Ohio Labor Law Resources and Regulations

The Ohio State government is doing its best to aid SMBs and all businesses in general re-coup from the economic downturn. The government has committed several agencies to the task, including the Ohio Business Gateway, a resource to help businesses grow and thrive. The program is all about efficiency, offering online e-filing of forms and processing of payments. There’s also the small business Ombudsman, a liaison to help small business owners deal with state government agencies.

In order to operate a new business in Ohio, certain mandatories must be met. First, all new hires must be reported to the state. Second, business taxes must be paid to the state. All businesses must have professional licenses and permits in good standing and must operate within the law. Other restrictions may apply in terms of commercial codes, environmental regulations and utilities regulations, some of which can be filed online.

In addition, businesses operating in Ohio must post Ohio labor law posters that include general and industry specific information. A minimum wage state labor law poster must be displayed, with current wage posting of $7.40 per hour. A labor law poster for fair employment practices law must also be posted, along with guidelines for safety and health protection on the job. Certain industries, such as the agricultural industry have much stricter safety guidelines that require a safety plan to be documented, as well as safety training to be conducted.

It is recommended that employers also post common information helpful to employees. This includes unemployment compensation, minor labor laws (when applicable) and protection of employee rights. Employers should post their certificate of insurance next to the worker’s compensation labor law poster.

In terms of Federal labor law posting requirements, Ohio employers must comply by furnishing content on the following: equal opportunity employment, federal minimum wage, employee polygraph notice, OSHA, IRS withholding and payday notice.

With all the different posting requirements, the easiest way to keep track of everything is to use combination state and federal labor law posters so everything is in one place. In addition to basic posting requirements, businesses are urged to reiterate this information during their new hire orientation or in employee handbooks. Larger businesses may use the Human Resources department to disperse this information, while small businesses may assign the task to the payroll person or even the owner. It’s critical that business owners protect themselves by adhering to all State and Federal labor laws, which will in turn give them and their employees peace of mind, as well as help them avoid costly fees.