Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has asked the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) to pay out employer dividends in the amount of $1.6 billion as a means to help the state’s business community survive the economic disaster resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. BWC reported that the $1.6 billion is the same amount as was paid into the system by Ohio employers in 2018. The Commission has already automatically deferred premium payments due for March, April and May until June of this year. If the dividend proposal is approved, the monies will first be applied to any outstanding balances with excess premium being mailed out to businesses by the end of the month. The BWC Board will meet this morning at 8:30 AM in an emergency session to formally consider the proposal. Interested Ohioans can attend the virtual meeting on WebEx by calling 1-415-655-0003 and Access code: 280 354 943 and #.