Does Ohio law require employers to give breaks?
John Hall
Updated on March 23, 2026
The State of Ohio does not have any laws involving the requirement of breaks and or meal periods. Breaks are a mutually agreed upon arrangement between the employer and employee.
Can an employer make you work overtime without notice in Ohio?
The answer is no. An Ohio employer can legally require that its employees work overtime. There are no federal or Ohio laws that prohibit or otherwise limit the right of an employer to require its employees to work as many hours as an employer sees fit.
How do I file a complaint against my employer in Ohio?
You may call the Bureau of Civil Rights to submit your complaint or you may submit your complaint in writing. If the complaint is submitted by telephone you can call (614) 644-2703 or Toll Free 1-866-227-6353.
Are labor laws federal or state?
Every state has laws specifically dealing with child labor issues. Federal child labor rules are established by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) FLSA rules affect full- and part-time workers in the private sector and in the federal, state, and local governments.
Is it legal to work 8 hours without a break in Ohio?
Ohio law requires that minors under age 18 be given a 30 minute meal break if they have worked five hours or more. The meal break may be an unpaid break. During breaks from school (eg. summer vacation), minors in Ohio are not allowed to work more than 8 hours per day and no more than 40 hours per week.
Are 15 minute breaks required by law in Ohio?
Ohio employers are not legally required to offer rest breaks, except to minors. However, many employers do offer rest breaks as a matter of custom or policy. If the employer elects to provide a rest break, then federal law requires that employees are paid during short breaks of up to 20 minutes.
Can I sue my employer for cutting my pay?
Legal Protections for Workers If an employer cuts an employee’s pay without telling him, it is considered a breach of contract. Pay cuts are legal as long as they are not done discriminatorily (i.e., based on the employee’s race, gender, religion, and/or age).
What is the minimum wage in Ohio in 2020?
$8.70 per hour
The current 2020 minimum wage in Ohio is $8.70 per hour for nontipped employees and $4.35 per hour for tipped employees. In 2021, those hourly wages will rise to $8.80 and $4.40.
How do I contact Ohio Job and Family Services?
You may also call 1-877-644-6562, email [email protected] or chat online with a Virtual Assistant. Note: Click on the links below to learn more about our services and programs.
What are the labor laws in the state of Ohio?
Ohio’s labor laws govern minimum wage, employment of minors, and prevailing wage. The Division of Commerce’s Bureau of Wage & Hour Administration administers and enforces Ohio’s Minimum Wage Laws ( Ohio Revised Code 4111 ), Ohio’s Minor Labor Law ( ORC 4109 ) and Ohio’s Prevailing Wage Law ( ORC 4115 ).
Can a employer terminate an employee in Ohio?
Ohio, as an “at-will” employment state, permits an employer, absent an employment contract to the contrary, to terminate an employee for no reason or any reason at all, so long as the reason does not violate Ohio or federal law.
What makes Ohio an employment at will state?
Ohio is an employment-at-will state, which means that, in the absence of a writt en employment agreement or a collective bargaining agreement, either the employer or the employee can terminate employment for any reason that is not contrary to law.
What kind of Rights do you have as an employee in Ohio?
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. Notice: An employer does not legally have to give an employee notice of termination.