By Christine Graf
The state’s paid family leave program (PFL) is having a significant impact on some businesses, say those in the Human Resources field.
New York’s PFL has been in effect since 2018, but won’t be completely phased in until 2021. It provides paid time off for individuals to bond with a newly born, adopted or fostered child, care for a family member with a serious illness, or assist a loved one when a family member is deployed abroad on active military service.
As of Jan. 1, New Yorkers may be eligible to take up to 10 weeks of family leave and receive 55 percent of their salary. By 2021, 12 weeks of leave will be offered at 67 percent pay. Weekly pay caps are calculated based on state averages.
Gail Hamel, the owner of Lake George-based Hamel Resources, said the law impacts some businesses more than others. She is a human resources consultant who works with both large and small businesses.
“The biggest thing with the paid family leave act is certainly scheduling,” she said. “Especially when you have an employer with a limited number of employees.”
She said many of her smaller clients were exempt from the FMLA because they had less than 50 employees. That is not the case with New York’s PFL. Although public employ
Business Report: Knowing When It’s Time To Say Goodbye
By Rose Miller
Who didn’t love Sinatra? Even if you didn’t grow up in his era of popularity, you probably still tap a toe or know a verse of “New York, New York” (not the Alicia Keyes/Jay Z version either).
But I can remember the last few years he was still performing on stage. It wasn’t the wisest choice. The voice was gone and the visual presentation not good. It can be painful to watch a person who is beyond their prime try to keep going well beyond the time to say goodbye.
I’m seeing the same thing in the business world. Both employers and employees who don’t want to admit it is their time to say goodbye. The problem has the same attributes to breaking up with an old lover. You keep at it, keep trying to make it work. You feel badly most of the time. Frowns replace smiles. A sense of emptiness replaces fulfillment.
Yet, sometimes it is better to leave things broken than to hurt yourself during the breakup. From the employers’ side, the end of a long-term relationship with his or her company seems incomprehensible. The person has invested everything into building the business- time, money, knowledge, and relationships were all built around the business. The owner’s identity is tied to the business and is inextricably wrapped in the connection.
Dr. Fritz, Longtime Gastroenterologist In Area, Is New Hospital Chief Medical Officer
Longtime area gastroenterologist Dr. Howard P. Fritz has been named chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs at Glens Falls Hospital.
He succeeds Dr. Robert Pringle who was serving on an interim basis as the hospital conducted a candidate search.
Dr. Fritz retired as a partner in Gastroenterology Associates of Northern New York in September 2018 after 29 years with the practice.
In his new role, Fritz oversees all clinical operations at the hospital, including adherence to best practices and ensuring overall quality of care; serves as a liaison between the medical staff and administration; and assists in physician recruitment and strategic planning.
“Dr. Fritz is highly respected among the members of our medical community and cares very deeply about making Glens Falls Hospital the best it can possibly be,” said President and CEO Dianne Shugrue. “He has been an advocate for continuous improvement as a practicing member of our medical staff, and is now in an even greater position to lead the way forward from a quality of care standpoint.”
“I believe in the mission,” said Fritz. “Glens Falls Hospital is a not-for-profit, community based hospital. The hospital and the healthcare team that works with and within it are committed to providing high-quality care to as many people as possible, as close to home as possible. I can’t imagine this community without the hospital, and I look forward to working with everyone here to ensure that people get the highest quality care from the time they come in the door to the time they are discharged in better health.”
Business Report: What Work Culture Do You Want?
By James Marco
So much of today’s business literature focuses on culture, ping pong tables, juice bars, and other office perks. These are the types of things that are supposed to attract and retain talent.
The fact is, every company has a “culture.” What is interesting, in many, cases is that management will often see the culture differently from line staff.
Culture is not your mission or vision statement, it’s not found in those motivational wall posters and slogans seen in many office environments. Culture is not found in some grand proclamation from the CEO. And culture certainly isn’t found at a juice bar, cappuccino machine, ping pong table, or bean bag chair.
Culture is found in the daily interactions between staff, the interactions between management and staff, and the interactions of company employees with customers and those with whom you do business. Culture can be a competitive advantage for an organization.
