May 1st, 2019
Safety Update Ohio BWC Library
Find news, information, training opportunities and resources in this month’s Ohio BWC Safety Update. OHIO BWC SAFETY UPDATE >>>
April 12th, 2019
OSHA Increases Penalties
As of January 23, 2019, the penalties for violation of OSHA standards and regulations have increased. Below are the maximum penalty amounts, adjusted for inflation. The increase is due to the enactment of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (e.g., Inflation Adjustment Act).
April 12th, 2019
20% Reduction in BWC Rates for Private Employers
Ohio private employers will receive a 20 percent reduction in the average premium rates beginning July 1, 2019. BWC Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud said several factors make the reduction possible, including safer workplaces, fewer and less costly workplace injury claims and low medical cost inflation. Claims have fallen 18 percent since 2010 to 85,136 in 2018. […]
April 10th, 2019
Walmart Plans Estimated $81 Million in Ohio Store Improvements and Innovations in 2019
Ohio customers gaining more convenience and shopping options across the state COLUMBUS, OH, April 10, 2019— Building on its commitment to save customers time and money in new ways,Walmart expects to spend an estimated $81.9 million this year in Ohio through the remodeling of 14 stores, as well as the launch and continued expansion of […]
April 2nd, 2019
Safety Update: Ohio BWC Library
Please review tips for maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. VIEW HERE >>>
March 13th, 2019
Time Is Running Out to File Real Estate Tax Appeals in Ohio
Property taxes are frequently the largest non-productive expense incurred by property owners, and proactive management of this expense may result in increased profitability. Now is the time to review your tax assessments to make sure that each property is valued appropriately and that you are paying your fair share, and only your fair share, of […]
March 13th, 2019
H-1B Visa Lottery (Fiscal Year 2020): Important Changes to the Application Process
This year, new regulations were enacted to amend the H-1B lottery process. DHS anticipates that the new procedures will result in granting more H-1B visas to beneficiaries with advanced degrees (U.S. master’s degree or higher), thus rewarding the “most-skilled and highest-paid” in support of the Buy American and Hire American Executive Order. At the […]
March 13th, 2019
U.S. Department of Labor Proposes to Raise the Overtime-Exempt Salary Threshold to $35,000
On March 7, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) finally released its proposed rule to expand the overtime protections in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The rule would increase the salary an employee must receive before being deemed overtime-exempt to $679 per week – $35,308 per year (and $147,414 for highly compensated employees). […]
March 7th, 2019
Unemployment Cost Control
Unemployment Cost Control – The highest experience rate for Ohio employers increased from 9.0% in 2018 to 9.2% in 2019. As this figure varies from year to year, so will the rate brackets within the annual rate schedule created by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). This variable factor and the cost […]
March 7th, 2019
Mergers, Acquisitions and Purchases and Workers’ Comp
It is important for a new business owner who is taking over another business, either whole or in part, through a purchase, acquisition or merger, to understand how the BWC determines successorship. Generally, if the BWC determines the relationship between the predecessor (seller) and the successor (buyer) is a continuation of the business or operations, […]