Ohio Labor Laws: Every Rule With Its 2026 Figure — Best Proven Guide (2026)

Ohio labor laws in one place: the minimum wage is $11.00, after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate, no Ohio law requires a meal break for adult workers; if an employer gives one of 30 minutes or more it may be…, no paid sick leave is required,

and the final paycheck is due next regular payday on the semimonthly schedule: wages for the 1st-15th are due by the 1st of the next month… if you are fired.

This guide gives the exact ohio labor laws rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next. Rules verified against the statute on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration or an attorney before you rely on it.

Ohio Labor Laws: Minimum Wage and Overtime

The minimum wage is $11.00 (employers with $405,000 or more in gross receipts; $7.25 below that). After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Ohio — only the weekly total counts.

Ohio Labor Laws: Breaks and Lunch

No Ohio law requires a meal break for adult workers; if an employer gives one of 30 minutes or more it may be unpaid only if you are fully relieved of duty (federal FLSA rule). No Ohio law requires paid rest breaks; under the federal FLSA any short break of 5 to 20 minutes an employer does give must be paid.

Ohio Labor Laws at a Glance

Rules verified against the statute on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.

Ohio Labor Laws: Hours Worked, 12-Hour Shifts and Days of Rest

Ohio does not appear to have a general law that limits 12-hour shifts or mandatory overtime for adult workers in private jobs. Several bills to ban mandatory overtime for hospital nurses have been introduced, but none appears to have become law, so confirm the current rule with the state agency.

Ohio Labor Laws for 16 and 17 Year Olds

Ohio generally does not let 16- and 17-year-olds who must attend school start work early on school days or work late on nights before a school day. They also need an age and schooling certificate (work permit), and they cannot do jobs the state lists as hazardous for minors. Confirm the exact hours with the Ohio Department of Commerce.

Ohio Labor Laws: Sick Leave and PTO

No Ohio law requires paid sick leave; the employer’s own policy or a union contract controls, and the federal FMLA gives up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave at employers of 50 or more. The statute counts vacation pay as a fringe benefit only when an agreement or policy promises it; the written policy controls the payout.

Ohio Labor Laws: Final Paycheck

Next regular payday on the semimonthly schedule: wages for the 1st-15th are due by the 1st of the next month, and wages for the 16th-end by the 15th (no separate final-check deadline) if the employer ends the job; same semimonthly schedule: by the 1st or the 15th, whichever regular payday comes first for the pay period if you quit.

Penalty: if wages stay unpaid 30 days past the regular payday with no genuine dispute, liquidated damages of 6% of the amount or $200, whichever is greater (4113.15(B)).

Ohio Labor Laws: Non Compete, Right to Work and At-Will

Ohio has no non compete statute; the Ohio Supreme Court’s Raimonde v.

Van Vlerah (1975) test governs: a covenant is enforced if the restraint is no greater than required to protect the employer’s legitimate interests, imposes no undue hardship on the worker, and does not injure the public — and an overbroad covenant is modified and enforced to the extent reasonable rather than thrown out, though a 2024 Court of Appeals decision (Kross) confirms that rewriting is within the trial court’s discretion,

not required.

No — Ohio is not a right-to-work state: a union contract with a union-security clause may require you to pay dues or an agency fee as a condition of employment (federal law already bars forcing you to formally join). Ohio is an at-will state: either side may end the job at any time for any lawful reason.

Ohio Labor Laws: Required Posters

Ohio employers generally must display the Ohio minimum wage poster, the workers’ compensation certificate or notice, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission fair employment poster, and the minor labor law poster if they hire minors. Since July 2025, employers may be able to post these online instead of in the workplace, as long as workers can easily reach them.

Other Ohio Labor Laws to Know

Ohio’s minimum wage is adjusted for inflation each year under the state constitution, so it can differ from the federal rate. Minors under 18 generally need a work permit before they start a job. Most claimants can file wage complaints with the Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration, but confirm the details with the state agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum wage under Ohio labor laws?

$11.00 (employers with $405,000 or more in gross receipts; $7.25 below that).

When is overtime owed under Ohio labor laws?

After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Ohio — only the weekly total counts.

Are breaks required under Ohio labor laws?

No Ohio law requires a meal break for adult workers; if an employer gives one of 30 minutes or more it may be unpaid only if you are fully relieved of duty (federal FLSA rule).

Is paid sick leave required under Ohio labor laws?

No state mandate.

When is my final paycheck due under Ohio labor laws?

Next regular payday on the semimonthly schedule: wages for the 1st-15th are due by the 1st of the next month, and wages for the 16th-end by the 15th (no separate final-check deadline).

Official Ohio Sources & Resources

• Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration: https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/industrial-compliance/bureau-of-wage-and-hour-administration
• Ohio statute (Ohio Rev. Code 4113.15): https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-4111
• Verified source: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4113.15
• U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov

This ohio labor laws guide was last verified against official Ohio sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.

More Ohio Workplace Rights Guides

• Ohio Overtime Laws: Threshold, Rate and Exemptions
• Ohio Break Laws: Meal and Rest Breaks
• Ohio Sick Leave Law: Accrual and Caps
• Ohio Final Paycheck Law: Deadlines and Penalties
• Ohio PTO Laws: Is Unused Vacation Paid Out?
• Ohio Non Compete Law: Is Yours Enforceable?
• Ohio At Will Employment Law: The Exceptions
• Ohio Right to Work: What It Means for You
• Ohio Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
• Unemployment and Workplace Rights Guides for All 50 States

Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Final-paycheck deadlines, penalties and non compete rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current rule with your state labor department or a licensed attorney before you act.