Ohio has no statewide paid sick leave law, and Columbus has not enacted a citywide mandate. Private employers in Columbus follow voluntary or contractual leave policies plus federal FMLA for unpaid leave at qualifying employers.
Unlike California, Washington, and several other states, Ohio has no statewide paid sick leave statute. ORC Chapter 4111 governs minimum wage but is silent on paid leave. The Ohio General Assembly has considered paid family leave bills repeatedly without passage. Columbus City Council has not enacted a citywide mandate, though city employees receive paid leave under CCC Title 5 personnel rules. Private Columbus employers offer paid time off voluntarily or by contract. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave at employers with 50 or more employees within 75 miles. Columbus has explored paid-leave proposals but none have been adopted as of 2026.
Because no Columbus or Ohio paid-leave mandate exists, there is no penalty for failing to provide paid leave. FMLA violations carry federal remedies including back pay, reinstatement, and liquidated damages.
Columbus, OH
Ohio Revised Code §4111.13, enacted via SB 5 in 2016, expressly preempts cities from setting a minimum wage higher than the state rate. Columbus must follow ...
Columbus, OH
Ohio has no statewide fair workweek or predictive scheduling law, and Columbus has not adopted a local rule. Employers may set and change schedules without s...
See how Columbus's paid leave preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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