Avelar Pushes to Expand Workers’ Access to Key Employment Documents

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — A new bill being advanced by state Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar, D-Bolingbrook, would ensure workers have greater access to important employment and payroll documents that may be necessary to secure housing, resolve tax issues, and more. 

“All Illinois employees should have the ability to access their pay stubs even after they move to a new job, as it holds important tax information, wage information and discrepancies. They can be used as employment history to rent or buy a home, buy or loan a car, pay your taxes, and more,” Avelar said. “This is why it’s vital we hold employers accountable by requiring they have these important documents saved and updated.” 

Avelar’s House Bill 5300 would require employers to retain employee records for at least three years after separation. The measure also gives past employees the right to inspect their pay stubs upon their request, whether they were paper or electronic pay stubs. It further requires that employers keep records of names, addresses, and wages for each payday, provide duplicate copies of paystubs at an employee’s request, and maintain a copy of a pay stub for no less than three years, or they would be subject to a civil penalty. 

Avelar secured support for the measure in the House Labor and Commerce Committee, and it currently awaits consideration by the full House. 

“This bill is an important step in ensuring that personnel documents like paystubs are kept on file for workers to verify if they were paid all of their promised wages or to check if any illegal deductions were made from their paychecks to be able to file a wage claim,” Avelar said. “We must ensure that these important documents are accessible to all employees, past and present, as they can impact our daily operations and lives.”