In Short
The Background: Until recently, employment discrimination claims in Ohio were governed by a patchwork of vague laws and employee-friendly judicial decisions that differed significantly from federal and other states' laws, provided significant advantages to plaintiffs, and made litigation of discrimination claims unnecessarily complicated.
The Development: The Ohio Employment Law Uniformity Act, effective April 15, 2021, clears the muddied waters of state-law discrimination litigation and creates a more employer-friendly forum for such cases.
Looking Ahead: Under the Act, litigants more easily can understand—and predict—the procedural steps required in discrimination cases raised under state law, and employers will enjoy a narrowed statute of limitations and protections for individual managers.