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Are You Ready for an Intern? 5 Things You Need to Consider Before You Hire One

 

It’s that time of year when businesses start thinking about summer help. Could you use an intern this summer? Here are several things you need to consider before bringing on your first intern.

5 Things You Need to Know About Hiring an Intern for Your Business

 

  1. Times have changed. If you were an intern before 2000, you may remember interning as something akin to being a pledge in a fraternity. You did the grunt work for little recognition and no pay. Times have changed. Interns want valuable experience these days, not a summer of making copies. They also expect to be paid, and maybe not even minimum wage. Check with the employment laws in your state or ask anyone from Conde Nast what they learned about unpaid interns.
  2. Interns bring things other employees don’t. Interns can be amazing company cheerleaders, have a vast following on social media, and bring a new perspective. This last consideration can be incredibly valuable if you are courting their demographic.
  3. Interns come with a cost. In addition to paying them, you are expected to train them or at least communicate your needs on the projects you’re assigning them to. That means someone in your business will lose productivity time while they train the intern(s)…at least initially. Your intern may also not have the long-term success of the company in mind, especially if they’re “only” summer help. That’s why it’s important to make them feel part of the bigger picture and outcome to get their best work.
  4. Intern programs should have a goal. If you’re going to hire an intern, don’t do so simply because you need an extra set of hands to cover summer vacations. Have a direct goal in mind for them. Do you have a special project or research? Can they run point on something you don’t have the bandwidth to do? Know what it is you want and how you will measure success.
  5. You need a plan. In addition to a goal, you’ll want a plan. Determine the following:
    • How long will the internship be?
    • How many interns do you need?
    • How much will you pay them, and will you work with their college or high school to provide credit or hours toward a desired program?
    • How will you recruit?
    • Will the program be for internal candidates only (like children and friends or family of employees) or open to the public?
    • What requirements are important in the role and what tasks will they be responsible for?
    • Does your state have a program that matches interns in a specified field with qualified companies? If so, some of the planning may already be completed for you.
    • Who is your ideal candidate? What skills should they have? How will you evaluate them during the program?
    • What’s the screening process? Who will review the applications and who will notify the applicants?
    • Is there the possibility for the summer internship to become something more?
    • Who will oversee the training and evaluation once the intern is in place? You’ll want to provide consistent, effective feedback so interns will gain valuable work experience. You may also need to provide constructive criticism and chart a path for growth when they do not meet your expectations.
    • Have you reviewed the labor laws of your state regarding interns?
    • How will you address professional development? Remember interns are with you to learn. If you can help them grow into a valuable employee, you are contributing to the future workforce even if they don’t become a star for you. Your guidance could shape them through their future career.

 

 

Christina Metcalf is a writer/ghostwriter who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She loves road trips, hates exclamation points, and believes the world would be a better place if we all had our own theme song that played when we entered the room. What would yours be?

_______________________________________

Twitter: @christinagsmith
Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking
LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

 

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BUSINESS RESOURCES for Covid-19

Coronavirus relief options

SBA offers several different relief options to help businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations recover from the impacts of COVID-19. You can view all options or skip to a specific program below.

In order to reach the smallest businesses, SBA will offer Paycheck Protection Program loans to businesses with 20 or less employees and sole proprietors only from Wednesday, February 24 through Wednesday, March 10, 2021. President Biden has also announced additional program changes to make access to PPP loans more equitable.

SBA is currently offering the following funding options:

SBA is preparing to offer:

SBA is contacting eligible businesses regarding:

SBA previously offered the following funding options:

  • EIDL Advance (No longer available)

Governor DeWine Announces CARES Act Funding to Support Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Ohioans Impacted by COVID-19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 23, 2020

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted today announced that the administration, in partnership with the General Assembly, is developing a package of more than $419.5 million CARES Act funding to help Ohioans. This package includes funding for small businesses, restaurants and bars, hospitals, higher education, arts, nonprofits, and low-income Ohioans impacted financially by the pandemic

READ MORE HERE

Business Grants, Loans and Tax Credits

Business Bonds, Grants, Loans, and Tax Credits

The Ohio Development Services Agency has a variety of bonds, grants, loans and tax credits that can assist Ohio companies as they grow and create jobs in Ohio. More information click HERE.

Summary of Governor DeWine’s Address | February 18, 2021

 

COVID-19 Update: Vaccine Maintenance Program, Nursing Home Visitation, Phase 1B Medical Conditions

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted today provided the following updates on Ohio’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

WEATHER DELAYS

As a result of continued bad weather, vaccine shipments in Ohio and across the country continue to be delayed. Ohioans with vaccine appointments this week should confirm that their appointment has not been canceled before leaving home.

