Chapter 4113 | Miscellaneous Labor Provisions

Section 4113.01 | Hours constituting a day's work.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

A day's work in a mechanical,manufacturing, or mining business shall consist of eight hours and shall be so enforced unless the contract therefor expressly provides otherwise.

Section 4113.02 | Contract provisions void.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Every undertaking or promise, whether written or oral, express or implied, constituting, or contained in, any contract or agreement of hiring or employment between any individual, firm, association, or corporation, and any employee or prospective employee of the same, whereby either party to such contract or agreement undertakes or promises not to join, become, or remain a member of any labor organization or of any organization of employers, or either party to such contract or agreement undertakes or promises that he will withdraw from the employment relation in the event that he joins, becomes, or remains a member of any labor organization or of any organization of employers, is contrary to public policy and void.

Section 4113.03 | Fellow servant rule not applicable.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In all actions brought to recover from an employer for personal injuries suffered by his employee or for death resulting to such employee from such personal injuries, while in the employ of such employer, arising from the negligence of such employer or any of such employer's officers, agents, or employees, it shall be held in addition to any other liability existing by law that any person in the employ of such employer, in any way having power or authority in directing or controlling any other employee of such employer, is not the fellow servant, but superior to such other employee; any person in the employ of such employer in any way having charge or control of employees in any separate branch or department shall be held to be the superior and not the fellow servant of all employees in any other branch or department in which they are employed; any person in the employ of such employer whose duty it is to repair or inspect the ways, works, boats, wharves, plant, machinery, appliances, or tools, in any way connected with or in any way used in the business of the employer, or to receive, give, or transmit any signal, instruction, or warning to or for such employees, shall be held to be the superior and not the fellow servant of such other employees of such employer.

Section 4113.04 | Prima-facie evidence.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If the employee of any employer referred to in section 4113.03 of the Revised Code receives any personal injury by reason of any defect or unsafe condition in any ways, works, boats, wharves, plant, machinery, appliances, or tools, except simple tools, in any way connected with or in any way used in the business of the employer, such employer is deemed to have had knowledge of such defect before and at the time such injury was so sustained, and when the fact of such defect is made to appear upon trial of an action brought by such employee or his personal or legal representatives against any such employer for damages on account of such injuries so received, the defect is prima-facie evidence of neglect on the part of such employer. The employer may show by way of defense that such defect was not discoverable in the exercise of ordinary care.

Section 4113.05 | Certain defenses not available.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In all actions described in section 4113.03 of the Revised code the negligence of a fellow servant of the employee is not a defense where the injury or death was in any way caused or contributed to by any of the following causes:

(A) Any defect or unsafe condition in the ways, works, boats, wharves, plant, machinery, appliances, or tools, except simple tools, in any way connected with or in any way used in the business of the employer;

(B) The negligence of any person engaged as superintendent, manager, foreman, inspector, repairman, signalman, or any person in any way having charge, care, or control of such ways, works, boats, wharves, plant, machinery, appliances, or tools;

(C) The negligence of any person in charge of or directing the particular work in which the employee was engaged at the time of the injury or death;

(D) The negligence of any person to whose orders the employee was bound to conform, and by reason of his having conformed thereto the injuries or death resulted;

(E) The negligent act of any fellow servant done in obedience to the immediate or peremptory instructions or orders given by the employer, or any person with authority to direct the doing of said act;

(F) The want of necessary and sufficient rules and regulations for the government of such employees and the operation and maintenance of such ways, works, boats, wharves, plant, machinery, appliances, or tools.

Section 4113.06 | Negligence of employer.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When it appears in an action described in section 4113.03 of the Revised Code that the injury or death was caused in whole or in part by the neglect of the employer in failing to properly furnish, maintain, construct, guard, repair, inspect, or protect any of the ways, works, boats, wharves, plant, machinery, appliances, or tools, in any way connected with or in any way used in the business of the employer, in any manner required by the law of this state or of the United States, or by any defective or unsafe condition in the ways, works, boats, wharves, plant, machinery, appliances, or tools, except simple tools, in any way connected with or in any way used in the business of the employer, the fact that such employee continued in said employment with knowledge of such negligent omission or want of care or such defective or unsafe condition is not a defense unless by the terms of his employment it was expressly made the duty of such employee to report such neglect or such defective or unsafe condition to the employer and the evidence discloses that such employee failed so to report, and that the employer was not otherwise possessed of knowledge of such negligent, unsafe, or defective condition.

Such employee shall not be held to have assumed the risk of:

(A) The negligent act of any fellow servant or employee of such employer, done in obedience to the immediate or peremptory instructions or orders given by the employer, or any other person who has authority to direct the doing of said act;

(B) The want of necessary and sufficient rules and regulations, or the lack of enforcement of same, for the government of such employees in the construction, operation, and maintenance of such ways, works, boats, wharves, machinery, plant, appliances, or tools, or the employing or retention of any incompetent servant.

Section 4113.07 | Contributory negligence.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In all actions, described in section 4113.03 of the Revised Code, the fact that the employee may have been guilty of contributory negligence shall not bar a recovery where his contributory negligence is slight and the negligence of the employer is gross in comparison, but the damages shall be diminished by the jury in proportion to the amount of negligence attributable to such employee. No employee who is injured or killed shall be held in any degree to have been guilty of contributory negligence in any case where the violation by such employer of any law of this state or of the United States enacted for the safety of employees in any way contributed to the injury or death of such employee unless by the terms of his employment it was expressly made the duty of such employee to report such violation to the employer and the evidence shows that such employee failed to report and that the employer was not possessed of knowledge of such violation. All questions of negligence, contributory negligence, and assumption of risk are for the jury, under the instruction of the court.

Section 4113.08 | Minors.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In all actions described in section 4113.03 of the Revised Code, where a minor employee has been employed or retained in employment contrary to the laws of this state or of the United States, such employee shall not be held to have been guilty of contributory negligence, nor held to have assumed any of the risks of such employment. The employer may show by way of defense any fraud or misrepresentation made by such employee.

Section 4113.09 | Insurance provision.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In all actions described in section 4113.03 of the Revised Code, any contract, rule, regulation, or device, the purpose or intent of which is to enable any employer to exempt himself from any liability created by sections 4113.03 to 4113.09, inclusive, and sections 2125.01 to 2125.04, inclusive, of the Revised Code, is to that extent void. In any action brought against any employer under sections 4113.03 to 4113.08, inclusive, and sections 2125.01 to 2125.04, inclusive, of the Revised Code, such employer may set off therein, any sum he has contributed or paid to any insurance, relief, benefit, or indemnity paid to the injured employee or the person entitled thereto on account of the injury or death for which said action was brought.

