On December 19, 2018, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed legislation (H.B. 494) regarding franchises and the employment relationship. Under the law, Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 4111.14 was modified to clarify that the definition of an employer does not include a franchisor with respect to the franchisor’s relationship with a franchisee or an employee of a franchisee, unless the franchisor agrees to assume that role either:
This definition of employer, and thereby franchise parameters, apply to all of the following laws:
Note: Under Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 4111.14, franchisor and franchisee have the same meanings as in federal law at 16 C.F.R. § 436.1.
The law is effective March 20, 2019.
Read OH H.B. 494