Because of these weather delays, it is expected that providers will give vaccinations over the weekend as shipments arrive.

VACCINE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM

This morning, Ohio launched its COVID-19 Vaccine Maintenance Program for nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Each month, facilities can host a vaccine clinic for residents and staff if there is the need for vaccinations. The program ensures that vaccinations in long-term care facilities continue for new residents and staff or current residents and staff who have now decided to be vaccinated. 

NURSING HOME VISITATION

Governor DeWine announced that he has assembled a team of doctors and nurses to develop a plan for safe nursing home visitation. Members of the team are experts in infectious disease control, skilled nursing, and other types of long-term care settings.

Ohio’s existing visitation order does allow compassionate care visits. Examples of compassionate care situations could include:

  • A resident who was living with their family before recently being admitted to a home is struggling with the change in environment and lack of physical family support.
  • A resident who needs cueing and encouragement with eating or drinking, previously provided by family or caregiver(s), is experiencing weight loss or dehydration.
  • A resident, who used to talk and interact with others, is experiencing emotional distress, seldom speaking, or crying more frequently.

The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman is available to assist citizens with questions about compassionate care visits. The office can be reached at OhioOmbudsman@age.ohio.gov or 1-800-282-1206. 

PHASE 1B MEDICAL CONDITIONS

This week, vaccine eligibility opened up to Ohioans born with the medical conditions outlined below, or those who were diagnosed in early childhood whose conditions continued into adulthood. Following anecdotal reports of individuals with these conditions being denied vaccination appointments, particularly those with cystic fibrosis, Governor DeWine stressed that vaccine providers should vaccinate those of any age with any of the following conditions. 

Ohio's vaccination program garphic

COVID-19 Resource Guide
October 29, 2020 | COVID-19

As Ohio communities continue to face the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that they have the
resources they need to help keep residents safe.

Please use this guide as a tool as we continue to help one another and persevere until we are on the other side of this crisis.  We are all in this together, Ohio.

Click HERE to view the “COVID-19 Resource Guide.”

CDC’s Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html.

COVID-19 Information for Businesses: https://www.tpchd.org/healthy-people/diseases/covid-19-information-for- businesses.

Coronavirus and Unemployment Insurance Benefits
 
Ohioans can apply for unemployment benefits online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at unemployment.ohio.gov. It is also possible to file by phone at 877-644-6562 or TTY at 888- 642-8203, Monday through Friday 7 am to 7 pm and 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. Employers with questions should email UCTech@jfs.ohio.gov. 
Read more 
jfs.ohio.gov 

Resources for Local Health Districts and Providers  
Resources for Local Health Districts and Providers – COVID-19 The Ohio Department of Health (ODH), in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is closely monitoring coronavirus disease 2019, first identified in… 
 
Read more 
odh.ohio.gov 

If your agency/organization needs support, please remember there are two ways to request support:

  1. For supply needs, please email eoc@allencountyohio.com .
  2. In order to apply for COVID-19 funds, please fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/EQV9dAA89Ms3ckse9 .  
  3. The personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage in Ohio remains severe. Governor DeWine made a plea to healthcare workers using N95 masks to send them to Battelle which can sterilize up to 160,000 masks each day, making them reusable up to 20 times. Hospitals should contact battelle.org to arrange for mask sterilization.

United Way

COVID Resources

CDC Situation Reports

WHO Situation Reports

Allen County Public Health

Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation

Ohio employers urged to cash dividend checks

NEWS RELEASE

Jan. 13, 2021

$500 million in checks aimed at pandemic relief remain uncashed

COLUMBUS – The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) urges Ohio employers to cash the checks BWC mailed them in December to mitigate the economic hardship brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Tuesday, 23,351 employers still had not cashed $513.7 million in checks BWC sent last month in its $5 billion dividend for nearly 180,000 private and public employers.

“We issued this dividend at Governor Mike DeWine’s request to help businesses stay open and keep people employed,” said BWC Interim Administrator/CEO John Logue. “We encourage employers to check their mail and start putting these dollars to use.”

BWC issued the dividend in mid-December via checks in the mail and credits to employer accounts. Made possible by strong investment returns, declining injury claims, and other cost savings, the dividend included $4.3 billion for

 private employers and $687 million for local government taxing districts, such as counties, cities, townships, and schools.

The dividend followed two others in 2020, one for $1.54 billion last spring and another for $1.34 billion in October, bringing total dividends for the year to nearly $8 billion.

