On January 12, 2021 Governor DeWine signed into law House Bill 352, the Employment Law Uniformity Act (“ELUA”). ELUA reforms Ohio’s employment discrimination statute and will bring much-needed clarity to Ohio employers when it becomes effective on April 15, 2021. The key changes include:
- Requiring employees to file charges and exhaust administrative remedies with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (“OCRC”) before commencing a lawsuit in court;
- Implementing a uniform two-year statute of limitations for filing employment discrimination claims with the OCRC and/or in court;
- Simplifying the process and remedies available for age discrimination actions;
- Eliminating personal liability for employment discrimination claims for managers and supervisors; and
- Providing an affirmative defense to harassment claims for employers who have appropriate anti-harassment policies and procedures in place.
The information contained in this legal update is not intended as a substitute for professional legal advice and its receipt does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.