Source: OSU Farm Office

On April 9, 2025, Ohio enacted House Bill 106, known as the Pay Stub Protection Act. This bipartisan legislation marks a meaningful step forward in promoting wage transparency and safeguarding worker rights across the state. Prior to this law, Ohio stood out as one of the few states without a mandate for employers to issue pay stubs. With its passage, the Act now ensures employees are provided with comprehensive earnings statements, bringing Ohio in line with the practices of most other states.

What the Law Requires
Under the Pay Stub Protection Act (codified in Ohio Revised Code Section 4113.14), employers are now mandated to provide each employee with a written or electronic pay statement on every regular payday. These statements must include:

• Employee’s name and address;
• Employer’s name;
• Total gross wages earned by the employee during the pay period;
• Total net wages paid to employee for the pay period;
• An itemized list of additions to or deductions from wages paid to the employee, with explanations; and
• The date the employee was paid and the pay period covered by that payment.

For hourly employees, the following three additional items are also required:

• Total hours worked during the pay period;
• Hourly wage rate; and
• Total number of hours worked beyond 40 hours in a workweek.

Enforcement
While the Pay Stub Protection Act brings Ohio in line with the majority of states regarding wage transparency, it differs from some by not granting employees the right to sue or seek monetary compensation for an employer’s noncompliance. If an employee does not receive a pay stub that meets the Act’s requirements, they must first submit a written request to their employer for a compliant pay stub. The employer then has 10 days to provide the required statement.

If the employer fails to respond within that timeframe, the employee may report the violation to the Ohio Department of Commerce. Should the Department find a violation, it will issue a written notice to the employer. The employer is then required to post the notice in a conspicuous location on the premises for a period of 10 days.

Implications for Employers 
Although many employers already issue pay stubs as a matter of best practice, Ohio law now makes it a legal requirement. This change presents an opportunity for employers to review their payroll systems and make any necessary updates to ensure compliance. Employers should confirm that their pay statements contain all required information and that any third-party payroll providers are also adhering to the new standards.

A Step Toward Greater Transparency
The Pay Stub Protection Act marks a meaningful step forward for worker rights in Ohio. By requiring detailed pay statements, the law equips employees with the information necessary to confirm their earnings and promotes greater transparency and fairness in the workplace.

For additional details about the Pay Stub Protection Act and its requirements, refer to the official legislative text of House Bill 106 or visit the Ohio Department of Commerce’s website.

By: Jeffrey K. Lewis, OSU Extension

The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) has introduced a new independent contractor rule, aiming to provide clarity and guidance for both employers and workers. The classification of workers as employees or independent contractors has become increasingly complex in recent years, resembling an endless carousel ride for many businesses, particularly those in the agricultural sector that frequently hire part-time and seasonal help. The DOL’s new rule, published under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (“FLSA”), seeks to put an end to this perpetual uncertainty surrounding worker classification once and for all.

Background
The FLSA establishes federal standards for overtime pay, minimum wage, and child labor. Ohio law explicitly aligns its interpretation of the term “employee” with that of the FLSA for wage and hour purposes. For the FLSA to apply to an agricultural employer, an employment relationship must be established. This entails determining whether a worker is classified as an employee or an independent contractor.

However, the FLSA itself is silent on how to exactly distinguish an independent contractor from an employee. So, for years the DOL relied on the court system to develop the standard for determining whether a worker should be classified as an employee or an independent contractor. The court system developed an “economic realities test” to help determine whether an employment relationship exists with a worker. The economic realities test is a totality of the circumstances test – which means all factors should be weighed evenly – and relies on six factors. These factors are:

1. The nature and degree of control over the work;
2. The individual’s opportunity for profit or loss;
3. The permanency of the work relationship;
4. Whether the work being performed is an integral part of the Employer’s business;
5. The worker’s investment in facilities and equipment; and
6. Skill and initiative.

For decades courts and the DOL have applied these factors, or a similar variation of them, to help define employee and independent contractor under the FLSA. However, courts across the country have applied the factors inconsistently and have given certain factors different degrees of weight.

Continue reading New Independent Contractor Rule Coming Soon! →