The checks have a 90-day life before stale-dating. BWC will reissue checks after the stale date at the employer’s request, but the process delays employer access to these funds. Ultimately, if an employer fails to cash an original or reissued check, BWC will credit their account.

For frequently asked questions, visit this page on BWC’s website or call BWC at 1-800-644-6292.
BWC and COVID-19

For more information about COVID-19 as it relates to BWC, visit this Frequently Asked Questions page or email BWCCOVID19@bwc.state.oh.us.

For the latest on the pandemic as it relates to Ohio, visit the Ohio Department of Health website coronavirus.ohio.gov, or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).

 

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WAIVER  

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is modifying the process for haulers carrying heavy loads of essential goods. 

Generally, Ohio requires haulers with loads classified as “oversized” to seek advanced permission from ODOT before they are legally allowed to travel in the state.  

To assist in the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, ODOT will modify the process for haulers carrying heavy or oversized loads of food, non-alcoholic beverages, medical supplies, cleaning products, and other household goods. 

Haulers carrying these essential goods can download and print the permit at transportation.ohio.gov. 

Ohio Manufactures COVID-19 Resources (for Manufacturers)

Ohio Public Private Partnership – Recently, the Federal Emergency Management Agency released the following information on how to consider addressing PPE needs in a non-healthcare setting. 

Read more here

 

 

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Message from the Lima/Allen County Chamber President

lima chamber logo

March 17, 2020
 
Dear Members,
 
We are going through an unprecedented disruption together. But we have been tested before in different ways, and always emerge stronger – and we have no doubt this will prove true once again. 
 
The Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and various other business organizations commends the Governor for making the difficult decisions to protect Ohio residents from the COVID 19 virus.
 
We realize that these decisions will impact our businesses and the residents of our community and throughout the State of Ohio. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce President CEO Andrew E. Doehrel stated “We know this difficult decision was made in consultation with leading health experts, including Dr. Amy Acton, who are recommending actions to keep Ohioans safe during this unprecedented time. We support Governor DeWine’s decision because we believe taking steps now to confront the coronavirus will ultimately benefit our state by limiting the spread of the disease and enable Ohio to get back to normal sooner”.
 
We are writing today with some important updates on things that have been announced over the last few days:
 
Small Business Support
The President announced loans through the Small Business Administration on Thursday evening. The Lt. Governor also talked about those in Sunday’s State press conference. Here is a great resource page that gives some highlights on this program.
 
Here in Ohio, the Development Services Agency is helping to take the lead and they have asked that any small business owners who have been affected please send your contact information to the following email address: BusinessHelp@Development.Ohio.Gov and they will follow up with you. 
 
Impacted Employee Support
Your employees may be affected by the temporary restrictions put in place. The Governor’s office also announced several initiatives to help:
·        They are broadening current state policy to clarify that individuals that are quarantined by a health professional or by their employer are unemployed and will not be subject to requirements to actively seek work during the period of emergency.
·        This also applies to companies that determine it is necessary to temporarily shut down operations due to the current emergency.
·        Ohio currently has a 1-week waiting period before an individual can receive unemployment.  In order to expedite the payments to impacted Ohioans, they are waiving the waiting week so that workers eligible for unemployment benefits will receive them for the first week of unemployment.
These points were taken from the Governor’s Twitter page, but as soon as more detail is available, I will share it with you.
 
Unemployment & Businesses
The Governor also announced some relief for businesses regarding unemployment:
·        Because they do not want to penalize individual employers for the impact of this outbreak by increasing future taxes, the costs of these additional benefits will be mutualized.
·        ODJFS will also waive employer penalties for late reporting and payments for the next quarter to assist employers impacted by a lack of staff availability.
*We will also share more information on these, when available.
 
Bar/Restaurant Owner Support
The Lt. Governor announced a temporary buy-back of high proof liquor products purchased within the last 30 days. The goal of this is to ease cash flow for bar/restaurant owners. Here is a release by the Department of Commerce that shares more. It should be returned to the Agency where it was purchased. If you have questions you may call 1-877-812-0013 or email ohioliquorinfo@com.ohio.gov
 
Federal Response
Additionally, Congress acted late last week to pass legislation to support businesses and families affected by the disruption. Here is a great overview by the US Chamber which breaks down what is included.
 
How do you respond?
The Governor strongly urged business leaders today to consider your response to this urgent situation. Can your employees work remotely? How many? They issued the strongest call yet to have businesses encourage that. I understand that many businesses cannot do that. If that is your case, what steps can you take to ensure the maximum protection of your teams and customers, and ultimately our community? There are no easy answers here.
 
