Under Ohio law, at-will employment is the default employment relationship between an employer and an employee. At-will employment means that either the employer or the employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time and for any reason, with or without notice. However, there are some limitations and exceptions to this general rule.
One of the limitations to at-will employment in Ohio is that an employer may not terminate an employee's employment for an illegal reason. This includes discrimination based on a protected characteristic, such as race, gender, religion, or disability. If an employee is terminated for an illegal reason, they may have a legal claim against their employer for wrongful termination.
Another limitation to at-will employment in Ohio is that an employer may not terminate an employee in retaliation for exercising their rights, such as the right to file a workers' compensation claim or report a safety violation. If an employee is terminated for exercising their rights, they may have a legal claim against their employer for retaliation.
Additionally, there are some exceptions to at-will employment in Ohio. For example, if an employee has an employment contract that specifies a certain term of employment or specific reasons for termination, the at-will employment relationship may not apply. Similarly, if an employee is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, their employment may not be at-will.
If an employee believes they have been wrongfully terminated or retaliated against, they may wish to take further action, such as filing a claim with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission or seeking legal counsel. However, it is important to note that there are strict time limits for filing certain types of employment claims, so it is important for employees to act quickly if they believe their rights have been violated.
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