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Reposted with permission.Good afternoon, everyone. Hardy are attorneys with Littler in Cleveland. SB 47 provides employers with a better understanding of their relationship with their employees and clarifies how employers should compensate hourly workers who engage in work-related tasks outside of their normal workday.Įdward H. By adopting the "opt-in" provision in FLSA § 216(b), SB 47 also streamlines lawsuits seeking alleged unpaid overtime wages so that Ohio employers will not face hybrid class/collective actions under Ohio and federal law. SB 47 incorporates federal law to further limit the differences between Ohio and federal overtime laws. Ohio's adoption of the FLSA's opt-in provision will prevent future hybrid class and collective actions in favor of permitting workers to pursue opt-in collective actions only for alleged unpaid overtime wages. Presently, Ohio law requires only that plaintiffs pursuing minimum wage claims "opt in" to the litigation, whereas claims for unpaid overtime compensation may proceed as a Rule 23 class action, whereby class members must affirmatively "opt out" of the litigation if they do not wish to participate. This provision mirrors the "opt-in" provision found in FLSA § 216(b). § 4111.10(C), which requires potential party plaintiffs to affirmatively join the lawsuit by filing a written consent to become a party plaintiff with the court in which the action is brought.
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Ohio employers should seek legal guidance to familiarize themselves with these exceptions.Īdoption of the FLSA's Opt-In Requirementįor employees interested in joining a civil action to recover allegedly unpaid overtime wages under Ohio law, SB 47 contains another new provision codified at O.R.C. Also, none of the foregoing exclusions apply if the employee performs the activity "pursuant to an express provision of a written or unwritten contract in effect, at the time of performance, between the employee or the employee's agent or collective bargaining representative and the employee's employer" or if the employee performs the activity pursuant to a custom or practice applicable to the activity which is not inconsistent with such a contract. However, the foregoing exclusion for "preliminary and postliminary" activities does not apply if the employee performs the tasks: (1) during the regular workday or prescribed work hours or (2) at the specific direction of the employer.
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DEWINE PRESS CONFERENCE CODE
SB 47 goes into effect on July 6 and includes new Ohio Revised Code § 4111.031, which limits an employer's obligation to pay overtime for certain work-related tasks that occur outside of the workday.
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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 47 (SB 47) into law on April 6.
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