Section 4113.10 | Conducting child to juvenile court.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

A child working in or in connection with a factory, workshop, business office, telephone or telegraph office, restaurant, bakery, hotel, apartment house, or mercantile or other establishment, or in the distribution or transmission of merchandise or messages, who appears to an inspector of workshops and factories to be under the legal age, or refuses to give to such inspector his name, age, and place of residence, shall be forthwith conducted by such inspector to the office of the juvenile judge or the probate judge for examination. If such inspector is in doubt as to the physical fitness of a boy under sixteen years of age or a girl under eighteen years of age found working in or in connection with any of such establishments, or in the distribution or transmission of merchandise or messages, he shall require a certificate signed by a medical officer of the board of health certifying that such child is of sound health and physically able to perform the work or service such child is required to do. Such certificate shall be signed by the child in whose name it is issued in the presence of the officer issuing it, and such examination shall be made and certificate issued without expense to said child.

Section 4113.15 | Semimonthly payment of wages.

• Effective: March 20, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 494 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) Every employer doing business in this state shall, on or before the first day of each month, pay all its employees the wages earned by them during the first half of the preceding month ending with the fifteenth day thereof, and shall, on or before the fifteenth day of each month, pay such employees the wages earned by them during the last half of the preceding calendar month. If at any time of payment an employee is absent from the employee's regular place of labor and does not receive payment of wages through an authorized representative, such person shall be entitled to said payment at any time thereafter upon demand upon the proper paymaster at the place where such wages are usually paid and where such pay is due. This section does not prohibit the daily or weekly payment of wages. The use of a longer time lapse that is customary to a given trade, profession or occupation, or establishment of a different time lapse by written contract or by operation of law.

(B) Where wages remain unpaid for thirty days beyond the regularly scheduled payday or, in the case where no regularly scheduled payday is applicable, for sixty days beyond the filing by the employee of a claim or for sixty days beyond the date of the agreement, award, or other act making wages payable and no contest court order or dispute of any wage claim including the assertion of a counterclaim exists accounting for nonpayment, the employer, in addition, as liquidated damages, is liable to the employee in an amount equal to six per cent of the amount of the claim still unpaid and not in contest or disputed or two hundred dollars, whichever is greater.

(C) In the absence of a contest, court order or dispute, an employer who is party to an agreement to pay or provide fringe benefits to an employee or to make any employee authorized deduction becomes a trustee of any funds required by such agreement to be paid to any person, organization, or governmental agency from the time that the duty to make such payment arises. No person shall, without reasonable justification or excuse for such failure, knowingly fail or refuse to pay to the appropriate person, organization, or governmental agency the amount necessary to provide the benefits or accomplish the purpose of any employee authorized deduction, within thirty days after the close of the pay period during which the employee earned or had deducted the amount of money necessary to pay for the fringe benefit or make any employee authorized deduction. A failure or refusal to pay, regardless of the number of employee pay accounts involved, constitutes one offense for the first delinquency of thirty days and a separate offense for each successive delinquency of thirty days.

(D) As used in this section and section 4113.16 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Wage" means the net amount of money payable to an employee, including any guaranteed pay or reimbursement for expenses, less any federal, state, or local taxes withheld; any deductions made pursuant to a written agreement for the purpose of providing the employee with any fringe benefits; and any employee authorized deduction.

(2) "Fringe benefits" includes but is not limited to health, welfare, or retirement benefits, whether paid for entirely by the employer or on the basis of a joint employer-employee contribution, or vacation, separation, or holiday pay.

(3) "Employee authorized deduction" includes but is not limited to deductions for the purpose of any of the following:

(a) Purchase of United States savings bonds or corporate stocks or bonds ;

(b) A charitable contribution ;

(c) Credit union savings or other regular savings program ;

(d) Repayment of a loan or other obligation.

(4) "Employer" means an individual, firm, partnership, association, or corporation, but does not include a franchisor with respect to the franchisor's relationship with a franchisee or an employee of a franchisee, unless either of the following applies:

(a) The franchisor agrees to assume that role in writing.

(b) A court of competent jurisdiction determines that the franchisor exercises a type or degree of control over the franchisee or the franchisee's employees that is not customarily exercised by a franchisor for the purpose of protecting the franchisor's trademark, brand, or both.

(5) "Franchisor" and "franchisee" have the same meanings as in 16 C.F.R. 436.1.

Section 4113.16 | No exemption by special provisions - assignment of future wages invalid - exception.

• Effective: March 20, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 494 - 132nd General Assembly

No employer subject to section 4113.15 of the Revised Code shall, by a special contract with an employee or by other means, exempt the employer from this section and section 4113.15 of the Revised Code, and no assignments of future wages, payable semimonthly under such sections are valid except as provided in section 1321.32 of the Revised Code.

Section 4113.17 | Sale of certain merchandise to employees prohibited.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No person, firm, or corporation engaged in any enterprise in this state shall sell or procure for sale to its employees any article, product, or merchandise not of its own production or not handled in its regular course of trade, excepting meals, confections, tobacco products, and such specialized appliances, or supplies and equipment, as may be required in said enterprise for the employees' safety and health, or in the performance of their duties. This section does not prohibit or prevent a person, firm, or corporation engaged in industry or mining from owning and operating bona fide retail stores, or gasoline and service stations, conducted in whole or in part for the convenience or benefit of its employees. This section does not prohibit the sale by any person, firm, or corporation of any article which such person, firm, or corporation has purchased or acquired in connection with the operation of its business.

The doing of each act prohibited by this section constitutes a separate offense.

Section 4113.18 | Compelling employee to purchase at certain places.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No person shall compel, seek to compel, or attempt to coerce an employee of himself or another to purchase goods or supplies from a particular person, firm, or corporation.

Section 4113.19 | Payment in scrip prohibited at higher prices - deductions from wages prohibited.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No person shall sell goods or supplies to his employee , or pay such employee wages or a part thereof in goods or supplies, directly or through the intervention of scrip, orders, or other evidence of indebtedness, at higher prices than the reasonable or current market value in cash of such goods or supplies, or, without an express contract with his employee, deduct or retain the wages of such employee, or a part thereof, for wares, tools, or machinery destroyed or damaged.

