Ohio Paystub Protection Act Effective April 9: What Employers Need to Know

Beginning April 9, all Ohio employers are required to provide paystubs to employees on regular paydays. They can be electronic or hard copy, but they must include certain information. Employees who do not receive a the (PPA) compliant paystub must request one from their employer. Employers must provide a compliant paystub within 10 days of the request, and if they do not, employees can file a complaint to the Ohio Department of Commerce which may lead to further investigation.

With this Act, Ohio joins the majority of states that require employers to provide pay stubs to employees.

It is quite common for staffing firms to offer “pay cards,” loaded debit cards instead of paystubs as an alternative to direct deposit. In some situations, firms are putting nearly 300 pays out per week using pay cards. Firms will need to at least have some sort of paystub on file. 

Required information for PPA-compliant paystub

Paystubs must contain the following information to be PPA compliant.

• The name and address of both employee and employer
• Total gross wages and total net wages during the period
• A breakdown of additions and deductions from wages, with a brief explanation of each
• For hourly employees, the total hours worked, hourly wage rate, and any overtime hours included in the calculation; and
• The pay date and the pay period it covers.

Consequences of non-compliance

If an employer does not provide a PPA-compliant paystub within 10 days of an employee request, the employee can report the violation for further investigation by the Ohio director of commerce. If it is discovered that there are reasonable grounds for a violation, a written notice will be issued to the employer, and it must be posted in a visible place on the employer’s premises for 10 days.

This new law could have major implications for staffing firms in Ohio, and we recommend talking to your employee benefits attorney or your legal counsel for further clarification.