Q: Can an employer hire and promote a candidate for management over immediate family members in Ohio?
I was let go from a position this week without any warning or documentation. Later that day, I found out that person promoted to my position will now be in charge of her best friend and her sister. At the time, I was currently gathering evidence and paperwork against these employees for time clock fraud.
A: Ohio is an "at-will" employment state, meaning that your employer can terminate you for any reason, or no reason at all as long as your termination does not violate the law. Ohio and Federal law prohibit employers from terminating employees because of their membership in a protected class (i.e., their gender, race, religion, ect.). Terminating you in order to replace your position with a friend or family member is nepotism, but not unlawful.
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