State Worker Receiving Collect Calls From Prison, Charges Billed To You

An employee at the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation admitted she was accepting collect calls at her desk at work from a family member serving prison time.

Her admission came after Watchdog10 found she racked up a bill totaling $194.95, spending nearly six hours on collect calls since 2009.

The calls amounted to nearly $200 in lost productivity, Watchdog10’s Kurt Ludlow reported.

BWC spokesman Bill Teets said that since Watchdog10 brought the matter to their attention, the issue was addressed with the employee and the matter “has been turned over to HR.”

Teets said that the bureau is reviewing its phone policy because of the Watchdog10 investigation.  Managers will review monthly phone charges more closely and make sure each employee knows their business phone is for business only.

The worker has reimbursed the BWC for more than $80 so far, Ludlow reported.

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