Articles

HOW TO SURVIVE AS A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE1 IN OHIO

Michael Moses has fought for over 20 years to protect public employee rights in Ohio at all levels of government and in all courts. He is certified as a Labor and Employment Law Specialist by the Ohio State Bar Association. His experience as an Assistant Attorney General, SERB General Counsel, and practitioner in numerous agencies and courts litigating a wide variety of public employment issues will prove invaluable in saving your job and advising you on the proper course of action in your employment.

PROTECTING YOUR JOB AND:

  • TAKING STOCK OF YOUR SITUATION
    How long since you updated your resume?
  • DOCUMENTATION AND PRESERVING RECORDS
    What's in your personnel file? Your supervisor's file? Are you allowed to copy work records and take them home for safekeeping?
  • STEPS TO PRESERVE AND STRENGTHEN YOUR POSITION
    Are you being proactive and taking steps so you can retire from your current job? Or are you now fighting for your life to stay employed?
  • ORGANIZING
    Is a union available or desirable to assist in protecting your job?
  • NETWORKING
    Who are potential allies or supporters in securing your position with your agency?
  • WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ALREADY UNDER ATTACK
    What records are important or available to prove a case if you have to fight for your job?
  • PREPARING FOR LAYOFFS AND REDUCTIONS IN FORCE
    Are your personnel records and job reviews accurate? Are they helpful or damning? Do you have time to move to other employment?
  • PREPARING YOUR DEFENSE AGAINST DISCIPLINE
    What comparable cases would you use to show you're being mistreated? To show disparate treatment?
  • FIGHTING TERMINATION
    Timelines, Procedures and Costs
  • HOW TO HANDLE D-DAY
    Is your departure a total surprise? Are you entitled to one phone call or any other last-second moves to stop the ax before it falls?
  • FINDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION
    What to look for in a lawyer
  • DETERMINING HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE TO FILE AN APPEAL
    Can you start the process without an attorney?
  • LOOKING FOR WORK
    What can you say to a prospective employer about the last one? What should you say?
  • DOCUMENTING YOUR JOB SEARCH
    Proving your damages in an employment case.
  • FIGHTING FOR REINSTATEMENT
    Is it worth it? Is it realistic? Are there alternatives?

1PUBLIC EMPLOYEE SURVIVAL GUIDE (Moses, c. 2012)