Employment Lawyers in Columbus

A dishonest employer may try to save money by cheating you out of the income you worked hard to earn. Violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), however, can have serious criminal and civil consequences. The courts may order your employer to pay compensation for your missed wages, plus additional penalties, during a wage, hour, or overtime case. Hold your employer accountable with help from an attorney. Contact Elk & Elk of Columbus, Ohio today for a free consultation about your rights as a worker.

How Our Columbus Employment & Overtime Wage Lawyers Can Help

  • We have the resources and personnel to fight for your rights. We can take on even the most challenging employment claims against multiple parties or large corporations.
  • We will meet with you during extensive consultations before we create your legal strategy. This will ensure we base all our decisions on your unique needs.
  • We will not charge you anything for our services out of pocket. We only collect fees if we win, and then only out of your settlement or judgment award.

Do You Need a Columbus Employment Lawyer?

Going up against your employer with accusations of an FLSA breach or wage and hour violation takes experience with the law. An attorney’s assistance can help you understand which laws your employer may have broken, conduct an official investigation, and gather evidence against the company in question. A lawyer can handle difficult aspects of your claim for you, such as filing your claim or navigating state and federal employment laws. Hiring an attorney takes the burden off you while still working toward a successful resolution.

Types of Wage, Hour, and Overtime Laws in Ohio

Effective January 1st, 2019, the minimum wage in Ohio is $8.55 per hour. If your boss is paying you less than this, you may have a wage violation case (unless you are an exempt worker). If your employer does not keep track of your hours or wages, this is a breach of FLSA regulations. The Department of Labor has specific recordkeeping requirements for all employers in the country. The law entitles you to overtime pay at 1.5 times your regular rate for every hour you work over 40 hours per workweek. Lack of overtime pay could be an employment law violation.

Discovering that you have an employment claim against your employer may take a consultation with an attorney in Columbus. State and federal employment laws are complex, with many exceptions and caveats. If you suspect your employer of wronging you or your coworkers, contact Elk & Elk’s attorneys. We have lawyers, economists, paralegals, investigators, and accountants ready 24/7 to answer your questions and help you understand your rights as an employee.

Filing an Employment Claim in Ohio

Filing a wage or hour claim in Ohio requires filling out several separate forms to issue an official complaint. Minimum wage complaints and prevailing wage complaints have different legal forms. If you make a mistake on your form, it could delay your case or lead to claim denial. You will file the proper forms with the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Labor and Worker Safety, Wage and Hour Bureau. This is the entity that presides over employment claims in Ohio.

Your claim should describe the issue, include imperative information such as your employer’s name and address, and include an amount you are requesting as compensation for your damages. The amount you claim can include unpaid wages, penalty payments, attorney’s fees, and court costs. You have three years from your employer’s latest violation to file your claim in Ohio. Missing your deadline generally means losing your right to any compensation. Work with an attorney to file your claim correctly, on time, and for the right amount.

Call Our Columbus Employment Attorneys Today

Our Ohio lawyers have years of experience representing clients in complex employment claims in our Columbus office and throughout Ohio. Contact us to learn your legal rights. We will fight to protect you from a dishonest or criminal employer.