As of April 8, 2025, employers in Ohio have a new legal obligation under the “Pay Stub Protection Act”: they must provide their employees with pay stubs. Ohio has joined the majority of states in enacting this requirement, which protects employees by providing greater payment transparency and access to their pay histories. This change reflects a broader push for stronger wage and hour protections, ensuring workers have clear records of what they’ve earned and why.
On January 8, 2025, Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 106 into law, better known as the Pay Stub Protection Act. This new law requires all employers in Ohio to provide employees (generally, any worker with a contract of hire who receives wages or salary for work completed) with pay stubs that contain certain details as of April 9, 2025.
Pay statements provided must include a comprehensive list of earnings and pay deductions for each pay period. If an employer does not comply with the new rules, legal action cannot be taken by the employee (i.e., a lawsuit cannot be filed against the employer for failing to provide a pay stub). However, the employee has the right to request this information from the employer and report any violations to the Ohio Department of Commerce.
Ohio’s new Pay Stub Protection Act requires all employers with one or more employees to provide either written pay stubs or electronic access to wage statements to workers. To comply with the law, the pay stub provided must contain all of the following information:
If an employee is paid on an hourly basis, the pay stub must also include the total number of hours worked by the employee, the hourly wage rate and the employee’s overtime hours (any hours worked in excess of 40 in one workweek). Missing information is a violation of Ohio’s new pay stub law.
Many employers in Ohio already provided pay stubs to employees before the passing of the new law. However, employers should review their pay stub statements to ensure they contain all of the required information. Employers should also train their payroll staff on the new requirements to ensure continued compliance.
The Pay Stub Protection Act catches Ohio up with most other states that already require employers to provide workers with detailed pay stubs. If you are not given the required information by your employer, you have the right to request your pay stub in writing.
If the employer does not comply with your request within 10 days, you can file a complaint with the Wage and Hour Bureau. This is often a key step when proving a wage and hour violation in Ohio. You can submit your complaint via mail, email, or fax. If the Bureau determines that a violation has been committed, it can send a written notice to your employer, which must be posted in a conspicuous location at the facility for 10 days.
If you have any questions or concerns about Ohio’s new Pay Stub Protection Act and your rights as an employee, contact Scott & Winters Law Firm, LLC at (216) 446-8886 for a free consultation with an attorney.