Section 4113.20 | Double damages.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

A person violating section 4113.18 or 4113.19 of the Revised Code is liable to the party aggrieved in double the amount of charges made for such wares, tools, and machinery, or for the amount received for such goods or supplies in excess of the reasonable or current market value in cash thereof.

Section 4113.21 | Employee shall not be required to pay cost of medical examination.

• Effective: September 15, 2020
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 81 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) No private employer shall require any prospective employee or applicant for employment to pay the cost of a medical examination required by the employer as a condition of employment.

(B) No public employer or private employer furnishing services to a public employer in accordance with a contract subject to the "Service Contract Act of 1965," 41 U.S.C. 6701 et seq., shall require any employee, prospective employee, or applicant for employment to pay the cost of an initial or any subsequent medical examinations required by the public employer or private employer as a condition of employment or continued employment.

(C) As used in this section:

(1) "Private employer" means any individual, partnership, trust, estate, joint-stock company, insurance company, common carrier, public utility, or corporation, whether domestic or foreign, or the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, trustee, or the successor thereof, who has in employment three or more individuals at any one time within a calendar year.

(2) "Public employer" means the United States, the state, any political subdivision of the state, and any agency of the United States, the state, or a political subdivision of the state.

(3) "Employee" means any person who may be permitted, required, or directed by any employer in consideration of direct or indirect gain or profit, to engage in any employment.

(D) Any employer who violates this section shall forfeit not more than one hundred dollars for each violation. The bureau of workers' compensation and the public utilities commission shall enforce this section.

Section 4113.22 | Duty of prosecuting attorney.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The prosecuting attorney, upon complaint made to him of a violation of section 4113.18 or 4113.19 of the Revised Code, shall cause such complaint to be investigated before the grand jury.

Section 4113.23 | Furnishing medical report to employee.

• Effective: November 3, 1989
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 118th General Assembly

(A) No employer or physician, other health care professional, hospital, or laboratory that contracts with the employer to provide medical information pertaining to employees shall refuse upon written request of an employee to furnish to the employee or former employee or their designated representative a copy of any medical report pertaining to the employee. The requirements of this section extend to any medical report arising out of any physical examination by a physician or other health care professional and any hospital or laboratory tests which examinations or tests are required by the employer as a condition of employment or arising out of any injury or disease related to the employee's employment. However, if a physician concludes that presentation of all or any part of an employee's medical record directly to the employee will result in serious medical harm to the employee, he shall so indicate on the medical record, in which case a copy thereof shall be given to a physician designated in writing by the employee.

(B) The employer may require the employee to pay the cost of furnishing copies of the medical reports described in division (A) of this section but in no case shall the employer charge more than twenty-five cents for each page of a report.

(C) As used in this section, "employer" has the same meaning as contained in the definition of that term found in section 4123.01 of the Revised Code.

(D) Any employer who refuses to furnish the reports to which an employee is entitled is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for each violation. The bureau of workers' compensation shall enforce this section.

Section 4113.30 | Enforcing successor clause in collective bargaining agreement.

• Effective: October 9, 1978
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 783 - 112th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Successor employer" means any purchaser, assignee, or transferee of a business that is party to a collective bargaining agreement, if the purchaser, assignee, or transferee conducts or will conduct substantially the same business operation or offer the same service, and uses the same physical facilities as the contracting employer.

(2) "Public employer" means the state or any political subdivision of the state, including, without limitation, any municipal corporation, county, township, school district, state institution of higher learning, any public or special district, or any state agency, authority, commission, board, or other public employer.

(B) Where a collective bargaining agreement between an employer and a labor organization contains a successor clause, such clause is binding upon and enforceable against any successor employer who succeeds to the contracting employer's business until the expiration date stated in the agreement, except that no successor clause is binding upon or enforceable against any successor employer for more than three years from the effective date of the collective bargaining agreement between the contracting employer and the labor organization.

(C) An employer who is a party to a collective bargaining agreement containing a successor clause shall disclose the existence of the agreement and clause to any successor employer. The disclosure requirement is satisfied by including in any contract of sale, agreement to purchase, or any similar instrument of conveyace, a statement that the successor employer is bound by such successor clause as provided for in the collective bargaining agreement.

(D) This section does not apply:

(1) To any public employer;

(2) To any employer who is subject to the "National Labor Relations Act of 1935," 49 Stat. 449, 29 U.S.C.A. 151, as amended, or "The Railway Labor Act of 1926," 44 Stat. 577, 45 U.S.C.A. 151 as amended.

Section 4113.40 | Leave of absence for union management relations.

• Effective: July 14, 1976
• Latest Legislation: S274 - 111th General Assembly

(A) An employee in the telephone industry who is granted or has previously been granted a leave of absence for union management relations requiring the employee's absence from regular duties with the employee's employer shall have such period of absence or any continuance of such absence for union management relations beyond the expiration of the leave of absence counted by the employer as the equivalent of service performed for the employer for the purpose of determining benefits and seniority of the employee.

(B) For the purpose of determining benefits and seniority, this section shall also apply to all employees currently on leave of absence on the effective date of this section, and to all former employees who prior to the effective date of this section, had been on leave of absence for two years or more.

Section 4113.41 | Absence by volunteer firefighter or emergency medical services provider.

• Effective: March 15, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 203 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) No employer shall terminate an employee who is a member of a volunteer fire department, or who is employed by a political subdivision of this state as a volunteer firefighter, or who is a volunteer provider of emergency medical services because that employee, when acting as a volunteer firefighter or a volunteer provider of emergency medical services, is absent from or late to the employee's employment in order to respond to an emergency prior to the time the employee is to report to work. An employer may charge any time that an employee who is a volunteer firefighter or a volunteer provider of emergency medical services loses from employment because of the employee's response to an emergency against the employee's regular pay.

(B) An employee who is a volunteer firefighter or volunteer provider of emergency medical services shall do all of the following:

(1) Not later than thirty days after receiving certification as a volunteer firefighter or a volunteer provider of emergency services, submit to the employee's employer a written notification signed by the chief of the volunteer fire department with which the employee serves, or the medical director or chief administrator of the cooperating physician advisory board of the emergency medical organization with which the employee serves, to notify the employer of the employee's status as a volunteer firefighter or volunteer provider of emergency services;

(2) Make every effort to notify the employee's employer that the employee may report late to or be absent from work due to the employee's dispatch to an emergency.

