Ohio Employment Law Update – January 2019

Antidiscrimination Policy in State Government

On January 14, 2019, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed an executive order (E.O. 2019-05D) prohibiting any person employed by any State Cabinet agency or by a State board or commission from discriminating against any other State employee or candidate for State employment on the basis of any of the following protected classes in hiring, layoff, termination, transfer, promotion, demotion, pay, or eligibility for in-service training programs:

• Age (40 years or older).
• Color.
• Disability.
• Gender identity or expression.
• Gender.
• Genetic information.
• Military status (past, present, or future).
• National origin (ancestry).
• Race.
• Religion.
• Sexual orientation.
• Status as a foster parent.
• Status as a parent during pregnancy and immediately after the birth of a child.
• Status as a parent of a young child.

The executive order became effective January 14, 2019.

Read E.O. 2019-05D