A payroll question does not always require an email to HR.
For employees whose companies use Paper Trails, many routine payroll and workforce tasks can be handled through employee self-service. Pay statements, W-2 forms, direct deposit information, time-off requests and other records may be available without waiting for someone in payroll to retrieve them manually.
Paper Trails uses the isolved platform for this employee-facing experience. Its current support documentation describes myisolved.com as the self-service website where employees can review pay stubs, update direct deposit, request time off, enroll in benefits and access other enabled functions.
For employees, the important question is not simply “Where is the Paper Trails login?”
It is: what can I actually do once I am inside?
Paper Trails Is the Provider; isolved Is the Employee Workspace
The names can initially be confusing.
An employer may tell workers that payroll is handled by Paper Trails, while the employee login page prominently references isolved.
Both can be correct.
Paper Trails explains that isolved is the payroll platform containing employee payroll, human resources, timekeeping and benefits records. The employee-facing self-service system is available through myisolved.com and the isolved People Cloud mobile app.
A simple way to think about the relationship is:
Paper Trails helps the employer manage payroll and HR.
isolved provides much of the digital workspace employees use to interact with those records.
That is why searches for Paper Trails payroll, Paper Trails employee portal and Paper Trails isolved frequently lead into the same overall ecosystem.
Task #1: Check Your Pay Stub
One of the most common employee tasks is reviewing a completed paycheck.
Paper Trails says employees can view and print pay stubs through self-service. Its help center directs employees to the Pay and Tax menu and then Pay History to review available statements.
A pay statement is useful because the amount deposited into a bank account tells only part of the story.
The statement may show:
- gross earnings;
- regular pay;
- overtime;
- taxes;
- benefit deductions;
- other deductions;
- net pay;
- year-to-date totals.
If a paycheck looks different from the previous one, reviewing the pay stub is usually more useful than looking only at the bank deposit.
Task #2: Download a Copy of Your Pay Stub
Employees sometimes need an electronic copy of a pay statement for personal records.
Paper Trails’ current isolved help instructions say employees can open Pay History and use the download option to save a pay stub.
Downloaded payroll documents should be treated as sensitive.
They may contain compensation information and other personal details, so avoid leaving them on a public computer or unsecured shared device.
Task #3: Find Your W-2
Another task employees may be able to complete without asking HR is retrieving a W-2.
Paper Trails lists viewing and printing W-2 forms among the functions available through employee self-service.
This is particularly useful during tax season.
An employee who misplaced a mailed copy may be able to retrieve the available electronic version instead of requesting another paper form.
When looking for a W-2, verify the year carefully.
Employees who worked for more than one company during a calendar year may have separate forms from different employers.
Task #4: Review Your Entire Pay History
Employee self-service can be useful for more than the most recent paycheck.
Paper Trails says employees using isolved can access their pay history and year-end W-2 records online.
Historical payroll records can help when someone wants to:
- compare several pay periods;
- check when a deduction changed;
- review overtime;
- find an older pay statement;
- maintain personal employment records.
Having payroll history available electronically reduces the need to request old statements individually.
Task #5: Update Direct Deposit
Banking changes are one of the most important self-service functions.
Paper Trails says employees can update direct deposit records through myisolved.com. Its help documentation places the option under the Pay and Tax area and provides instructions for adding or editing an account.
Employees should review every banking field before saving a change.
Pay particular attention to:
- routing number;
- account number;
- checking or savings selection;
- allocation settings, if shown.
A typo in direct deposit information can create a payroll delay.
Why Self-Service Matters for Direct Deposit
Direct deposit is especially sensitive because changing the destination account changes where wages are sent.
For that reason, banking information should not be casually transmitted through ordinary email or chat.
Authenticated payroll self-service gives employees a more controlled environment for making those changes.
Paper Trails specifically includes direct deposit management as one of the employee capabilities available through its isolved environment.
Whenever a bank account changes, employees should make sure they understand their employer’s payroll cutoff schedule.
A change made shortly before payday may not necessarily affect a payroll that has already entered processing.
Task #6: Review or Update Tax Withholding
Paper Trails self-service also includes tax-withholding tools.
