Grow Ohio Program: A Guide for New Employers

Encouraging job development in Ohio

To encourage the development of new jobs in Ohio, the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation developed the Grow Ohio Incentive Program to offer new employers premium discount options. The discounts offered through the program represent significant savings on workers’ compensation costs for companies at a very crucial time in their development. Below, we’ll explore the basics of the Grow Ohio program.

Initial eligibility

To qualify for the Grow Ohio program, the BWC requires that the company be either a new business entity or an out-of-state business that will create one or more jobs in Ohio on or after July 1, 2011. Additionally, professional employer organizations (PEOs), self-insurance employers, and employers transferring experience are not eligible for participation. PEO clients are eligible for the Grow Ohio program, though they do not receive the discount off the minimum administrative fee.

Group experience rating option

Through Grow Ohio, your business has the option to apply for group rating immediately, which can result in premium discounts up to 53 percent upon acceptance. Typically, companies must wait one full premium year before being eligible to apply for the group experience rating.

To join a group, you must select a sponsoring organization to place you in their group-rating program. Be sure to ask your sponsoring organization about fees for group participation, and if they provide any additional services or information.

25-percent discount option

All new employers in the Grow Ohio program are eligible for and will receive a 25 percent discount on premiums, unless they choose to participate in the group experience rating option or a BWC program that is not compatible with Grow Ohio. This discount is applied to the payroll period in which coverage becomes effective and the following two consecutive policy years thereafter, as long as your business remains eligible.

The Grow Ohio program is not compatible with the following programs: EM capping, group-retrospective rating, large deductible, group experience rating, individual-retrospective rating, or one-claim. Grow Ohio is compatible with: Drug-Free Safety Program, Industry Specific Safety Program, Safety Council Rebate Incentive Program, Transitional Work Bonus Program, Go Green Rebate, $15K Medical-Only Program, and the Lapse-Free Rebate.

Safety requirements to maintain eligibility

There are certain safety requirements that your company must meet in order to maintain eligibility in the Grow Ohio program. Before the end of the first full reporting period after acceptance into the program, you must complete any one of the following three requirements:

• Complete a safety survey and acknowledge you’ve read an introduction to the BWC Division of Safety and Hygiene’s offerings; or
• Complete at least two hours of safety training offered by the BWC Division of Safety and Hygiene; or
• Complete the Safety Management Self-Assessment.

Continuing eligibility

The BWC will conduct continuing eligibility evaluations for Grow Ohio on April 1 and October 1 of each year. To maintain eligibility, an employer in the Grow Ohio program must hold active workers’ compensation coverage that meets the standards set for by BWC. These standards include:

• All employer payments to BWC must be current;
• Any part-pay agreement payment schedules must be current;
• Employer must not have cumulative lapses in workers’ compensation coverage that exceeds 40 days in the prior 12-month period.

Grow Ohio and Sheakley

Receive your no-cost analysis from Sheakley today to learn more and discover if the Grow Ohio program is the right choice for your company. Just complete the AC-3 and one of our Workers’ Compensation experts will be in contact soon.

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