From our member and friend, Sharon DeLay, of GO-HR:
I wanted to share some additional resources with you following today’s press conference by Governor DeWine. Some of these are for you, and some can be shared with your employees as you’re making difficult decisions.
Ohio BWC:
- The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation announced that BWC insurance premiums for March, April, and May may be deferred until June 1 (at which time they BWC will revisit this deferral and redetermine). This deferral will not cause your coverage to lapse.
- If you’re not in Ohio, check with your insurance broker about options available to you regarding your insurance premiums.
Ohio Department of Health
- COVID-19 updates: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/
Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services:
- Text 741741 – 4HOPE for mental health crisis (Ohio Crisis Text Line)
- Call 1-877-275-6364 for the Ohio crisis line
National crisis services:
- Visit https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline for the Disaster Distress Hotline
- Find resources and treatment at https://findtreatment.gov/
Health insurance premium waiver: Some states are asking providers to provide grace periods for healthcare premiums. Encourage employees to ASK their agents for more information. Don’t forget to ask about car insurance and other insurances, too.
- Ohio has announced that it will allow businesses to temporarily defer their health insurance premiums. Contact your insurance broker for assistance with this! Note: “Health insurers must also allow employers to continue covering their workers even if the employee would otherwise become ineligible because of a decrease in the hours that they work per week.” https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/03/20/ohio-to-allow-businesses-to-defer-health-insurance.html
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/advisor/2020/03/20/coronavirus-sparks-extended-insurance-payment-grace-periods/#4d4907805f8d
Training (low and no-cost): Now may be the time to upskill your employees. If you are keeping people working but know there may be some downtime among the worktime, check out these resources.
- State of Ohio Employer Training Resources: https://workforce.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/workforce/news/news-site/03192020
- LinkedIn Learning is working with libraries all over the country to make its catalog of over 14,000 trainings available to library card holders. Set up a plan for each employee that includes technical skills training, soft skills training, and cross training opportunities. Contact your library and see LinkedIn’s FAQs here. https://www.linkedin.com/help/learning/answer/107121/linkedin-learning-for-library-patron-faq?lang=en
- Coursera is one of many open course systems. Check out their free online courses and use these to create development plans for your employees. https://www.coursera.org/courses?query=free (Let’s be honest, many of us could use “English for Career Development” or “Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills” or even “Social Media Marketing” skills in today’s workplace!)
SBA:
- Disaster Loan Assistance: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
Finally, with your workforce working remotely, working fewer hours, or not working at all, think about a way you or your management team can do regular check-ins with each employee. For many, these new working arrangements are not comfortable and may increase their anxiety. A call from you may do you both good!
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us here at GO-HR if we can be of assistance.
Sharon Thomas DeLay, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
614.934.1747 (O) / 614.473.0122 (O) / 614.233.1522 (C)
sharon.delay@go-hr.biz / www.go-hr.biz