He had discussed this with his employer before he started working there, because he had heard from some of the other workers that one of the owners had a terrible temper and screamed at the employees a lot of the time. He had even been known to fall to the ground in a temper tantrum and pound the pavement. I did not know he had signed this agreement for non-pay until after he decided to quit. Employers must comply with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act which requires that employers pay at least minimum wage and overtime for most employees. Employers must obey this law whether or not employees sign a waiver of their rights, including signing the kind of form your husband signed.
Federal law supersedes any contract between employee and employer that violates the law.
If an employer does not pay an employee his or her wages within thirty days beyond the regularly scheduled payday, the employer is liable to the employee for the hourly pay owed and an amount equal to six percent of the amount of the claim still unpaid or two hundred dollars, whichever is greater, according to Ohio law. Your husband should talk with an attorney who specializes in employment law. An attorney can contact the company on your husband's behalf or file a lawsuit. The law includes a provision that courts may require employers to pay employees' attorneys fees if they need legal representation to collect their rightfully owed wages. To find an attorney, ask friends and relatives for an attorney they trust.