The Friedmann Firm, LLC

The Ohio Whistleblower Protection Act makes it illegal for employers in the private and public sectors to punish or harass workers who report wrongdoing by their employer, boss or colleagues. An employee who does suffer retaliation for blowing the whistle on criminal or dangerous activities has rights under the whistleblower act to sue to get their job back and to receive monetary damages. WHAT THE LAW SAYS Section 4113.51(A) of the Ohio Revised Code (O.R.C.) states If an employee becomes aware in the course of the employee’s employment of a violation of any state or federal statute or any ordinance or regulation of a political subdivision that the employee’s employer has authority to correct, and the employee 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 employee orally shall notify the employee’...

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201), which takes effect on April 2, 2020, contains two main provisions that address employee absences related to the Coronavirus –the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (“EPSLA”) and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (“EFMLEA”).   As of right now, these laws remain in effect until December 31, 2020. Our Ohio employee rights attorneys are available to answer workers’ questions in detail online or over the phone at (614) 610-9755. Here are the basics that everyone should know. Q: WHO CAN TAKE EMERGENCY PAID SICK LEAVE UNDER THE EMERGENCY PAID SICK LEAVE ACT (EPSLA)? The EPSLA makes up to 80 hours of paid sick leave available to full-time employees of employers who have less than 500 employees and fall into any of the following categories: A current diagnosis of COVID-19 or actively seeking medical treatment/testing for a suspected COVID-19 diagnosis/symptoms; Quarantine (including self-quarantine), at th...