If notification of dispatch to an emergency cannot be made either due to the extreme circumstances of the emergency or the inability to contact the employer, then the employee shall submit to the employee's employer a written explanation from the chief of the volunteer fire department with which the employee serves, or the medical director or chief administrator of the cooperating physician advisory board of the emergency medical service organization with which the employee serves, as applicable, to explain why prior notice was not given.

(C) At the employer's request, an employee who loses time from the employee's employment to respond to an emergency shall provide the employer with a written statement from the chief of the volunteer fire department or the medical director or chief administrator of the cooperating physician advisory board of the emergency medical service organization, as applicable, stating that the employee responded to an emergency and listing the time of that response.

(D) An employee who is a member of a volunteer fire department, or who is employed by a political subdivision of this state as a volunteer firefighter, or who is a volunteer provider of emergency medical services shall notify that employee's employer when the employee's status as a volunteer firefighter or volunteer provider of emergency medical services changes, including when the employee's status as a volunteer firefighter or volunteer provider of emergency medical services is terminated.

(E) If an employer purposely violates division (A) of this section, the employee may bring a civil action for reinstatement to the employee's former position of employment, payment of back wages, and full reinstatement of fringe benefits and seniority rights. An action to enforce this section shall be commenced within one year after the date of the violation in the court of common pleas of the county where the place of employment is located.

(F) As used in this section:

(1) "Emergency" means going to, attending to, or coming from a fire, hazardous or toxic materials spill and cleanup, medical emergency, or other situation that poses an imminent threat of loss of life or property to which the fire department or provider of emergency medical services has been or later could be dispatched.

(2) "Emergency medical services" and "emergency medical service organization" have the same meanings as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Volunteer firefighter" has the same meaning as in section 146.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 4113.42 | Peer support team member roster.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 545 - 134th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "peer support team" and "peer support team member" have the same meanings as in section 2317.023 of the Revised Code.

(B) An employer or organization that appoints a peer support team, or an advisor designated by an employer or organization under division (F) of section 2317.023 of the Revised Code, shall keep a roster of the peer support team members that make up each peer support team maintained by the employer or organization. The employer, organization, or advisor shall do both of the following in the roster:

(1) Identify each peer support team member providing services at the time the roster is created by first and last name;

(2) Identify whether the member is in compliance with the peer support training requirements necessary for the testimonial privilege described in section 2317.023 of the Revised Code.

(C) The roster shall not include the address, telephone number, or other contact information for a team member. The employer, organization, or advisor shall update the roster on a regular basis.

(D) The roster required by this section is not a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code. However, the employer, organization, or advisor shall make the roster available at the request of a prosecutor, investigator, or any other individual who has a legal right or duty to determine whether a peer support team member is prohibited from testifying in any proceeding to which section 2317.023 of the Revised Code applies.

Last updated February 8, 2023 at 5:23 PM

Section 4113.51 | Whistleblower's protection definitions.

• Effective: October 31, 1990
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 588 - 118th General Assembly

As used in sections 4113.51 to 4113.53 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Employee" means any person who performs a service for wages or other remuneration for an employer.

(B) "Employer" means any person who has one or more employees. "Employer" includes an agent of an employer, the state or any agency or instrumentality of the state, and any municipal corporation, county, township, school district, or other political subdivision or any agency or instrumentality thereof.

(C) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the Revised Code and also includes a public agency or any other legal entity.

(D) "Peace officer" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Political subdivision" has the same meaning as in division (F) of section 2744.01 of the Revised Code.

(F) "Prosecuting authority" means the prosecuting attorney of a county or the director of law, village solicitor, or similar chief legal officer of a municipal corporation.

(G) "Inspector general" means the inspector general appointed under section 121.48 of the Revised Code.

Section 4113.512 | Reports from employees providing health care or supervising provision of health care.

• Effective: April 10, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 511 - 123rd General Assembly

The employer of an employee whose duties include providing health care or supervising an individual who provides health care may make information available to the employee explaining the employee's duty to make reports pursuant to section 4113.52 of the Revised Code, as well as the employee's opportunity to make reports regarding patient safety pursuant to section 3701.91 of the Revised Code.

Section 4113.52 | Reporting violations by state and local officials and employees.

• Effective: March 28, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 91 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1)(a) All state officials and employees employed by or appointed to a state agency as defined in division (D) of section 121.41 of the Revised Code shall report alleged fraud, theft in office, or the misuse or misappropriation of public money by a state official or employee to the inspector general. All other state employees and elected officials shall report fraud, theft in office, or the misuse or misappropriation of public money to the auditor of state's fraud-reporting system under section 117.103 of the Revised Code.

(b) A person is required to make a report under division (A)(1)(c) of this section if the person meets any of the following:

(i) The person is elected to local public office.

(ii) The person is appointed to or within a local public office.

(iii) The person has a fiduciary duty to a local public office.

(iv) The person holds a supervisory position within a local public office.

(v) The person is employed in the department or office responsible for processing any revenue or expenses of the local public office.

(c) If a person identified in division (A)(1)(b) of this section, during the person's term of office or in the course of the person's employment, becomes aware of fraud, theft in office, or the misuse or misappropriation of public money, the person shall timely notify the auditor of state via the auditor of state's fraud-reporting system under section 117.103 of the Revised Code or via other means.

(d) A person who serves as legal counsel, or who is employed as legal counsel, for a local public office or a state official or employee employed by or appointed to a state agency is not required to make a report under division (A)(1)(a) or (c) of this section concerning any communication received from a client in an attorney-client relationship.

(e) Divisions (A)(1)(a), (b), and (c) of this section do not apply to a prosecuting attorney, director of law, village solicitor, or similar chief legal officer of a municipal corporation, or to any employee of the prosecuting attorney, director of law, village solicitor, or similar chief legal officer of a municipal corporation.

