OhioBWC - Basics:  (New hires) - FAQs

Your first day | Your first week | Your first year New Employee FAQs Q: Are my hours flexible? I sometimes have child care/transportation issues. A: Different areas of the bureau have specific requirements and provisions where it comes to flexible work schedules (i.e. "flextime") and special arrangements. Please contact your future supervisor directly to discuss potential options. Q: How should I dress? A: The manner in which we dress is a clear statement to our customers (both internal and external) about the pride we take in ourselves and in our work. A neat, clean, professional appearance speaks volumes about our commitment to the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) mission and our professionalism. In general, BWC follows the "business casual" philosophy; however, there are circumstances in which more professional attire is required, or certain work locations, such as our mailroom, may permit a more casual look. Please contact your future supervisor directly to discuss the department's dress requirements. Q: Do I accrue leave time right away? When can I use it? A Leave time can be broken down into three categories: Sick, Vacation and Personal. SICK: Full-time employees will begin to accrue 3.1 hours per pay period (10 days/two weeks over a one-year period) of sick leave immediately upon hire, except employees represented by SEIU District 1199, who will accrue 2.7 hours of sick leave per pay period (nine days over a one-year period). Sick leave is available to use for medical reasons as soon as it appears on your paystub. VACATION: Full-time employees will begin to accrue 3.1 hours per pay period (10 days/two weeks over a one-year period) of vacation leave immediately upon hire. The vacation leave that you accumulate will be available for use based on the type of position into which you’re hired. Please discuss your situation with your BWC Human Resources contact to determine when you're eligible to begin using accrued vacation leave. The rate of vacation leave accrual increases to a higher accrual tier beginning at years four (4.6 hours per pay period), nine (6.2), 14 (6.9), 19 (7.7) and 24 (9.2). Employees with fewer than 80 hours in an active pay status during a pay period (e.g., part-time employees) will receive a prorated leave accrual based on the number of hours worked. Individuals hired into the unclassified service (e.g., executives) are eligible to use vacation leave once it appears on the paystub. PERSONAL: Full-time employees are also provided with 32 hours of personal leave per year, which is prorated based on the date of hire, Part-time employees are provided with personal leave on a prorated basis based on the number of hours worked and the date of hire. Q: I have a pre-scheduled vacation planned and my tickets are non-refundable. I forgot to mention this during the interview or with personnel while accepting the position. What should I do? A: Please contact the personnel representative you worked with while being hired. Personnel will reach out to your future supervisor to discuss the situation and if appropriate, the supervisor may contact you directly. If approved, and depending on the length of time you expect to be absent from work, your probation period may be extended accordingly. Q: What kind of retirement plan does the state offer? A: The state's retirement plan is set up through the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). Upon hire, you will begin to make automatic employee contributions into the retirement plan you select - the Traditional Pension Plan, the Member-Directed Plan or the Combined Plan. An automatic pre-taxed deduction of 10 percent of your gross wages will be directed to your account each pay. The state also contributes 14 percent of your gross wages towards your retirement account. Q: If I leave state employment what happens to the OPERS funds in my account? A: If you leave state employment your funds may remain with OPERS or you may withdraw a portion of the contributions. If you have specific questions about your account, call OPERS at 1-888- 222-7377. Q: I previously worked for another public entity. May I request credit for my prior service time? A: The state of Ohio offers the opportunity for employees who have worked at another state agency or political subdivision of the state (e.g., state university, Ohio National Guard, Ohio county, Ohio township and/or Ohio city) to apply that employment time towards their state service time. If applicable, this may allow one to accrue vacation leave at a higher rate as well as increase the longevity supplement one receives. The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) makes all final decisions concerning applicability of prior service credit, and BWC in no way guarantees that any prior service will count towards state service credit or longevity. Also sick leave balances accrued while employed at a political subdivision of the state may be transferred to the state. You also may be eligible to purchase service credit through OPERS. If you believe you may be eligible to purchase OPERS service credit, contact their office at 1-888-222-7377. Prior Service Certification Form Application to Claim Annual Leave Accrual Credit for Prior Service in the Ohio National Guard Q: When should I expect to receive my first paycheck? A: Employees are paid two weeks in arrears. This means that you will not be paid for the first two weeks that you work until Friday of the fourth week of your employment. From then on, you will be paid every other Friday. Q: Does the BWC offer any paid holidays? A: Yes. The State of Ohio observes 11 paid holidays throughout the calendar year, usually falling on a Monday or Friday to provide an extended weekend.