The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation urges employers to cash checks that were mailed to them in December to help with hardship brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

As of Tuesday, more than 23,000 employers have still not cashed more than $500 million in checks sent last month in its $5 billion dividend.

"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."

The Bureau of Worker's Compensation issued the dividend in mid-December through checks in the mail and credits to employer accounts.

The checks have a 90-day life before stale-dating. The Bureau will reissue checks after the stale date at the employer's request, but the process will delay access to the funds.

If an employer fails to cash the original or reissued check, their account will be credited.