(f) If a person becomes aware in the course of the person's employment of a violation of any state or federal statute or any ordinance or regulation of a political subdivision that the person's employer has authority to correct, and the person reasonably believes that the violation is a criminal offense that is likely to cause an imminent risk of physical harm to persons or a hazard to public health or safety, a felony, or an improper solicitation for a contribution, the person orally shall notify the person's supervisor or other responsible officer of the person's employer of the violation and subsequently shall file with that supervisor or officer a written report that provides sufficient detail to identify and describe the violation. If the employer does not correct the violation or make a reasonable and good faith effort to correct the violation within twenty-four hours after the oral notification or the receipt of the report, whichever is earlier, the person may file a written report that provides sufficient detail to identify and describe the violation with the prosecuting authority of the county or municipal corporation where the violation occurred, with a peace officer, with the inspector general if the violation is within the inspector general's jurisdiction, with the auditor of state's fraud-reporting system under section 117.103 of the Revised Code if applicable, or with any other appropriate public official or agency that has regulatory authority over the employer and the industry, trade, or business in which the employer is engaged.

(g) If a person makes a report under division (A)(1)(f) of this section, the employer, within twenty-four hours after the oral notification was made or the report was received or by the close of business on the next regular business day following the day on which the oral notification was made or the report was received, whichever is later, shall notify the person, in writing, of any effort of the employer to correct the alleged violation or hazard or of the absence of the alleged violation or hazard.

(2) If a person becomes aware in the course of the person's employment of a violation of Chapter 3704., 3734., 6109., or 6111. of the Revised Code that is a criminal offense, the person directly may notify, either orally or in writing, any appropriate public official or agency that has regulatory authority over the employer and the industry, trade, or business in which the employer is engaged.

(3) If a person becomes aware in the course of the person's employment of a violation by a fellow employee of any state or federal statute, any ordinance or regulation of a political subdivision, or any work rule or company policy of the person's employer and the person reasonably believes that the violation is a criminal offense that is likely to cause an imminent risk of physical harm to persons or a hazard to public health or safety, a felony, or an improper solicitation for a contribution, the person orally shall notify the person's supervisor or other responsible officer of the person's employer of the violation and subsequently shall file with that supervisor or officer a written report that provides sufficient detail to identify and describe the violation.

(4) The reporting requirements under division (A) of this section are not intended to infringe, and should not be interpreted as infringing on, the constitutional right against self-incrimination.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this section, no employer shall take any disciplinary or retaliatory action against an person for making any report authorized by division (A)(1) or (2) of this section, or as a result of the person's having made any inquiry or taken any other action to ensure the accuracy of any information reported under either such division. No employer shall take any disciplinary or retaliatory action against a person for making any report authorized by division (A)(3) of this section if the person made a reasonable and good faith effort to determine the accuracy of any information so reported, or as a result of the person's having made any inquiry or taken any other action to ensure the accuracy of any information reported under that division. For purposes of this division, disciplinary or retaliatory action by the employer includes, without limitation, doing any of the following:

(1) Removing or suspending the person from employment;

(2) Withholding from the person salary increases or employee benefits to which the person is otherwise entitled;

(3) Transferring or reassigning the person;

(4) Denying the person a promotion that otherwise would have been received;

(5) Reducing the person in pay or position.

(C) A person shall make a reasonable and good faith effort to determine the accuracy of any information reported under division (A)(1) or (2) of this section. If the person who makes a report under either division fails to make such an effort, the person may be subject to disciplinary action by the person's employer, including suspension or removal, for reporting information without a reasonable basis to do so under division (A)(1) or (2) of this section.

(D) If an employer takes any disciplinary or retaliatory action against an person as a result of the person's having filed a report under division (A) of this section, the person may bring a civil action for appropriate injunctive relief or for the remedies set forth in division (E) of this section, or both, within one hundred eighty days after the date the disciplinary or retaliatory action was taken, in a court of common pleas in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure. A civil action under this division is not available to a person as a remedy for any disciplinary or retaliatory action taken by an appointing authority against the person as a result of the person's having filed a report under division (A) of section 124.341 of the Revised Code.

(E) The court, in rendering a judgment for the person in an action brought pursuant to division (D) of this section, may order, as it determines appropriate, reinstatement of the person to the same position that the person held at the time of the disciplinary or retaliatory action and at the same site of employment or to a comparable position at that site, the payment of back wages, full reinstatement of fringe benefits and seniority rights, or any combination of these remedies. The court also may award the prevailing party all or a portion of the costs of litigation and, if the person who brought the action prevails in the action, may award the prevailing person reasonable attorney's fees, witness fees, and fees for experts who testify at trial, in an amount the court determines appropriate. If the court determines that an employer deliberately has violated division (B) of this section, the court, in making an award of back pay, may include interest at the rate specified in section 1343.03 of the Revised Code.

(F) Any report filed with the inspector general under this section shall be filed as a complaint in accordance with section 121.46 of the Revised Code.

(G) As used in this section:

(1) "Contribution" has the same meaning as in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Improper solicitation for a contribution" means a solicitation for a contribution that satisfies all of the following:

(a) The solicitation violates division (B), (C), or (D) of section 3517.092 of the Revised Code;

(b) The solicitation is made in person by a public official or by an employee who has a supervisory role within the public office;

(c) The public official or employee knowingly made the solicitation, and the solicitation violates division (B), (C), or (D) of section 3517.092 of the Revised Code;

(d) The employee reporting the solicitation is an employee of the same public office as the public official or the employee with the supervisory role who is making the solicitation.

(3) "Misappropriation of public money" means knowingly using public money or public property for an unauthorized, improper, or unlawful purpose to serve a private or personal benefit or interest.

(4) "Misuse of public money" means knowingly using public money or public property in a manner not authorized by law.

(5) "Public office" has the same meaning as in section 117.01 of the Revised Code.

(H) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of an auditor to make inquiries or interview state or local government employees or officials or otherwise perform audit procedures related to fraud during the course of an audit or attestation engagement.

Last updated January 17, 2024 at 5:29 PM

Section 4113.53 | Effect of collective bargaining agreement, confidentiality requirements.

• Effective: June 29, 1988
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 406 - 117th General Assembly

Section 4113.52 of the Revised Code does not diminish or impair the rights of a person under a collective bargaining agreement, or permit disclosures that would diminish or impair the rights of any person to the continued protection of confidentiality of communications if a statute or common law provides such protection.

Section 4113.61 | Time limitations for payments to subcontractors and materialmen.

• Effective: September 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

(A)(1) If a subcontractor or material supplier submits an application or request for payment or an invoice for materials to a contractor in sufficient time to allow the contractor to include the application, request, or invoice in the contractor's own pay request submitted to an owner, the contractor, within ten calendar days after receipt of payment from the owner for improvements to property, shall pay to the:

(a) Subcontractor, an amount that is equal to the percentage of completion of the subcontractor's contract allowed by the owner for the amount of labor or work performed;

(b) Material supplier, an amount that is equal to all or that portion of the invoice for materials which represents the materials furnished by the material supplier.

