I am a part-time police officer in Ohio. My department has full-time officers too. Every 4 months 2 bid sheets are posted for shifts. 1 for the full-time officers, and 1 for the part-time officers. Part-time officers work a minimum of 24 hours a week. I receive holiday pay if I work holidays and receive overtime pay if I exceed a 40 hour work week. I also receive a small uniform allowance. I have been with the department for 6 years. Every year in the spring, the part-time officers are approved to work 40 hours a week until fall due to the increased volume of calls for service. I have worked the 40 hour shifts every summer. Here is my question: I have been advised by numerous co-workers the reason I can not continue to work a 40 hour work week throughout the year is because if I work "so many hours" the department would be REQUIRED to pay me benefits. ( I currently receive no benefits except for PERS) Is this true? I can not find any information to support this claim. For the record, I do not like not having benefits, however, I do need to work and need the money. 24 hours of pay vs. 40 hours of pay is a big difference. Thank you for your assistance.
~bamy1

There is no law in any state except Hawaii that requires employer to provide benefits to full time employees, or employees at all.

However, it is possible that there is something in the municipal charter or your union contract that requires benefits at some level of hours.

However, I see no reason except your co-workers gossiping to suggest that your schedule is in any way related to whether or not you would have to receive benefits.

Thank you. I work for a township, and am not part of a union. The township trustees, chief, and clerk are the ones who have stated part-time employees would have to be paid benefits if they work a certain amount of hours. (In fact last year I was approched by the chief and advised I was accumulating too many hours and would not be able to fill in on extra shifts any more). I was told there was a "law" that would require it (paying benefits). I have no idea about a municipal (township?) charter, but I will try to check into that.
Thank you for your quick reply.
~bamy1

Whoever told you that there is a law regarding paying benefits is mistaken.