Ohio is not a state with the right to work and does not implement these laws on unionized employers. Therefore, if you work for a unionized employer, you are required to pay union dues and maintain your union membership. If you don't continue to pay dues and you are no longer a member of the union, your employer can terminate your employment without legal consequences. Twenty-eight states and four out of five of Ohio's neighboring states have enacted right-to-work laws.
Clearly, the future of the nation is for all workers to have the right to work without the burden of mandatory union payments as a condition of employment. Ohio is left behind and it's time for people to decide Ohio's future. In addition, your employer's HR department has the power to withhold information it has about you, contrary to law in other states. If a state enforces the Right to Work Act, employees who work for unionized employers can choose to pay union dues or not.
This law applies during hiring and onboarding, during employment, and throughout the termination process. Some exceptions to the minimum wage law include employees who work for family members, workers who receive tips, volunteers, or workers under the age of 16. Supporters of so-called “right to work” laws argue that they advocate for a cause whose noble purpose is to promote personal freedom and promote economic growth. The at-will employment law sounds similar to the right to work law, but these laws deal with different labor issues. Civil rights laws and child labor laws ensure that employers treat workers fairly and that they are not wrongfully fired.
Although Ohio is not a proper working state, it does have another set of laws called Employment at Will Laws. If you were wrongfully fired, meaning you were fired for an action or condition that is protected by state or federal law, you can file a lawsuit against your employer. As a worker in Ohio, you're not protected by right-to-work laws, but there are several other labor laws that ensure you're safe from unfair treatment by your employer. While the Right to Work Act addresses unions and their relationship with employees, at-will employment laws refer to contracts and dismissals of employees.
Yes, if an employee reports illegal conditions in a workplace or illegal actions by an employer, that employee is protected by Ohio law. The federal government allows states to decide independently if they want to follow right-to-work laws. Others suggest that right-to-work laws benefit large corporations because unions don't have as much support for implementing things that would benefit workers, such as higher wages and better working conditions. These laws restrict the hours of work that minors can perform, especially during school days and school nights.
Again, reporting these violations will not allow the employee to be unlawfully terminated; the employee is protected in the State of Ohio.
