The deadline for your company’s payroll true-up reports was originally Aug. 15. However, because this is a new process, the Ohio BWC has extended a grace period until Sept. 29 to ensure all employers are able to complete this requirement.

With the transition to prospective billing, Ohio BWC now requires employers to reconcile their actual payroll for the prior policy year and reconcile any differences in premium paid. The payroll true-up allows Ohio BWC to calculate your premium accurately. Even if your payroll for the year matches the estimate, Ohio BWC provided, or you had zero payroll, you must complete a true-up report.

The quickest and easiest way to true-up is online with a BWC e-account. If you do not have a BWC e-account, you can create one at www.bwc.ohio.gov/. Online true-up and payment will also save you money. Eligible employers will qualify for a 1-percent premium rebate, up to a $2,000 maximum rebate. While you can complete the true-up through the BWC call center, wait times may be extremely high. Therefore, Ohio BWC suggests you file your payroll true-up with a BWC e-account.

I sat down to write this on a day that my nanny had requested off. My husband and I set to work at our regular time, the office door left open, the TV watching over our two kids (5 and 2), and lots of interrupted time to attend to their needs. This is the life of many working parents as COVID has shuttered schools and daycares and remote working is the new normal for the foreseeable future for many of us.

Work-life balance was a buzz word before the pandemic. Now, after six months (yes, six months!) of work-from-home, this balance may be permanently changed. There have been positive changes for both employers and employees: less time commuting, lower overhead costs, and more time with family.
It is the ‘more time with family’ aspect that I want to focus on today. October is National Work and Family Month.

Established in 2003 by the Alliance for Work-Life Progress, the observance is meant to “promote healthier and more flexible work environments” and to highlight the benefits of supporting work-life balance. 

These benefits include:
• Increased productivity
• Higher retention rates
• Slower rise of health-care costs
• Easier to recruit new employees (we can attest to this one!!)
• Better company reputation

In fact, 1 in 3 workers would take a pay cut if it meant they had more work-life balance!

If your company is still operating remotely, then you may feel like you can check off this box. Mission accomplished, right? But as we know, working from home while caring for children, is hardly the ‘balance’ most people had in mind. Moreover, with our increasingly connected work, the workday is no longer just 8-5. Emails, texts, phone calls, are encroaching more and more into leisure time.

If you are interested in creating more ways to support work and family balance for your team, check out these ideas:

Be Intentional: Announce National Work and Family Month in an email or at an all-hands meeting. Share the goals of the month and openly discuss the challenges that COVID has brought to work-life balance.

Form a Committee: Ask for volunteers to come together (even if it’s virtually) to find ways to increase flexibility and balance. 

Encourage Calendar Blocking: If there are family obligations or distance learning that need to be attended to, encourage your employees to block off that time from their calendars. Normalize this behavior and ensure employees that it is OK to take time for family so long as they accomplish their work duties.

Institute a Moratorium on After Hours Communications: Schedule after work emails to send out the next morning. Set Slack or Teams to ‘Do Not Disturb.’ If you see an employee routinely working after hours, ask him or her how they can be better supported or what tasks can be off loaded to provide better balance.  

Bring in External Support: Find a coach or expert who can provide a presentation or workshop to help employees with work-life balance challenges.

Create a ‘Family Focus’ Challenge: Challenge employees to do something just with their family. Maybe this is a list of family activities with a competition to see who can do the most activities. You can also plan a family-friendly excursion for the whole office. A corn maze or apple picking would be perfect October activities that everyone can do together, (and with social distancing). 

Support Family Togetherness at Home: Create a family game night pack for each employee with an all-ages friendly game and snacks, or a movie night pack. If you know the interests of your employees’ children, you can send special activities that are tailored to them (Hint: An employee favorite’s list will come in handy here!)

Don’t Forget Team Members Who Don’t Have Kids: Family means something different for everyone. Pets, significant others, nieces and nephews, close friends—these are all families! Ensure that everyone feels included in National Work and Family Month by not limiting activates to just those employees with children. 

Document and Share: Ask your employees to send in photos of themselves spending time with their family. Get a group photo from your Family Focus Challenge. Add a work-life balance section to your About Us page on your website and share on your social media channels. Make this an ongoing and intentional part of your culture in order to attract and retain employees who value balance.

Don’t Stop Once October is Over: Routinely check in with your team about their work-life balance to ensure that it is being enjoyed by everyone. 

