The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has taken several steps recently to provide some relief to businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Their decision to waive education and training requirements and to allow employers to defer the payment of their workers’ compensation premiums will ease financial and administrative burdens for Ohio businesses.  

At a recent press conference, Lt. Governor Husted announced employer workers’ compensation premium payments for March, April and May can be deferred until June 1, 2020. Granting this flexibility will assist employers facing cash flow issues and can help employers keep their workforce intact. Also, deferring three months of payments will benefit the Buckeye State’s economy because up to $200 million dollars will remain in the hands of employers due to the deferral.  

In addition to financial relief, the Bureau has reduced administrative burdens on employers by temporarily lifting many of their program’s education and training requirements for the rest of the policy year which ends June 30, 2020. Employers utilizing any of these programs can forgo the administrative training requirements: 

• Drug-Free Safety Program 
• Policy Activity Rebate Program 
• EM Cap Program 
• Grow Ohio 
• Industry-Specific Safety Program 
• One Claim Program 

The Bureau has said they will automatically apply the premium discount these programs provide to participants.  

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce commends the Bureau for being proactive during this difficult time and for heeding the call of Governor DeWine who has asked for state agencies to find policy solutions that will help businesses get through the coronavirus pandemic.