COLUMBUS — The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) began sending dividend checks to 3,000 newly eligible employers to ease the impact of COVID-19 on Ohio’s business community and economy.

In September, the BWC Board of Directors approved the expansion of the agency’s December dividend to approximately 3,000 additional employers who did not originally meet eligibility requirements. BWC began mailing checks on Oct. 18.

“I’m glad to see these dividend checks in the mail and ready to help thousands of businesses,” Governor DeWine said. “This will allow Ohio employers to reinvest in their business, employees, and community.”

“We strive to do everything we can for employers to help ease the burden caused by the pandemic,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud. “We are pleased to provide this to employers who – through an unusual timing issue – were unable to receive this dividend in December.”

At Governor DeWine’s request, BWC’s Board has authorized more than $9.2 billion in dividends to Ohio employers since 2019.

BWC will first apply the dividend to an employer’s unpaid premium balance, then send a check for the rest. Employers that receive this dividend may receive an IRS 1099 tax form in January 2022.