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GRAND
OPENING OF ECP's New Corporate Headquarters - June 2011
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Employers
Choice Plus is pleased to announce the grand opening of our new
Corporate Headquarters, located in West Chester, Ohio.
We, at ECP,
have experienced tremendous growth over the past few years and we
thank all our wonderful clients, vendors and employees for their
dedication and loyalty to us.
It is because
of you all that we have tripled our needed office space and more than
a year ago underwent the daunting task of searching, locating,
purchasing, and remodeling our new office building!
Our
new office building is located at 7593
Tylers Place Blvd., West Chester,
Ohio 45069. Our
target date to move into our new facility is June 3, 2011. We
will keep you posted as the move gets closer and provide you all with
news on an Open House!
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WORKERS
COMPENSATION NEWS
State of Ohio
- BWC
Buehrer Announces Expansion of Safety Council Program
and
Proposed Annual Cuts to Rates
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From BWC News Release
effective 3-31-2011
Columbus -
Stephen Buehrer, Administrator/CEO of the Ohio Bureau of Workers'
Compensation (BWC), has announced the continuation and expansion of
the Safety Council Rebate Incentive Program, which allows employers
to earn rebates on their workers' compensation premiums for
participating in their local safety council and reducing workplace
injuries.
The incentive
program, which is due to expire soon, allows participating employers
to receive a 2 percent rebate for attending a specific number of
safety council programs, and an additional 2 percent for
demonstrating a reduction in the frequency and/or severity of workplace
incidents. Under Buehrer's proposal, the program will not only
continue, but also will be expanded to allow group-rated employers to
participate in safety councils and earn a 2 percent performance
rebate for demonstrating improvements in workplace safety. This
would be in addition to receiving their group rating discount.
"We know
that those employers who are most active in taking control of their
safety programs are the most successful in preventing claims and
managing workers' compensation costs," Buehrer told 1,400
employers and workplace safety professionals attending yesterday's
general session of BWC's 81st Annual Safety Congress &
Expo. "I believe good safety programming ought to be good
for all employers across the state."
Buehrer noted
the savings potential is significant, providing an additional
opportunity to reduce overall premium costs for nearly 100,000 Ohio
employers allowing them to direct those resources into business
growth and job creation. He also stated that he will soon
present the proposal to the BWC Board of Directors for their advice
and consent.
BWC's Division
of Safety & Hygiene sponsors more than 80 safety councils across
the state that are organized by local safety-minded groups to inform
participants of new safety techniques, products and services, and
provide a thorough knowledge of topics, including occupational safety
and health, workers' compensation and risk management education.
To learn more
about the Safety Council Program/Proposal, visit www.ohiobwc.com. You can also
see a list of all safety councils on the BWC website.
Kasich
Proposes Annual Cuts to Workers' Compensation Rates:
Governor
Kasich has made proposed changes to help reduce the cost of doing
business in the state of Ohio. One of the proposed changes may
be approved next month by the BWC Board, and if approved could lower
rates. Gov. Kasich said he is seeking an overall 4 percent cut
in workers' compensation base rates for a total premium savings of
approximately $65 million annually. BWC Administrator Steve
Buehrer submitted the proposal to the BWC Actuarial
Subcommittee. The proposal allows for all employers to have
this reduction regardless if they are participating in any other
savings programs, such as group rating. Should this pass, the
base rate reduction would be effective July 1, 2011. However,
it does need to pass the BWC Board and review panels. We will
keep you posted on this very critical matter.
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BWC
to Offer Grant Savings for Wholesale, Retail Employers
Grants Help
Employers Enhance Workplace Safety, Save Money and Contribute to
Vital Research
Media
Advisory: April 21, 2011
Columbus - Ohio
Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) Administrator/CEO (BWC) Stephen
Buehrer today announced a grant program to reduce or eliminate
occupational injuries and illnesses in the wholesale/retail trade
sector. As part of BWC's ongoing research partnership with the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to
enhance safety practices for Ohio's workforce, the program provides
funds to employers in this sector to purchase safety equipment while
participating in a study that will guide future programming and
establish best practices
for accident and injury prevention.
"Safety is
paramount to BWC's mission and the most effective way to prevent
injuries and accidents is to thoughtfully structure our programming
in such a way that maximizes our resources by targeting the issues
and challenges that are unique to particular employer types,"
said Administrator/CEO Buehrer. "Ohio wholesale/retail
employers have a unique opportunity with this program to not only
save money, improve safety and reduce injuries in the short term, but
to also contribute to research that can help lower workers' comp
costs in the future."
Participating
employers will receive 2-to-1 matching funds, up to $40,000, through
BWC's SafetyGRANT$ Program to purchase equipment that can reduce
workplace injuries and illnesses. In return, employers agree to
take part in a two-year follow-up study with BWC and NIOSH to
determine the cost effectiveness of these interventions in reducing
occupational injuries.
BWC entered into
a research partnership with NIOSH last fall to examine why injuries
occur, and how to help Ohio businesses prevent accidents in the
future. This study of the wholesale/retail trade sector represents
the first major collaboration resulting from the partnership. The
goal is to reduce injuries and illnesses, particularly
musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and traumatic slip/trip/fall
injuries that are prevalent in this industry. MSDs account for
40 percent of lost-time claims in this industry; sprains and strains
account for 77 percent of these MSDs.
Eligible
employers pay into the State Insurance Fund and operate in the
wholesale/retail trade sector, or perform delivery operations of
large items (e.g., appliances, furniture, vending machines, furnaces,
water heaters, etc). Half of the participating employers will
receive funds when the study begins this winter; the other half will
receive them in spring 2012.
More information
and the SafetyGRANT$ application is available at www.ohiobwc.com.
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State
of Ohio - BWC Targets Fraud, Prescription Drug Abuse
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Governor John
Kasich has declared war on the epidemic of prescription drug abuse in
Ohio and charged state agencies with using every tool at their
disposal to help victims and fight those who abuse the law. To
help address the issue, and to continue its efforts to fight fraud,
BWC has been reviewing data regarding the use of prescription pain
medicine in the treatment for injured workers. As part of an
ongoing investigation, the BWC Special Investigations Department led
a March 16 raid of the offices of Dr. James E. Lundeen Sr., who
treats 800 Ohio workers injured on the job. Dr. Lundeen's
prescribing habits caught the eye of investigators, who report
receiving 19 allegations of billing, prescription and care
irregularities involving the doctor.
Additionally,
Dr. Lundeen is responsible for 61 percent of the narcotic pills
prescribed by BWC providers with a Scioto County address. He
ranks:
- Second
in the number of narcotic pills prescribed in the state;
- Fifth
in the number of injured workers prescribed narcotics.
"While
prescription narcotics can be a valid part of treatment, the
inappropriate use of pain medicines in treating injured workers hurts
the worker and constitutes fraud against the taxpayers and businesses
of Ohio," said BWC CEO/Administrator Stephen Buehrer.
"I hope our actions put those who would take advantage of Ohio's
injured workers on notice that it is something we absolutely will not
tolerate."
Buehrer vowed
continued work to meet the challenge of Governor Kasich to identify
and target anyone who is abusing the system at the expense of Ohio's
employers and injured workers.
"Rooting
out fraud not only safeguards employer dollars, it helps ensure
Ohio's injured workers are getting only the highest level of care so
they can return to living healthy and productive lives."
To report
suspected workers' compensation fraud, visit www.ohiobwc.com or call 1-800-ohiobwc.
Information
and context provided by BWC e-news - March 2011 Edition
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Group Benefits
for PEO Clients
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Did you know
that at ECP, we offer our PEO (leasing) clients, group
benefits?
Here are just
a few:
Reliance
Standard Basic Medical Program (Mini-med) - guaranteed
issue and no health questions asked with set rates. This plan
also offers a dental, life and short-term disability (STD) policy.
Colonial
Life Policies - Short Term
Disability, Cancer, Critical Illness, Accident and 3 different Life
Insurance options.
Coming
Soon: Employee
Assistance Plan (EAP) through PeopleResources.
Watch for additional information on this exciting benefit in upcoming
Newsletters.
E-mail or call
Heather Fair, Director of HR & Benefits, at our corporate office!
HF@echoiceplus.com
513.755.7719 x27 (800.381.4978)
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Benefits/Wellness
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Have you ever
wondered why your back hurts when you have just been sitting at
your desk all day? Have you ever wondered why your eyes seem to
cross after hours of working at your computer? Have you
ever wondered if you could get relief from body aches and pains
after sitting for hours? If you answered yes to any of
these questions or are just interested in learning more
about Ergonomics, then you should click on the link below and
see the provided article and Self-Evaluation on Computer Workstations.
Link:
http://www.echoiceplus.com/assets/ergonomics-computer-workstation-self-evaluation.pdf
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Special
Invitation to ECP Clients
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Thank
you for taking the time to read our e-mail Newsletter. It is
our hope that it was educational and that should you have any
questions regarding anything you have read or have questions about
our services that you will contact us.
Edited
by: Connie Matchett
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HR Notes:
When deciding to terminate an employee, an
employer should make sure that all verbal and written disciplinary
actions are in order and have as many notes as possible from
management along with dates of incidents and/or occurrences. As
always, all PEO clients should contact Heather Fair for guidance in
all matters relating to HR, as needed.
PEO Clients- Please remember to keep sending
in the termination forms with the reason, date of termination and any
notes you feel are necessary so that we may have it available for any
unemployment claims that come to us. If you need termination
forms we can provide them; we can customize them to fit your business
and/or your industry. E-mail Heather Fair today and
request your forms! They will save time and saving time saves
$$.
HF@echoiceplus.com
Employee
Social Security Tax Reduced 2% in 2011
In an
attempt to boost taxpayer income - and thus encourage spending - the
new payroll tax laws includes a 2% reduction in the employee
portion for the Social Security part of FICA taxes. For an
employee earning $50,000 in gross income, this means an additional
$1,000 available in 2011. This cut in Social Security tax is
only effective for 2011 (unless it's extended) and does not change
your employer contribution to FICA taxes.
If you would like to know more
about payroll and the services we can provide, please
contact Glen Coffey at GC@echoiceplus.com
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