The contractor may reduce the amount paid by any retainage provision contained in the contract, invoice, or purchase order between the contractor and the subcontractor or material supplier, and may withhold amounts that may be necessary to resolve disputed liens or claims involving the work or labor performed or material furnished by the subcontractor or material supplier.

If the contractor fails to comply with division (A)(1) of this section, the contractor shall pay the subcontractor or material supplier, in addition to the payment due, interest in the amount of eighteen per cent per annum of the payment due, beginning on the eleventh day following the receipt of payment from the owner and ending on the date of full payment of the payment due plus interest to the subcontractor or material supplier.

(2) If a lower tier subcontractor or lower tier material supplier submits an application or request for payment or an invoice for materials to a subcontractor, material supplier, or other lower tier subcontractor or lower tier material supplier in sufficient time to allow the subcontractor, material supplier, or other lower tier subcontractor or lower tier material supplier to include the application, request, or invoice in the subcontractor's, material supplier's, or other lower tier subcontractor's or lower tier material supplier's own pay request submitted to a contractor, other subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier, the subcontractor, material supplier, or other lower tier subcontractor or lower tier material supplier, within ten calendar days after receipt of payment from the contractor, other subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier for improvements to property, shall pay to the:

(a) Lower tier subcontractor, an amount that is equal to the percentage of completion of the lower tier subcontractor's contract allowed by the owner for the amount of labor or work performed;

(b) Lower tier material supplier, an amount that is equal to all or that portion of the invoice for materials which represents the materials furnished by the lower tier material supplier.

The subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier may reduce the amount paid by any retainage provision contained in the contract, invoice, or purchase order between the subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier and the lower tier subcontractor or lower tier material supplier, and may withhold amounts that may be necessary to resolve disputed liens or claims involving the work or labor performed or material furnished by the lower tier subcontractor or lower tier material supplier.

If the subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier fails to comply with division (A)(2) of this section, the subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier shall pay the lower tier subcontractor or lower tier material supplier, in addition to the payment due, interest in the amount of eighteen per cent per annum of the payment due, beginning on the eleventh day following the receipt of payment from the contractor, other subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier and ending on the date of full payment of the payment due plus interest to the lower tier subcontractor or lower tier material supplier.

(3) If a contractor receives any final retainage from the owner for improvements to property, the contractor shall pay from that retainage each subcontractor and material supplier the subcontractor's or material supplier's proportion of the retainage, within ten calendar days after receipt of the retainage from the owner, or within the time period provided in a contract, invoice, or purchase order between the contractor and the subcontractor or material supplier, whichever time period is shorter, provided that the contractor has determined that the subcontractor's or material supplier's work, labor, and materials have been satisfactorily performed or furnished and that the owner has approved the subcontractor's or material supplier's work, labor, and materials.

If the contractor fails to pay a subcontractor or material supplier within the appropriate time period, the contractor shall pay the subcontractor or material supplier, in addition to the retainage due, interest in the amount of eighteen per cent per annum of the retainage due, beginning on the eleventh day following the receipt of the retainage from the owner and ending on the date of full payment of the retainage due plus interest to the subcontractor or material supplier.

(4) If a subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier receives any final retainage from the contractor or other subcontractor, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier for improvements to property, the subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier shall pay from that retainage each lower tier subcontractor or lower tier the lower tier subcontractor's or lower tier material supplier's proportion of the retainage, within ten calendar days after receipt of payment from the contractor or other subcontractor, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier, or within the time period provided in a contract, invoice, or purchase order between the subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier and the lower tier subcontractor or lower tier material supplier, whichever time period is shorter, provided that the subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier has determined that the lower tier subcontractor's or lower tier material supplier's work, labor, and materials have been satisfactorily performed or furnished and that the owner has approved the lower tier subcontractor's or lower tier material supplier's work, labor, and materials.

If the subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier fails to pay the lower tier subcontractor or lower tier material supplier within the appropriate time period, the subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier shall pay the lower tier subcontractor or lower tier material supplier, in addition to the retainage due, interest in the amount of eighteen per cent per annum of the retainage due, beginning on the eleventh day following the receipt of the retainage from the contractor or other subcontractor, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier and ending on the date of full payment of the retainage due plus interest to the lower tier subcontractor or lower tier material supplier.

(5) A contractor, subcontractor, or lower tier subcontractor shall pay a laborer wages due within ten days of payment of any application or request for payment or the receipt of any retainage from an owner, contractor, subcontractor, or lower tier subcontractor.

If the contractor, subcontractor, or lower tier subcontractor fails to pay the laborer wages due within the appropriate time period, the contractor, subcontractor, or lower tier subcontractor shall pay the laborer, in addition to the wages due, interest in the amount of eighteen per cent per annum of the wages due, beginning on the eleventh day following the receipt of payment from the owner, contractor, subcontractor, or lower tier subcontractor and ending on the date of full payment of the wages due plus interest to the laborer.

(B)(1) If a contractor, subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier has not made payment in compliance with division (A)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section within thirty days after payment is due, a subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, lower tier material supplier, or laborer may file a civil action to recover the amount due plus the interest provided in those divisions. If the court finds in the civil action that a contractor, subcontractor, material supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier material supplier has not made payment in compliance with those divisions, the court shall award the interest specified in those divisions, in addition to the amount due. Except as provided in division (B)(3) of this section, the court shall award the prevailing party reasonable attorney fees and court costs.

(2) In making a determination to award attorney fees under division (B)(1) of this section, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including but not limited to the following:

(a) The presence or absence of good faith allegations or defenses asserted by the parties;

(b) The proportion of the amount of recovery as it relates to the amount demanded;

(c) The nature of the services rendered and the time expended in rendering the services.

(3) The court shall not award attorney fees under division (B)(1) of this section if the court determines, following a hearing on the payment of attorney fees, that the payment of attorney fees to the prevailing party would be inequitable.

(C) This section does not apply to any construction or improvement of any single-, two-, or three-family detached dwelling houses.

(D)(1) No provision of this section regarding entitlement to interest, attorney fees, or court costs may be waived by agreement and any such term in any contract or agreement is void and unenforceable as against public policy.