Its current self-service documentation lists updating tax withholdings among the actions employees can perform from the Pay and Tax area.
This is a more consequential change than editing an address or phone number.
Employees should understand what they are changing before submitting new withholding information.
Questions about individual tax consequences are better addressed using authoritative tax guidance or an appropriate tax professional rather than guessing based on payroll software alone.
Task #7: Update Personal Information
Employee records change over time.
Someone may move, change phone numbers or need to update other contact information.
Paper Trails says employees can manage personal information through self-service.
The exact editable fields can vary by employer.
Some information may be available for direct employee editing, while other changes may require employer approval.
That difference is normal.
Employee self-service does not give a worker administrative authority over every payroll record.
Task #8: Review Your Timecard
For companies using the applicable timekeeping tools, Paper Trails employees may also have access to timecards.
Paper Trails says the Time and Attendance area can display timecard, time-off and calendar information.
Reviewing time before payroll is finalized can be particularly helpful for hourly employees.
Look for issues such as:
- a missing punch;
- incorrect start or end time;
- missing hours;
- an incorrect department or job assignment.
Catching a problem early may make it easier for the employer to correct the record before payroll processing.
Task #9: Clock In and Out
Some Paper Trails clients use isolved Time.
When that feature is enabled, employees can clock in and out using supported self-service tools.
Paper Trails’ current instructions describe using the isolved People Cloud mobile application and selecting the clock icon to record time.
Not seeing that function does not necessarily mean something is missing.
The employer may:
- use another timekeeping system;
- not subscribe to isolved Time;
- limit the feature to specific employees.
This is why Paper Trails dashboards can differ substantially between workplaces.
Task #10: Request Time Off
Employees at participating employers may also submit PTO or other time-off requests through self-service.
Paper Trails lists requesting time off among the employee functions available through myisolved.com.
The software provides the request mechanism.
It does not determine company policy.
The employer still decides matters such as:
- PTO eligibility;
- accrual rules;
- approval requirements;
- notice requirements;
- blackout periods.
An employee should therefore distinguish between what the portal technically allows and what the employer’s policy permits.
Task #11: Check PTO and Calendar Information
Paper Trails also says employees using the relevant time and attendance features can access time-off and calendar information.
That can make the employee account useful between paydays.
Instead of being only a place for payroll documents, it can function as a broader workforce dashboard.
Again, availability depends on the employer’s setup.
Task #12: Access Benefits
Paper Trails says myisolved.com can also allow employees to enroll in benefits.
Its broader support materials list benefits enrollment and administration among Paper Trails’ HR services.
For employers using those capabilities, payroll and benefits can exist within the same connected environment.
That can reduce the need for separate logins.
However, employees whose companies use Paper Trails only for payroll may not see a benefits menu at all.
Task #13: Submit Expense Reimbursements
Some employers enable isolved Expense Management.
Paper Trails says employees using this functionality can submit expense reimbursements through self-service, including uploading a receipt and entering the necessary details.
If the expense option is absent, that usually means the company uses another procedure or has not enabled the module.
Follow the employer’s reimbursement instructions rather than trying to force an unavailable feature.
Task #14: Use Paper Trails Payroll From a Phone
Employee self-service is not limited to desktop access.
Paper Trails supports the isolved People Cloud application and directs users to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for installation.
The app can be useful for employees who spend little time at a computer.
Depending on employer configuration, mobile functions can include payroll, timekeeping and other HR tasks.
Employees should use the official app rather than third-party download packages.
Do You Need the App?
Not necessarily.
Paper Trails states that employee self-service can be accessed through myisolved.com or the isolved mobile application.
Employees who prefer a browser can continue using web access.
The mobile app is primarily another way to reach supported functions.
Task #15: Activate Your Account
First-time employees need access before any of these tools become useful.
Paper Trails says employees added to the system receive an activation email. The company also provides first-time self-service activation instructions for new users.
If an expected message does not appear, check:
- inbox;
- spam;
- junk mail;
- the email address supplied to the employer.
If the employer has an outdated or incorrect address, activation may need to be resent.
Use the Correct Employee Login
Another avoidable problem is trying to enter through the employer side of the platform.
