A family member has been a part time worker (39.5 hours/week) at a non-profit business (a museum). For the past month, rumors have been floating that drastic cuts would be made in the number of hours employees received beginning in September. This morning, they were informed that those cuts would begin next week.

Now, most employees are going from nearly 40 hours a week to less than 16 a week, and even that isn't guaranteed. There could be weeks that go by with no work at all.

1) Is this employer allowed to do this?

2) If so, is the employer allowed to do this with such limited warning, especially considering they have clearly had these plans ready to go for quite a while?

If at all possible, could you steer me towards Ohio laws/employment codes I could cite?

1.) Yes.

2.) Yes.

There are no cites. It is allowed because there is no law that says it is not allowed.

Agree with above. (unless you have a bona fide employment contract which guarantees a certain # of hrs. or a certain amt. of notice)

You can try applying for unemployment ins. Some states will pay a partial benefit if hours are seriously reduced.

Does anyone have a formula for this for OHIO? or does OHIO even have this?
You can try applying for unemployment ins. Some states will pay a partial benefit if hours are seriously reduced. SERIOUSLY REDUCED =?

Since this post is from back in August, I doubt if the OP is coming back looking for additional responses.