The Columbus Dispatch reports that Senate Democrats have introduced a bill to increase protections for Ohio workers against wage theft by allowing the Commerce Department to investigate and take action on individual complaints up to $100,000.
Under current law, Ohio is one of only seven states to limit investigations to the minimum wage, leaving workers the choice of filing with the state knowing the most they could recover is the minimum $7.30 an hour or suing their employer, which remedy the bill’s supporters say is “simply out of reach” for many Ohio workers. The Commerce Department commonly receives complaints alleging employers issued paychecks that bounced or were for an amount that was too low or missing overtime. The number of wage complaints filed with the state nearly doubled since Ohio adopted a higher minimum wage in 2007.
For full story, see: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/11/20/copy/wage_theft.ART_ART_11-20-09_B3_37FO4BN.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
Toledo Blade: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091120/NEWS24/911200495/-1/NEIGHBORS05