But how do you objectively define your current culture, and how do you change your culture if you don’t like the current work environment?
Adirondack Thunder Hockey Team Visits Senior Citizens At The Wesley Community
The Wesley Community hosted players from the Adirondack Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, for a special visit with seniors residing at the Wesley Health Care Center in January.
The players spent the afternoon participating in various activities and handing out Thunder memorabilia and collectible items to residents at the long-term care center.
On the following day, the Adirondack Thunder in turn welcomed nearly 75 residents and staff from The Wesley Community to its home game against the Wheeling Nailers at Cool Insuring Arena.
Business Briefs – February 2019
Zobel & Co. Kitchens has won “Best Of Service” on Houzz, an online platform for home renovation and design.
This is the fifth year in a row that Zobel & Co. Kitchens, 11 Broad St., Glens Falls, has won the award. The firm, specializing in custom kitchen design and cabinetry, was chosen by the more than 40 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 2.1 million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.
The Best Of Houzz badge is awarded annually. The customer service award honors are based on several factors, including the professional’s overall rating and client reviews.
DeCrescente Becomes Exclusive Distributor For Shmaltz Brewing Co. Products In Region
DeCrescente Distributing Co. (DDC) has become the exclusive distributor of Shmaltz Brewing Co.’s award-winning core beers, as well as their special releases throughout the Capital Region.
DDC will distribute all draft and package versions of Shmaltz’s core beers, including their flagship Hop Manna IPA, a heavily dry hopped and unfiltered American IPA; Messiah Brown Ale, an American brown ale; Slingshot Lager, a dry hopped American craft lager; Hop Momma IPA, a New England-style IPA brewed with peach, apricot and a hint of habanero; and 518 Craft Foggy Goggles, a New England-style IPA.
“Shmaltz fits a unique niche in this market, having been brewed in Saratoga County since 2003,” said Russ Teplitzky, general manager at DDC. “Their award-winning selection and fun brand personality are a great addition to our world class craft beer portfolio.”
Owners Of Former Roma’s In Whitehall Decide On ‘RailYard Taproom’ As New Venture
By Jill Nagy
Folks in and around Whitehall nostalgic for Roma’s pizza and lasagna will soon be able to enjoy them again in the restaurant’s newest incarnation, the RailYard Taproom & Family Restaurant.
A consortium of five local couples now own the property on Route 4 in the Village of Whitehall and are aiming for a May reopening.
When the group first bought the property, specifics of the re-birth and its name had not been determined.
The new owners have completely gutted the building and are now “starting to put everything back together,” according to Cheryl Putorti, one of the owners. The men of the investment group did most of the demolition work, she said, but the new construction is largely in the hands of Hudson Falls general contractor Josh Willis.
Paintings, Photography, More Among The Hyde Collection Exhibit Lineup For 2019
The Hyde Collection has a variety of quality exhibitions in its lineup for 2019. Museum officials said the year began with an exhibition chronicling the evolution of photography and a nation, then moves on to include works by an up-and-coming regional artist with a pure vision; one of the original Ashcan painters; women modernists; and great 20th century modern masters.
Colorama from the George Eastman Museum is in the Wood Gallery through Sunday, April 14. For more than four decades, enormous advertisements displayed in New York City’s Grand Central Terminal affirmed a picturesque notion of everyday American life. The 18-foot-by-60-foot images depicted landscapes, holiday celebrations, historical events, family road trips, and patriotism.
The exhibition examines the captivating advertisements, offering insight into America and the histories of advertising, photography, and technology.
Cooperative Extension Of Warren County Gets Grant For Farm-To-School Food
By Christine Graf
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County has received a farm-to-school grant from the state Department of Agriculture and Markets to help connect schools with local farms and food producers.
The goals of the program include strengthening local agriculture, improving student health, and promoting regional food systems awareness.
The two-year grant totals $93,582. The state awarded $1.5 million in grants to 18 different organizations.
According to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County Executive Director Dr. James Seeley, they applied for the grant last year but did not receive it.