The deadline, and what it depends on
There is no separation-specific deadline. Wages earned from the 1st to the 15th are due by the 1st of the next month; wages from the 16th to the end of the month are due by the 15th of the next month.
It depends on which half of the month your last day fell in.
Ohio has no separation-specific deadline. Wages earned in the first half of a month are due by the 1st of the following month; the second half by the 15th.
Unused PTO — is it owed?
Only if your employer's written policy or agreement promises it. No Ohio statute requires vacation payout. The written policy controls. Check your handbook, offer letter or any PTO policy you signed; if it says accrued time is paid out, that promise is enforceable.
What happens if they are late
Ohio provides liquidated damages for wages unpaid more than 30 days after they are due, absent a dispute. The exact amount is still being verified against the statute.
How to file a claim in Ohio
File a wage complaint with the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance. Filing is free, and you do not need a lawyer.
- Ask in writing first. Email creates a dated record.
- Send a short demand letter naming the amount, the deadline, and any penalty that applies in Ohio.
- File the wage claim. Keep copies of pay stubs and your schedule — the time card calculator can total the unpaid hours for you.
Ohio final paycheck: common questions
Can they hold my last check until I return my equipment?
No. In Ohio your final wages are due by the deadline on this page whether or not you have returned a laptop, uniform or keys. Your employer can ask for the equipment back or pursue its cost separately, but federal law bars deductions for it that would cut your pay below minimum wage or eat into overtime.
Do I get paid for unused vacation?
Only if your employer's written policy or agreement promises it. No Ohio statute requires vacation payout. The written policy controls. Check your handbook, offer letter or any PTO policy you signed; if it says accrued time is paid out, that promise is enforceable.
What if I quit without notice?
No. Quitting without notice does not forfeit anything you earned in Ohio. Your final wages follow the same semimonthly schedule either way. Notice only changes the timing, and only where state law says so. Unused PTO follows the same rules as for anyone else leaving the job.
When is my final paycheck due in Ohio if I am fired?
There is no separation-specific deadline. Wages earned from the 1st to the 15th are due by the 1st of the next month; wages from the 16th to the end of the month are due by the 15th of the next month.
What happens if my final paycheck is late in Ohio?
Ohio provides liquidated damages for wages unpaid more than 30 days after they are due, absent a dispute. The exact amount is still being verified against the statute. File a wage complaint with the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance.
Spotted something wrong? Report an error.
Ohio overtime rules and calculator →
Worked across a state line? Pennsylvania final paycheck law.