Erin Longmoon is the CEO of Zephyr Recruiting, which she founded in response to her clients’ needs for help in with building effective and successful teams. Zephyr Recruiting serves the small business community—the mom and pop places that are the backbones of our communities and our economy.

Stress in the workforce has become one of the biggest problems in business today. It has been called a global epidemic, with numerous studies encouraging businesses to be more proactive in helping their employees manage stress. 

“Every day, people deal with stress at work or in their personal lives — or probably both,” says Cindy Ballog, manager of Health Promotion, Wellness and Disease Management for Medical Mutual. “That’s why it’s important for organizations to understand the effect it can have on the health of their employees, and what that means for the future of their business.”

With the high demand and fast pace of today’s work environment, employees at practically every level of an organization are dealing with some level of stress. By providing stress management resources, organizations can help employees be healthier and control healthcare costs. “Healthy employees are often happier and more productive employees,” says Ballog. “In many cases, turnover and absenteeism can also go down.”

Stress is hard on the body. There are the obvious and immediate effects, such as headaches, upset stomach and loss of sleep. But there are more long-term consequences. Chronic stress can weaken the immune system, which makes it tougher to fight off illness, causing people to get sick more often. It’s also linked to high blood pressure, abnormal heartbeat, heart attacks, anxiety and depression. These conditions and others can worsen as a result of continuous stress. 

According to Ballog, diet and exercise go a long way. “When your body feels good, your mind often does, too,” she explains. “People often adopt poor eating and lifestyle habits as a form of stress relief, but those habits just make the symptoms worse.” Exercise is another important factor. Just 30 minutes of exercise a day can have a significant impact on stress. Even at work, when feasible, Ballog says employees should be encouraged to do things like go for a walk at lunch or use the stairs instead of the elevator. 

Of course, each employee is different when it comes to stress, with different sources and different effects on their health. Some employers offer classes on relaxation techniques and managing time more effectively. Employees should also feel comfortable discussing challenges and asking for help, which can help reduce stress for those employees and ensure projects are completed on time. 

“It can be difficult to eliminate all the stress factors in life, but everyone can find ways to understand their stressors and respond to them a little better,” says Ballog. “Helping your employees along in the process could help your business be healthier—both physically and financially.”

This article originally appeared in the July 20, 2015, edition of Small Business Matters.

The COSE workers’ comp team at Minute Men HR (MMHR/COSE) is here to help you increase workplace safety by using the BWC’s complimentary safety services. As we reported in February, increased participation in BWC safety programs has led to a decrease in claims filed and overall claims costs. That has resulted in significant reductions in BWC premium rates over the last 8 years with a 20% decrease in base rates for the 2019 policy year—the biggest drop in rates in the history of the BWC.  

For more information, visit the Ohio BWC website at www.bwc.ohio.gov and select Safety from the pull-down Menu at the top. You’ll be able to register for classes, request a safety consult and learn about safety grants and other programs designed to keep your workplace safe. 

Green Year Injury – 2 Hour Training Requirement

Each year, policies enrolled in a group savings program (Group Experience Rating or Group Retrospective Rating) that had a workplace injury during the defined green year period, are required to take 2 hours of safety training to maintain your eligibility to remain in the group program.  Participants in the 2019 MMHR/COSE workers’ comp group programs with workplace injuries between July 1, 2017 and September 30, 2018 are required to take the training before June 30, 2020.  We will be sending you a letter this month which will include an explanation of the requirement as well as training options and information about the BWC Learning Center. You have options for completing the training

1. The BWC Learning Center provides both classroom and online training. 
2. This is the only BWC training requirement that allows you to use external training – so, if you have internal safety training/meetings or participate in 2 hours of safety/security related training through an outside source, it will satisfy this requirement. 

Please click here for a link to the BWC Guidelines for Group Rating Training and an FAQ developed by the MMHR/COSE Workers’ Comp Team to help you through this process.

We also want to encourage you to be more active in monitoring and managing your policy (if you aren’t already).  The following action items can help you: 

1. Set up an e-account on the BWC website (www.bwc.ohio.gov).
   1. Pay premiums online through the BWC website and opt to receive your BWC invoice electronically to obtain the Go Green rebate (electronic invoices are required as of 7/1/19)
   2. Check your BWC policy online once a month to stay on top of any changes and make sure you don’t have a balance due.
   3. Make sure your contact information is current – on the BWC website and with your Third Party Administrator (TPA) and Managed Care Organization (MCO) so that you never miss important information. If you have an e-account, but can’t find your login information, you will need to contact the Ohio BWC at 1-800-644-6292 for assistance in resetting your account information.