Paper Trails maintains a login page with separate sections for employers and employees, including an Employee Portal Login for isolved users.
That separation is important.
Payroll administrators need tools that ordinary employees should not have.
A normal employee account therefore does not provide the same menus or permissions as an employer account.
When Self-Service Cannot Solve the Problem
Employee self-service is useful, but it cannot answer every payroll question.
Some problems involve the underlying employment record rather than the website.
Examples include:
- an incorrect hourly rate;
- missing hours;
- unexpected payroll deductions;
- employment-status errors;
- PTO policy disputes;
- benefit eligibility;
- missing compensation.
Paper Trails’ official login page tells employees of current clients to contact their employer for assistance when necessary.
The employer controls many of the employee-specific inputs that Paper Trails processes.
Paper Trails Is Not the Same for Every Employer
One of the easiest mistakes is assuming that every Paper Trails employee should see the same dashboard.
Paper Trails offers payroll alongside time tracking, expense management, HR management, benefits, recruiting and onboarding services.
Employers can therefore use different combinations of tools.
An employee at one company may see:
Pay + Tax + PTO + Time + Benefits
while another employee may primarily see:
Pay + Tax
Both experiences can be legitimate.
Why Employee Self-Service Is Useful
The practical benefit is independence.
Without employee self-service, routine requests can require a series of emails:
“Can you send my pay stub?”
“Where is my W-2?”
“Can someone update my bank account?”
“What PTO balance do I have?”
With the appropriate Paper Trails and isolved features enabled, many of those tasks can be initiated directly by the employee.
That can reduce administrative work for the employer while giving workers faster access to their own information.
Paper Trails Search Terms Employees Commonly Use
People may reach the Paper Trails ecosystem through several different searches.
Paper Trails employee login
Usually an employee looking for self-service access.
Paper Trails payroll
A broad search that may relate to payroll services or employee records.
Paper Trails employee portal
Typically a search for the employee-facing system.
Paper Trails pay stub
Usually someone trying to view or download a payroll statement.
Paper Trails W-2
Often an employee looking for a year-end tax form.
Paper Trails direct deposit
Usually someone trying to review or change banking information.
Paper Trails isolved
A user trying to locate or understand the platform connected to Paper Trails.
myisolved Paper Trails
Typically an employee who already knows which self-service technology the company uses.
These terms overlap naturally because they refer to different tasks within the same payroll environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can employees do through Paper Trails self-service?
Paper Trails says self-service can include personal-information updates, direct deposit changes, pay-stub and W-2 access, timekeeping, PTO requests, expense reimbursements and other enabled functions.
Does Paper Trails use isolved?
Yes. Paper Trails describes isolved as the platform containing employee payroll, HR, timekeeping and benefits records.
Where do employees access Paper Trails payroll?
Paper Trails directs isolved employees to its employee portal and identifies myisolved.com as the employee-facing self-service site.
Can employees download pay stubs?
Yes. Paper Trails provides instructions for viewing Pay History and downloading available pay stubs.
Can employees get W-2 forms online?
Yes. Viewing and printing W-2 forms is included among Paper Trails employee self-service functions.
Can employees change direct deposit?
Yes. Paper Trails says employees can add or edit direct deposit information through the Pay and Tax area.
Can employees request PTO?
Yes, where the applicable employer functionality is enabled. Paper Trails lists time-off requests among available self-service tasks.
Is there a Paper Trails employee app?
Employee mobile access is provided through the isolved People Cloud app.
Why don’t I see all of these options?
Paper Trails employers can enable different payroll, HR, benefits, expense and timekeeping services, so employee access varies by organization.
Final Takeaway
The biggest advantage of Paper Trails employee self-service is that employees can handle many ordinary payroll and HR tasks without turning every question into an HR support request.
A participating employee may be able to check a pay statement, download historical payroll records, retrieve a W-2, update direct deposit, review tax settings, manage personal information, inspect a timecard, request PTO, interact with benefits or submit expenses.
Paper Trails provides the payroll and HR services behind that experience, while isolved supplies much of the employee-facing technology.
The exact menu depends on the employer, but the principle remains the same: self-service gives employees direct access to many of the records and actions they need most often.