If you are in the service industry please send us your altered carry out/take out operations so we can assist in publicizing them to the community. 
 
Effective March 17, 2020, the Center for Business Services building will not be open to the public. the LIMA/ALLEN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ALLEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP, GREATER LIMA REGION, INC, DOWNTOWN LIMA, INC., ACTIVATE ALLEN COUNTY AND ALLEN LIMA LEADERSHIP has limited the chamber building to only essential meetings of 10 or less people.  most of our meetings will be held by conference calls.

Please note all chamber events have been canceled until we feel it is safe to hold them again.  We have rescheduled the Awards Gala event for June of 2020 unless it will still be unsafe to hold the event.
 
As always, our team is working behind the scenes to figure out how we can pivot and better serve you during this time. We are interested in hearing from you, how you’re being affected, and especially any ideas that you may have to help!
 
Let’s rally, keep families safe and continue to support each other!

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions at cell-419-234-2600 or email at jmetzger@limachamber.com
 
Sincerely,
 
Jed E. Metzger
President/CEO

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Lima/Allen County Employers Earn Workplace Safety Recognition

Lima/Allen County Employers Earn Workplace Safety Recognition

In conjunction with the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation Division of Safety & Hygiene, the West Central Ohio Safety Council presents safety awards to promote greater interest in the prevention of occupational accidents and disease. Members with the highest safety records were honored at the WCOSC 63rd annual awards banquet in Lima.

Awards were presented to qualifying businesses in the following categories:
• Group Award – lowest incident rate in each group;
• 100% Award – zero injuries or illnesses resulting in a day or more away from work in the previous calendar year;
• Achievement Award – a 25-percent reduction in the incident rate from the previous year;
• Special Award – at least 500,000 hours and at least six months without an injury resulting in a day or more away from work.
On April 9th, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) honored 49 local employers for zero injuries or illnesses resulting in a day or more away from work in the previous calendar year.
“A healthy workforce is crucial to ensuring that Ohio’s economy remains strong, and I applaud these businesses for their commitment to workplace safety,” said Governor DeWine. “These Allen County employers have demonstrated a commitment to safety, and I congratulate them on this special
recognition.”

The employers listed below, members of the West Central Ohio Safety Council, received BWC’s 100% Award during the Safety Council’s annual awards ceremony on April 9, 2019.
Adriel, Inc.
Allen County Council on Aging
Allen Co Regional Transit Auth.
Allied Environmental Services, Inc.
American Trim, OCP
Area Agency on Aging 3
Bluffton University
BRP Manufacturing Company
Budde Sheet Metal Works, Inc.
Comfort Keepers
Custom Staffing Lima
Custom Staffing-Wapakoneta
Degen Excavating Co., Inc.
Fort Amanda Specialties LLC
Frost Roofing Inc.
Guardian, Lima
Habitat for Humanity
HCF Management, Inc.
Hoffman Analytic Services, Inc.
Hydrofresh LTD
INEOS Lima Chemicals
Innocor Foam Technologies
Interdyne Corp.
International Tank Service, Inc.
Jacobs Industrial Services
Kahle Electric Inc.
Krendl Machine Co.
LaKing Trucking Inc.
Lima Millwork
Lima Sheet Metal
Lost Creek Healthcare & Rehabilitation
M & W Construction
Manpower
McBride Brothers, Inc.
R. A. Flynn & Son, Inc.
R.D. Jones Excavating, Inc.
Smith-Boughan, Inc.
Sparta Electric Inc.
Spencerville Local Schools
T & D Interiors, Inc.
Thermal Technology
Toledo Mechanical Insulation
Trisco Systems, Inc.
Tuttle Construction, Inc.
Warehouse Associates, LP
Wright Distribution Center
Wright Logistics
Wright Pallet, Inc.
Wright Refuse Inc.

Media Coverage:
https://www.hometownstations.com/news/allen-county-employers-earn-workplace-safetyrecognition/article_5e7ec586-5fb4-11e9-93f1-4fdd824b027f.html

https://www.hometownstations.com/news/area-businesses-receive-safetyawards/article_4c4cd468-5ad5-11e9-a9df-5711cac4a4d7.html

Photos:
https://limaallenchamber.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/EmzqxyG-dqdGqcAaAha4wIIBsvzvIbRNEp4yjNBYwXjIA?e=m16wJR

For more information about the West Central Ohio Safety Council please contact Deb Katzenmeyer, Safety Council Manager at dkatz@limachamber.com or 419-222-6045.

Written by: Deb Katzenmeyer, Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce