Wage Law

We Are Your Ohio Wage Law Attorneys

Your time is valuable. You deserve to be paid for it.

"Honest caring team that treats you with the utmost dignity and respect."

– Jeff L.

We all have to work for a living. Most of us would rather spend time pursuing our passions or spending time with our loved ones. So, when you are at work, you deserve to be paid for all of the time you spend working. Unfortunately, some employers find ways around paying their employees for all of their hard work.

According to some estimates, wage theft could cost American workers up to $50 billion per year. (Source: CBS News)If you believe your employer has failed to pay you for all of your hours worked, an Ohio wage law attorney can help. Call us for a free case evaluation with a member of our legal team. We have recovered tens of millions of dollars in unpaid wages for employees who weren’t paid for all of their hours worked.

What's Your Wage Law Issue?

With many different situations that may fall under wage law in Ohio, select the one that best describes your current legal issue below to learn more. To start taking action today, schedule your free case evaluation with a wage law attorney at Nilges Legal Group LLC in Ohio today.

Wage and hour laws are very complex. There are so many technical rules and regulations. That is why it is so important to talk to one of our experienced wage lawyers. We have recovered tens of millions of dollars in unpaid wages for employees across the country. Some of those cases involve the following wage and hour violations:

Unpaid Work

Unpaid work occurs when employees are not compensated for time they spend performing job-related duties. In Ohio, employers are legally required to pay workers for all hours worked, including time spent preparing for shifts, attending mandatory meetings, or performing work-related tasks before or after clocking in. If you’re expected to complete tasks without pay—even if only for a few minutes each day—you may be entitled to recover unpaid wages under federal and Ohio labor laws.

• Unpaid Short-Rest Breaks In many workplaces, short rest breaks ranging from 5 to 20 minutes are considered compensable under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). If your employer automatically deducts these breaks from your paycheck or fails to compensate you for them, you may be losing wages you are legally entitled to. Ohio employees should be aware that consistent unpaid short breaks can add up to significant losses over time.
• Unpaid Travel Time Ohio employees are generally not paid for commuting to and from work, but travel between job sites, attending training sessions, or traveling for work-related tasks during the day should be compensated. If your employer does not pay for required travel time during your workday, you may have a valid claim for unpaid wages.
• Off the Clock Work Off-the-clock work refers to job-related tasks performed before clocking in or after clocking out—such as setting up workstations, responding to emails, or cleaning up after a shift. Under Ohio and federal law, employees must be paid for all time spent working. If your employer encourages or requires off-the-clock work without proper compensation, this may constitute a wage law violation.

Unpaid and Underpaid Overtime

Under both Ohio and federal law, non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular rate for any hours worked over 40 in a single workweek. Unpaid or underpaid overtime often results from employers misclassifying workers, failing to track hours accurately, or applying improper pay policies. These violations can significantly impact an employee’s income over time. If you’ve been denied full overtime wages, you may be entitled to recover back pay and additional damages.

• Unpaid Overtime for Day-Rate Employees If you're a day-rate worker, you may have been promised a flat daily wage regardless of hours worked, but that does not exempt you from overtime pay. If you are paid a day rate and regularly work over 40 hours per week, your employer may be violating overtime laws by not paying you at the proper time-and-a-half rate. Call Nilges Legal Group LLC today for a free evaluation to discuss your case.
• Unpaid Overtime for Piece-Rate Employees Employees paid per unit or task completed—known as piece-rate workers—must still receive overtime pay for hours worked beyond 40 per week. Employers often fail to calculate the proper regular rate of pay, resulting in underpaid or unpaid overtime. Ohio law ensures that all non-exempt workers are compensated fairly, regardless of their pay structure.
• Unpaid Overtime for Employees Misclassified as Contractors Some employers misclassify workers as independent contractors to avoid paying overtime and benefits. If you are treated like an employee—receiving supervision, following a set schedule, or using company tools—but are classified as a contractor, you may be entitled to unpaid wages and overtime under Ohio and federal law.
• Unpaid Overtime for Salaried Employees Misclassified as Exempt Being paid a salary does not automatically exempt you from overtime pay. Many salaried employees in Ohio are misclassified as "exempt," even though their job duties do not meet the criteria for exemption under the FLSA. If you’re working more than 40 hours a week and not receiving overtime, you may have a valid claim for unpaid wages.
• Unpaid Overtime Due to Improper Rounding and Pay to Shift Policies Some employers use time rounding practices or set “pay-to-shift” policies that shortchange employees on minutes—or even hours—worked. For example, rounding down punch times or only paying for scheduled hours, regardless of actual hours worked, can lead to overtime underpayments. These practices may violate Ohio wage laws and result in significant financial harm over time.

• Minimum Wage Violations Employers in Ohio are required to pay at least the state minimum wage, which adjusts annually. Violations occur when employers fail to meet this requirement due to illegal deductions, unpaid hours, or misclassifications. If your effective hourly rate falls below Ohio’s minimum wage, you may be entitled to back pay.
• Failing to Pay Tipped Employees Properly Tipped employees in Columbus, Cleveland, or anywhere in Ohio must receive at least the state minimum wage when their base pay and tips are combined. Employers who fail to make up the difference or improperly claim a tip credit may be violating wage laws. Tip pooling policies that allow managers to take a portion of employees’ tips are also unlawful.
• Failing to Include Commissions and Bonuses in Employees’ Overtime Rate When calculating overtime, employers must include all forms of compensation—such as commissions and non-discretionary bonuses—in the regular rate of pay. Failing to do so can lead to underpaid overtime. Many Ohio employees miss out on full overtime pay due to this oversight.

It’s critical to have an experienced wage law attorney working for you on your side. As your lawyer, we can make sure your case receives the attention it rightfully deserves.

You play by the rules. So should your company. If your rights have been violated, fight back with a wage law attorney on your side. Contact our law firm and scheduled your free case evaluation right now.