Labor & Employment (Employment Discrimination)

To enact section 4112.041 of the Revised Code to require the Ohio Civil Rights Commission to establish a system for individuals to anonymously report wage discrimination.

SB 74 creates a "fair paycheck workplace certificate" for employers with two or more employees, requiring them to demonstrate gender pay equity by showing that the average compensation for male and female employees differs by less than 5% in the previous calendar year. To obtain the certificate, employers must submit detailed payroll data (including gross compensation for each gender) and pay a fee to the director of commerce, who will issue the certificate if the pay gap meets the standard. The certificate is valid for six months initially and can be renewed annually for one year, with the director maintaining a public database listing all certified employers and their certificate status. Employers denied certification may appeal the decision, and the program does not mandate pay adjustments - only verification of existing pay practices.

HB 588 would apply Ohio's Civil Rights Law anti-discrimination protections to unpaid interns by amending two sections of the Revised Code. Currently, these protections do not cover unpaid interns, but the bill would extend them to include unpaid interns under the same employment anti-discrimination rules as paid employees. This change directly affects unpaid interns and their employers across Ohio, requiring equal treatment in hiring, assignments, and workplace conditions. The key mechanism is the explicit amendment of state law to include unpaid interns within the scope of the Civil Rights Law's employment provisions.