The MMHR/COSE Workers’ Comp Team is here to answer questions and help you with BWC issues.  Please call us at 216-452-0107 for more information about our programs or for assistance. 

BWC Group Program 2-Hour Safety Training: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why do I have to do this?

A: The Ohio BWC encourages all employers to maintain a safe workplace. For employers participating in group savings programs that experience a workplace injury during the defined “green year” period are required to take 2 hours of safety training to help maintain a safe workplace and avoid future injuries.

Q: I did this last year/in a prior year, do I really have to do it again?

A: Yes. As long as you are participating in a group savings program and experience a claim during the defined green year period, you will be required to complete 2 hours of safety training.

Q: What is a defined green year period?

A: Each policy year begins on July 1 and runs through the following June 30. The defined green year is the period of time when claims have not yet entered the experience period and have not started to impact your rates/premiums.  It generally starts 2 years prior to the start of the current policy year and runs 18 months (July 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018 is the defined green year for the 2019 policy year).

Q: What are my options for meeting this requirement?

A: You have several options. You can take advantage of the BWC Division of Safety & Hygiene/BWC Learning Center and take online or in person safety classes. Or, you can utilize external safety training such as CPR/AED/First Aid certification, OSHA training or any specific industry training that is related to safety or security. This is the ONLY BWC safety training requirement that allows you to use external training. Safety Council meeting attendance DOES NOT satisfy this requirement.

Q: Does the owner have to take the training?

A: You can designate anyone on staff to complete the training. 

Q: We have scheduled safety meetings, do those count?

A: Yes, they can. If the training goes above and beyond expected day to day workplace training. Just be sure to keep a sign in sheet that includes the date, start and end time, topic, speaker and the names/signatures of employees that attended. You can submit more than one sign in/log to meet the 2 hour requirement (if the meetings are shorter).

Q: Does my safety council meeting attendance satisfy this requirement?

A: No. Since Safety Council meeting attendance meets the requirement for the Safety Council rebate, it cannot satisfy this requirement.  Neither does BWC training taken for any other program (Industry Specific Training, One Claim, EM Cap, etc).  In other words, you cannot “kill 2 birds with one stone” by taking one class and applying it to more than one BWC program.

Q: Where do I submit my documentation?

A: Please submit your documentation to the email address/fax number we will provide in the letter that we send you.

Q: How do I access the BWC Learning Center?

A: Instructions are included on the one page information sheet from the BWC that will be included with the letter we send you. You will also receive reminders throughout the policy year to make sure you meet this requirement. You can also access the BWC Learning Center through the BWC website at www.bwc.ohio.gov.

Q: What if I have trouble with the BWC Learning Center?

A: Since the site is maintained by the BWC, you will need to call the BWC for assistance with your log in or the site in general. We cannot help you with login or system issues. The BWC can be reached at 1-800-644-6292.

Q: What type of documentation will I get from the BWC Learning Center?

A: In most cases, you should be able to print a certificate, but you may need to “print screen” and send that as your documentation if you are having trouble printing the certificate. Note the date, time, online course name and policy number when sending the print screen to us.

Q: When do I have to complete this?

A: You must complete the 2-hour safety training by June 30, 2020.  We encourage you to complete it as soon as possible so as not to be overwhelmed at the last minute.

Q: What happens if I don’t complete the 2-hour safety training?

A: Since this is a BWC requirement, the BWC can disqualify you from participating in group savings programs in the subsequent year. We know that your discounts/rebates are important, so we encourage you to complete the training, and do it as early as possible to avoid paying higher premiums. 

Q: If I still have questions, where do I call?

A: For issues related to the BWC Learning Center or website, please call the BWC at 1-800-644-6292.

If you have questions about the MMHR/COSE Workers’ Comp program, please call our team at 216-452-0107. 

The Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Internship Central program is collaborating with Tri-C to offer GCP members the opportunity to participate as an internship host employer for Tri-C’s Summer Internship Program. There are 50 internships available and employers can host more than one intern. The program is five to 10 weeks (maximum of 100 hours to be worked) from May 30 to August 11, 2017.

