How to Find Ohio Minimum Wage Laws

Ohio is one of 44 states in the United States that has instituted its own minimum wage laws. This minimum wage rate applies to all employees who are not exempt under the guidelines of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Follow these steps to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Know that Ohio amended its state laws to increase the minimum wage effective January 1, 2007. The new rate increases each year at the rate of inflation for the previous 12-month period. For example, if the rate of inflation is 5 percent in 2007 when the minimum wage rate is $6.85, then the new rate for 2008 will be $7.19.
2. Determine if your occupation entitles you to receive the minimum wage in Ohio. For instance, employees under the age of 16 years and those who work for businesses that make less than $250,000 in gross revenue annually do not require minimum wage.
3. Realize that certain occupations are exempt from minimum wage laws in Ohio, such as jobs that generate tips or commissions, those who work for nonprofit organizations or a family business or employees of the United States government. To determine if your occupation entitles you to receive minimum wage, check the requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (see Resources below).
4. Consult with an attorney experienced in employment and labor law if you believe you have not been paid minimum wage when required by law. Or contact your local Wage and Hour Division Office in Ohio to launch an investigation (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• The state of Ohio is very aggressive about pursuing alleged violations of the minimum wage laws. In fact, employees in Ohio can bring a lawsuit against a violating employer independent of any completed investigation by the state. Ohio also permits an employee to file suit as long as 3 years after the occurrence (providing the violation is ongoing), 1 year longer than federal law usually permits.

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