Overtime pay in Ohio is issued at time-and-a-half an employee’s base rate. This means that the specific payment is going to be different in every case, but that this general overtime rate always needs to be used. If an employee makes $20 an hour as their base wage, they would need to be paid $30 an hour for overtime.
But when does this apply? The laws differ from state to state, so it is important for employers and employees in Ohio to understand how they work here.
Only if they are non-exempt employees
To start with, some employees are exempt from overtime laws. One example is that agricultural workers sometimes do not qualify for overtime payments. So the first detail to check is simply whether or not an employee is exempt or non-exempt. The majority of workers in Ohio are non-exempt and should be paid overtime for extra work.
After working 40 hours
For non-exempt employees, the higher overtime wage kicks in after they have put in more than 40 hours in a single work week. Some other states are different, paying overtime after eight hours in a single workday. But in Ohio, the cumulative total is what matters.
If someone works 10 hours on Monday, for example, they do not yet qualify for overtime pay. But if they work eight hours Monday through Thursday and then work 10 hours on Friday, they would qualify for two hours of overtime pay.
Disputes over correctly paying overtime can sometimes arise, and those involved need to know all of their legal options, especially when moving through litigation.