Blog
2022 Ohio BWC Year in Review
After a three-year hiatus, Ohio Safety Congress has finally scheduled an in-person return! This three-day event is scheduled for March 8-10, 2023, and is free to all Ohio BWC state-fund employers. The keynote address and several other sessions will be livestreamed online during the event. This is one of our favorite events, and we’re excited to see you all there!
Reinstated Safety Intervention Grant Program – $3 to $1 match on safety investments is back. More here!
Safety Council rebates finally returned! The program transitioned to virtual meetings in March 2020 and a hybrid option was offered for the 2021 policy year, but they also did away with the premium rebate benefit during those two policy years. Now that the program has returned to 100% in person, virtually any private or public state fund employer can earn a 2% premium rebate for attending at least ten meetings each policy year.
The Substance Abuse Recovery Program is funded by millions that the DeWine administration committed toward helping Ohio employers hire, manage and retain employees in recovery. The funds can be used to reimburse employers for employee drug testing (with some caveats), training, and related policy development.
As Governor Mike DeWine begins his second term in 2023, he’ll have a new Chief of Staff in Stephanie McCloud, formerly the Administrator (CEO) for Ohio BWC. John Logue will succeed her as the Administrator next year. Logue currently serves as BWC’s Chief of Strategic Direction, and has previously served as interim Administrator for the organization.
2022’s unpredictable market had a similar impact on BWC’s investments as it did on many of our own. The chart below tracks October ’21 through October ’22, which shows a $3.2 billion loss, but as of November 10, the fund had lost a bit more, totaling $3.6 billion in losses.
Recruiting Services Now Available to Spooner Clients
Posted By Brandy King
November 17, 2025
Category: Recruiting, Hr, Hiring
Earlier this year, we added a seasoned recruiter to our growing team of experts! Samantha Lafollette comes to us with over ten years of experience in the staffing and recruiting industries and also serves as the Northeast Ohio Area Director of the Ohio Staffing & Search Association. SuretyHR’s recruiting services can be utilized by any of our clients trying to find the right candidates for open positions. We can help evaluate your needs, develop a job description and implement a recruiting plan, handle interview scheduling and assist your team in narrowing down the candidate pools. Our flexibility and competitive fee structure could be exactly what your organization needs to enhance your in-house resources and find the best person for the role. To learn more about our recruiting services, please contact Samantha LaFollette directly
Cleveland Bans Inquiries on Applicant Salary History
Posted By Brandy King
November 14, 2025
Category: Hr, Compliance, Human Resources, Payroll, Cleveland, Ohio, Hiring, Recruiting
Cleveland’s City Council approved a measure earlier this year prohibiting prospective employers from inquiring about an applicant’s salary history, and requires employers to include salary ranges in job postings. The new ordinance that became effective on October 27, 2025, applies to all Cleveland employers with 15 or more employees. The City of Cleveland is the latest of many municipalities (and even some states) across the U.S. that have passed similar laws in an effort to promote pay equity. Columbus passed a similar ordinance that took effect in 2024. Cleveland’s ordinance still permits discussing salary expectations with applicants, and doesn’t apply to applicants for internal transfer or promotion, salaries for positions set by collective bargaining agreements and governmental employers, other than the City of Cleveland itself. Considering the ordinance fails to define “salary range or scale,” complying with the new ordinance may leader employers to questions that don’t yet have answers. Employers found in violation of the ordinance may face civil fines up to $5000, depending on the number of violations within the last five years. If your business is based in the City of Cleveland and you have questions about how this may impact you, reach out to the SuretyHR team. If we aren’t able to directly answer your questions, we can engage our HR and legal partners to help you find the right
Year-End HR To-Do List
Posted By Brandy King
November 14, 2025
Category: Hr, Human Resources,
The final quarter of each year can be frustrating for HR departments and managers, as many companies choose to freeze their budgets this time of year. However, there are plenty of ways you can prepare for next year without much, if any, investment in 2025. Compliance: Make sure your organization has completed (and documented) required annual trainings, professional licenses are renewed, trade organization memberships renewed, etc. Review employee classifications, personnel files, etc. Compensation package review: Review pay structures for both hourly and salary, as well as benefits packages. You can use market comparisons, feedback from former employees’ exit interviews, and feedback from current employees to ensure you’re staying competitive. Remember: proactively paying employees what they’re worth is often easier (and less costly) than trying to match or beat a competitor’s offer to get them to stay put. Workforce Planning: Leadership should discuss potential for employee training for all levels of staff. Look back on the issues that have come up this year. What kind of knowledge and skills could help your staff avoid those pitfalls next year? Your local Chambers of Commerce, trade organizations, and consulting firms may have a lot more to offer than you realize! Employee Communication: Keep staff informed about important year-end info including benefit changes, holiday schedules, and tax documentation. It’s always a good idea to re
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