As an external host employer, the company would be placed with an intern that best matches your needs. Tri-C manages the HR functions of the internship such as hiring, placement and internship compensation. Students will be compensated by the college at $10 per hour and will also receive financial support for one course during the Summer Term (up to 4 credits) and one book (up to $125).  

The host employer is responsible for:

• Providing supervision, coaching, feedback, and support to the intern.
• Providing meaningful work and learning experiences for the intern.
• Developing and sharing a work plan for the intern, outlining objectives and deliverables throughout the five- or 10-week internship.
• Providing a workspace and other resources (e.g., access to computer, reference materials, and telephone).
• Attending the Host Information Session and an Onboarding Session during Spring Term.
• Attending the Internship Fairs. This is essential because this is where you will meet and interview potential interns and make your top three intern selections.
  • Metropolitan Campus (downtown Cleveland) - Monday, March 13, 2017, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Western Campus (Parma) - Wednesday, March 15, 2017, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Internship host opportunities are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you are interested in hosting a student during summer 2017, please complete the Summer Internship Job Description and return to Angela Finding at afinding@gcpartnership.com by November 18, 2016. For questions regarding the program, call Angela at 216-592-2385.

Please click on the links below to access additional information about the program.

• Program Guidelines
• Job Description Template
• Sample Job Description
• Timeline

Cultivating talent early on in the IT industry was a focus of one of the sessions at the 4^th annual GET IT Here! Summit hosted by RITE on April 15 during the 2016 chapter of OHTec’s annual Tech Week.

The attraction, development and retention of employees in the industry begins at the internship level. During the first afternoon session titled “Resources for Employers” the Ohio Department of Education’s Linda O’Connor and Brenda Davis Smith with the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education presented resources employers can use as it relates to developing their internship programs.

Those resources are listed below:

RITE Resources: A list of resources compiled by RITE that assist employers with developing and managing a quality internship program and additional information for educators.

Contact:

• Courtney DeOreo, Board Administrator
• cdeoreo@lorainccc.edu
• Lorain County Community College
• 440-366-4214

Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education (NOCHE): Brings together business and higher education for regional economic & workforce development. Their Northeast Ohio Talent Exchange program offers individual consulting to assess your needs and design a custom program that supplements your talent acquisition and development strategies. Through their extensive network of colleges and universities, they can help you gain exposure and establish relationships with career services professionals and faculty members in a variety of disciplines. 

Contact:

• Brenda Davis Smith, Associate Vice President
• bdavissmith@noche.org
• 216-302-3242

Ohio Department of Education (ODE): Oversees the state’s public education system, which includes public school districts, joint vocational school districts and charter schools. The department also monitors educational service centers, other regional education providers, early learning and childcare programs, and private schools.

Contact:

• Linda O’Connor, Assistant Director/Career-Technical Education
• Linda.oconnor@education.ohio.gov
• 614-644-6095

Apprenticeships and Internship: Descriptions and qualifications of the different types of apprenticeships and internships employers offer.

Ohio Career Exploration Internship Program: Grants for businesses that employ up to three high school students in career exploration internships/year, 50% of the wages paid to the student up to a $5,000. Eligible to attend school in Ohio (ages 16-18) or enrolled in grade 11 or 12 and must employ them for 200 hours (20 weeks)

Contact:

• Edward King, Grant Manager
• Edward.King@development.ohio.gov
• Ohio Development Services Agency
• Office of Strategic Business Investments
• 614-644-6546

Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OHMEP): OHMEP supports Ohio’s small and medium-sized manufacturers by providing the products, services and assistance that are dedicated to the productivity, growth and global competitiveness of Ohio manufacturers.

Contact:

• James Ruble
• James.Ruble@development.ohio.gov
• Ohio Development Services Agency
• Office of Technology Investments
• 614-466-2775

US Department of Labor Apprenticeship USA Toolkit: Includes tools on building apprenticeship partnerships, business outreach materials and a guide for Business Service staff, guides for funding apprenticeship and counting outcomes under WIOA and models of successful workforce system/apprenticeship partnerships

For additional information, visit Ohio Department of Education and search keywords “apprenticeships” and “internships” for helpful forms, templates and contacts for program models.

View the full Get IT Here! Summit Afternoon Presentation

Looking for more IT-related resources? Keep an eye out for the June Mind Your Business Resource Guide that will feature a resource directory related to the IT industry. Contact Sara Adams at sadams@gcpartnership.com for more details.