CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) –
Do you know your rights as an employee in the state of Ohio?
You may think so, but after talking with Attorney Steve Moss, a partner at Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP, some facts about employment in Ohio may surprise you.
“Employees have a lot of rights in the work place under Ohio and federal law,” said Moss. “More rights than they probably realize.”
Moss began to list some of the more well-known legal rights — an employer must provide a safe work environment, the right to work free from discrimination and the right to work in an environment that’s free from retaliation. Most misunderstandings are about benefits, time off and rights on social media.
Here are some of the more surprising rights you DO have:
- Bad-mouthing your employer on social media: Unless a social media policy is in place by the employer, employees are allowed to complain about work, bosses, supervisors, pay and coworkers on social media accounts. Moss says it is covered in most cases by the National Labor Relations Act.
- Salaries: Unless it’s a union or other agreement, employees have the right to talk about their pay and benefits.
- On time pay: Moss said an employer must give you a paycheck at least twice a month in Ohio.
- Overtime vs. “Comp time”: Non-exempt employees must receive time and a half pay under federal and state law for working more than 40 hours a week. “Comp time” does not substitute for required overtime pay.
Here are some of the more surprising rights you DO NOT have:
- Vacation/sick/bereavement pay: Employers do not legally have to offer paid time off.
- Breaks: An employer does not have to offer time for rest (smoke) or lunch breaks in a 40-hour work week for those over the age of 18.
To read more of the Dos and Don’ts, click here: Cleveland19.com
Article Courtesy of WOIO Cleveland 19 News
Picture Courtesy of Getty Images