(2) This section shall not be construed as impairing or affecting, in any way, the terms and conditions of any contract, invoice, purchase order, or any other agreement between a contractor and a subcontractor or a material supplier or between a subcontractor and another subcontractor, a material supplier, a lower tier subcontractor, or a lower tier material supplier, except that if such terms and conditions contain time periods which are longer than any of the time periods specified in divisions (A)(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of this section or interest at a percentage less than the interest stated in those divisions, then the provisions of this section shall prevail over such terms and conditions.

(E) Notwithstanding the definition of lower tier material supplier in this section, a person is not a lower tier material supplier unless the materials supplied by the person are:

(1) Furnished with the intent, as evidenced by the contract of sale, the delivery order, delivery to the site, or by other evidence that the materials are to be used on a particular structure or improvement;

(2) Incorporated in the improvement or consumed as normal wastage in the course of the improvement; or

(3) Specifically fabricated for incorporation in the improvement and not readily resalable in the ordinary course of the fabricator's business even if not actually incorporated in the improvement.

(F) As used in this section:

(1) "Contractor" means any person who undertakes to construct, alter, erect, improve, repair, demolish, remove, dig, or drill any part of a structure or improvement under a contract with an owner, a "construction manager" or "construction manager at risk" as those terms are defined in section 9.33 of the Revised Code, or a "design-build firm" as that term is defined in section 153.65 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Laborer," "material supplier," "subcontractor," and "wages" have the same meanings as in section 1311.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Lower tier subcontractor" means a subcontractor who is not in privity of contract with a contractor but is in privity of contract with another subcontractor.

(4) "Lower tier material supplier" means a material supplier who is not in privity of contract with a contractor but is in privity of contract with another subcontractor or a material supplier.

(5) "Wages due" means the wages due to a laborer as of the date a contractor or subcontractor receives payment for any application or request for payment or retainage from any owner, contractor, or subcontractor.

(6) "Owner" includes the state, and a county, township, municipal corporation, school district, or other political subdivision of the state, and any public agency, authority, board, commission, instrumentality, or special district of or in the state or a county, township, municipal corporation, school district, or other political subdivision of the state, and any officer or agent thereof and relates to all the interests either legal or equitable, which a person may have in the real estate upon which improvements are made, including interests held by any person under contracts of purchase, whether in writing or otherwise.

Section 4113.62 | Construction contract provisions against public policy.

• Effective: March 22, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 491 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) Any provision of a construction contract, agreement, or understanding that waives rights under a surety bond is void and unenforceable as against public policy.

(B) Any provision of a construction contract, agreement, or understanding, or specification or other documentation that is made a part of a construction contract, agreement, or understanding, that waives any pending or asserted claim on the basis of final payment made from one person to another for the construction contract, agreement, or understanding, is void and unenforceable as against public policy, when the person against whom the claim is pending or asserted has received notice of that pending or asserted claim. Nothing in this division precludes parties to a construction contract, agreement, or understanding from entering into a subsequent settlement agreement arising from a claim under that construction contract, agreement, or understanding.

(C)(1) Any provision of a construction contract, agreement, or understanding, or specification or other documentation that is made a part of a construction contract, agreement, or understanding, that waives or precludes liability for delay during the course of a construction contract when the cause of the delay is a proximate result of the owner's act or failure to act, or that waives any other remedy for a construction contract when the cause of the delay is a proximate result of the owner's act or failure to act, is void and unenforceable as against public policy.

(2) Any provision of a construction subcontract, agreement, or understanding, or specification or other documentation that is made part of a construction subcontract, agreement, or understanding, that waives or precludes liability for delay during the course of a construction subcontract when the cause of the delay is a proximate result of the owner's or contractor's act or failure to act, or that waives any other remedy for a construction subcontract when the cause of the delay is a proximate result of the owner's or contractor's act or failure to act, is void and unenforceable as against public policy.

(D)(1) Any provision of a construction contract, agreement, understanding, or specification or other document or documentation that is made a part of a construction contract, subcontract, agreement, or understanding for an improvement, or portion thereof, to real estate in this state that makes the construction contract or subcontract, agreement, or other understanding subject to the laws of another state is void and unenforceable as against public policy.

(2) Any provision of a construction contract, agreement, understanding, specification, or other document or documentation that is made a part of a construction contract, subcontract, agreement, or understanding for an improvement, or portion thereof, to real estate in this state that requires any litigation, arbitration, or other dispute resolution process provided for in the construction contract, subcontract, agreement, or understanding to occur in another state is void and unenforceable as against public policy. Any litigation, arbitration, or other dispute resolution process provided for in the construction contract, subcontract, agreement, or understanding shall take place in the county or counties in which the improvement to real estate is located or at another location within this state mutually agreed upon by the parties.

(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to any promissory note, loan agreement, mortgage, security agreement, assignment of rents, or any other contract, agreement, understanding, or other document or documentation to which a financial institution, as defined in section 5725.01 of the Revised Code, or any affiliate, as defined in division (A)(1) of section 1109.53 of the Revised Code, is a party.

(E) No construction contract, agreement, or understanding that makes payment from a contractor to a subcontractor or materials supplier, or from a subcontractor to a materials supplier, lower tier subcontractor, or lower tier materials supplier contingent or conditioned upon receipt of payment from any other person shall prohibit a person from filing a claim to protect rights under sections 153.56, 1311.06, and 1311.26 of the Revised Code from expiring during the pendency of receipt of payment.

(F) Nothing in this section shall be construed to create a liability for a surety on a bond that is greater than that of its principal, or limit the availability to a surety of any defenses available to its principal.

(G) As used in this section:

(1) "Contractor" and "lower tier subcontractor" have the same meanings as in section 4113.61 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Materials supplier" includes any person by whom any materials are furnished in furtherance of an improvement.

(3) "Lower tier materials supplier" means a materials supplier who is not in privity of contract with a contractor but is in privity of contract with another subcontractor or a materials supplier.

(4) "Subcontractor," "improvement," and "materials" have the same meanings as in section 1311.01 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Construction contract" means a contract or agreement for the design, planning, construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, moving, demolition, or excavation of a building, structure, highway, road, appurtenance, or appliance situated on real estate located in this state.

Section 4113.71 | Immunity of employer as to job performance information disclosures.

• Effective: July 3, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 44 - 121st General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Employee" means an individual currently or formerly employed by an employer.

