• Ohio does not require employers to offer paid sick leave.Sick 4 image by chrisharvey from Fotolia.com
  
  Ohio has laws governing the rights of employees who miss work because of illness. Both employers and employees should familiarize themselves with the state's policies for sick workers. This will help ensure that employers comply with the law and employees know their legal rights.
  
  

Paid Sick Leave

• Ohio does not require employers to award paid sick leave. This is considered a fringe benefit determined by the employer. However, Ohio does require employers to state their policy for accruing and using sick leave. Ohio also does not require employers to pay for unused sick leave once an employee leaves the company.
  
  

Family Medical Leave Act

• Ohio requires employers to comply with the Family Medical Leave Act. This federal law states that employees may take up to 12 weeks unpaid leave during a 12-month period for a serious illness affecting either the employee or the employee's immediate family. The employee may also take FMLA leave for an upcoming pregnancy or adopting a child. The FMLA requires employers to reinstate an employee to his previous position, or a position of equal pay and benefits, upon his return.
  
  

Healthy Families Act

• The group Ohioans for Healthy Families pushed a ballot initiative in 2008 that would have required employers to provide paid sick leave. The Healthy Families Act would have required businesses to provide at least seven sick days per year for full-time employees and a prorated amount for part-time employees. The group eventually withdrew the initiative, citing a desire to persuade Congress to pass a federal law of similar nature.