For Immediate Release: Nov. 6, 2007

BWC to Consolidate Customer Service Offices

COLUMBUS – Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Administrator Marsha Ryan today announced plans to close customer service offices in downtown Cincinnati and Bridgeport (Belmont County) effective Dec. 28, 2007. The offices will consolidate and staff will be relocated to other nearby BWC customer service offices located in Governor’s Hill (Hamilton County) and Cambridge (Guernsey County).

The decision will bring about a total cost savings of more than $836,000 for the remainder of the biennium budget cycle, which ends June 30, 2009. Of the 15 staff members in the downtown Cincinnati office, BWC expects four staff members to retire by January 2008. It expects to relocate the remaining 11 to the Governor’s Hill operation. The three staff members of the Bridgeport Customer Focus Center (CFC) have the option to relocate to the Cambridge Customer Service Office.

“Many factors weighed into this difficult decision, including staff retirements, financial savings and our ability to maintain substantial services for our customers,” said Administrator Ryan. “BWC will provide the same level of quality service, and we anticipate these consolidations will be seamless for our staff and customers. I’m confident that by consolidating these offices, BWC customers will find complete services and information at a single location.”

BWC has maintained an office in downtown Cincinnati since the late 1950s and has been at 125 E. Court St. since 1985. It downsized the office in 2004 when approximately 75 percent of the staff moved to the Governor’s Hill location. The Bridgeport CFC opened at 56104 National Road in February 2005, following the consolidation of the Bridgeport and Zanesville customer service offices and their relocation to Cambridge.

The Industrial Commission of Ohio will maintain operations at the downtown Cincinnati location and the Bridgeport address. BWC plans to install informational kiosks in the lobbies of each, giving customers access to workers’ compensation information through ohiobwc.com and a telephone line with direct access to customer support staff in the Governor’s Hill and Cambridge customer service centers respectively.

Contact: Maria Smith
(614) 728-8045 or (614) 205-5709
maria.smith@bwc.state.oh.us

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