(2) "Employer" means the state, any political subdivision of the state, any person employing one or more individuals in this state, and any person directly or indirectly acting in the interest of the state, political subdivision, or such person.

(3) "Political subdivision" and "state" have the same meanings as in section 2744.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) An employer who is requested by an employee or a prospective employer of an employee to disclose to a prospective employer of that employee information pertaining to the job performance of that employee for the employer and who discloses the requested information to the prospective employer is not liable in damages in a civil action to that employee, the prospective employer, or any other person for any harm sustained as a proximate result of making the disclosure or of any information disclosed, unless the plaintiff in a civil action establishes, either or both of the following:

(1) By a preponderance of the evidence that the employer disclosed particular information with the knowledge that it was false, with the deliberate intent to mislead the prospective employer or another person, in bad faith, or with malicious purpose;

(2) By a preponderance of the evidence that the disclosure of particular information by the employer constitutes an unlawful discriminatory practice described in section 4112.02, 4112.021, or 4112.022 of the Revised Code.

(C) If the court finds that the verdict of the jury was in favor of the defendant, the court shall determine whether the lawsuit brought under division (B) of this section constituted frivolous conduct as defined in division (A) of section 2323.51 of the Revised Code, if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the lawsuit constituted frivolous conduct, it may order the plaintiff to pay reasonable attorney's fees and court costs of the defendant.

(D)(1) This section does not create a new cause of action or substantive legal right against an employer.

(2) This section does not affect any immunities from civil liability or defenses established by another section of the Revised Code or available at common law to which an employer may be entitled under circumstances not covered by this section.

Section 4113.75 | Automatic contributions to employee retirement plan.

• Effective: March 23, 2015
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 42 - 130th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Employee" and "employer" have the same meanings as in section 4113.51 of the Revised Code except that "employer" does not include the state, any municipal corporation, county, township, school district, or other political subdivision, or any agency or instrumentality of any of those entities.

(2) "Employee retirement plan" means an employee retirement plan described in section 401(k) or 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code or a payroll deduction individual retirement account plan described in section 408 or 408A of the Internal Revenue Code.

(3) "Internal Revenue Code" means the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 1 et seq., as amended.

(B)(1) Notwithstanding section 4113.15 of the Revised Code, an employer may create and implement a program for automatically withholding a specified percentage of employees' wages to be contributed on behalf of the employees to an employee retirement plan. The program shall allow an employee to affirmatively elect not to participate in the program and not have wages withheld under the program.

(2) The employer shall provide each participating employee with all of the following:

(a) Notice of the percentage of the employee's wages that will be withheld and contributed on behalf of the employee to an employee retirement plan unless the employee affirmatively elects not to participate in the plan;

(b) At least one opportunity each calendar quarter to select investments for the employee's contributions between investment alternatives available under the plan;

(c) A description of every investment alternative available for employee investment direction under the plan;

(d) Notice of the default investment decisions that will be made in the absence of the employee's direction;

(e) A brief description of available procedures that allow an employee to change investments;

(f) A report, at least once a year, of the actual default investments made of contributions attributable to the employee.

(3) An employer that creates or implements a program described in division (B) of this section shall provide its participating employees with reasonable opportunities to affirmatively elect not to participate in the program and not have wages withheld under the program. An affirmative election not to participate in a program shall be effective as soon after the employer receives the election as is administratively feasible.

Section 4113.81 | Collective bargaining.

• Effective: September 29, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly

The state shall not engage in collective bargaining with individuals who are excluded from coverage under Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code and the "National Labor Relations Act of 1935," 49 Stat. 449, 29 U.S.C. 151, as amended. This section does not apply with respect to individuals who are exempt from Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code pursuant to division (C) of section 4117.01 of the Revised Code but with whom the state may collectively bargain pursuant to division (C) of section 4117.03 of the Revised Code.

Section 4113.85 | Matters subject to employer policy.

• Effective: March 21, 2017
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 331 - 131st General Assembly

(A)(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Employee" means any individual employed by an employer.

(b) "Employer" means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, or any person or group of persons, acting in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee, but does not include the state, its instrumentalities, a political subdivision of the state, or an instrumentality of a political subdivision.

(c) "Fringe benefit" means any benefit for which the employer would incur an expense, including health, welfare, or retirement benefits, whether paid for entirely by the employee or on the basis of a joint employer-employee contribution; leaves of absence; or vacation, separation, sick, or holiday pay.

(2) In construing the meaning of the terms "reporting time," "on call," and "split shift" in this section, the court shall give due consideration and great weight to the United States department of labor's and federal courts' interpretations of those terms under the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938," 52 Stat. 1060, 29 U.S.C. 201 as amended, and the regulations adopted pursuant to it.

(B) Except as otherwise expressly provided in state or federal law, the following matters are exclusively the result of an employer's policy, an agreement between an employer and the employer's employees, a contract between an employer and the employer's employees, or a collective bargaining agreement between an employer and the employer's employees:

(1) The number of hours an employee is required to work or be on call for work;

(2) The time when an employee is required to work or be on call for work;

(3) The location where an employee is required to work;

(4) The amount of notification an employee receives of work schedule assignments or changes to work schedule assignments, including any addition or reduction of hours, cancellation of a shift, or change in the date or time of a work shift;

(5) Minimizing fluctuations in the number of hours an employee is scheduled to work on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis;

(6) Additional payment for reporting time when work is or becomes unavailable, for being on call for work, or for working a split shift;

(7) Whether an employer will provide advance notice of an employee's initial work or shift schedule, notice of new schedules, or notice of changed schedules, including whether an employer will provide employees with predictive schedules;

(8) Whether an employer will provide additional hours of work to employees the employer currently employs before employing additional workers;

(9) Whether an employer will provide employees with fringe benefits and the type and amount of those benefits.

(C) Nothing in this section requires an employer to adopt a policy concerning any of the matters described in division (B) of this section.

(D) Nothing in this section affects the authority provided by case law, the Revised Code, or Section 3 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution, for a political subdivision to adopt a resolution or ordinance to limit the hours an employer operates.

Section 4113.99 | Penalty.

• Effective: January 1, 1974
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 581 - 110th General Assembly

(A) Whoever violates section 4113.15 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(B) Whoever violates section 4113.16, 4113.18, or 4113.19 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(C) Whoever violates section 4113.17 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense; for each subsequent offense such person is guilty of a misdemeanor in the fourth degree.