The U.S. Department of Labor announced new action regarding how American workers and employers will benefit from the protections and relief offered by the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
The department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted a temporary rule issuing regulations pursuant to this new law, effective April 1.
SUNY Empire State College students, alumni, faculty, and staff are creating opportunities to support those in need in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. From sewing masks to organizing blood drives and donating computers, to establishing a fund to assist students, the SUNY Empire community is ramping up its efforts across the state, officials said.
“It’s incredible how people have found helping others as a way to cope with this situation,” said college President Jim Malatras. “The giving back, the genuine concern for our neighbors, and the outpouring of support is overwhelming, and I expect it will only grow in the weeks to come.”
As reports of a global personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage began to come in, SUNY Empire alumnus David Theobald, CEO of Stat Staff Professionals (SSP) in Saratoga Springs, and his team not only donated their remaining N95 masks, they began to create hand-sewn masks. These colorful masks have been shared with SSP staff, family members, and clinical staff throughout the community.
BY BRIAN M. JOHNSON, MBA, CLTC
The COVID-19 crisis is an event like no other in our lifetime. It is forcing us to live life in a new way. In some cases we feel we have lost control of our future and lives.
Fear of the unknown and perceived loss of control are just two of the issues all of us are dealing with in our personal lives and in business. It’s now safe to say there will be no going “back to normal.” Instead, what we are currently experiencing IS the new normal and it will be this way for a while. So, how do you protect your business, operate during this unprecedented crisis, and emerge stronger on the other side?
There are myriad of insurance policies that address this concern such as business interruption coverage, disability insurance and business overhead expense insurance to name a few. However, I’m talking about an insurance that protects your most valuable asset, your people. Everyone in an organization plays integral role in the survival of a company.
BY MICHAEL BITTLE
In just one short month, our community has changed due to COVID-19. We have completely changed the way we work, interact and live. Many businesses are on hiatus due to executive orders and guidance, others are running as “essential business” only. Everyone is looking for that magic answer on when this will be over, and when can we get back to normal.
I have seen so many people step up and answer the call to this challenge and help each other and our community. The selfless passion that I have seen in this region has shone brightly over the past month. From people donating masks, to our health care systems, to others donating food, time and money. Our front-line workers have expanded beyond healthcare, law enforcement and fire. Those working at restaurants, day care, food stores, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and retail stores are but a few on the front line.
BY CHRISTINE GRAF
Alyssa Hackett opened Wolf Hollow Home Inspection last year and is certified to perform both home and mold inspections and works in numerous counties including Albany, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington.
She is willing to travel within a 1.5 hour radius of Albany.
Just six months after graduating from high school in 2001, Hackett enlisted in the Navy. She had no intention of entering the military but felt a call to serve after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A few months later, she deployed to the Middle East aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy.
After serving, she returned home and worked at a variety of different jobs before earning a degree in social work from the College of Saint Rose.
BY CHRISTINE GRAF
Local real estate agents and brokers have been forced to change the way they do business in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Until this month, the work of real estate agents was considered non-essential, creating a severe hardship. This month, that was relaxed somewhat, but challenges still exist.
New York state opened up part of the real estate market on April 1 with a the ruling that residential and commercial showings and some other limited functions are essential businesses and can continue.
BY CHRISTINE GRAF
An area maker of custom wooden signs, whose work can be found in Warren County outdoor facilities and parks, recently secured a contract to make signs for Yellowstone National Park’s historic Lake Lodge.
Malta resident Jim Thomson, owner of custom wooden sign company Adirondack Jim’s, will make signs for the lodge, which was built in 1891 and is undergoing a $19 million makeover. According to Thomson, it was well-known Montana historical architect Ken Sievert who recommended he be chosen to make the interior and exterior signs for the lodge.
The signs will measure between 5-8 feet in length and will be framed in logs. Scott Phillips of Adirondack LogWorks in Schroon Lake will be making the frames.
BY CHRISTINE GRAF
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, small business owners are facing unprecedented challenges, according to Bill Edwards, local coordinator of SCORE of Northeast New York. He said his team of volunteers is prepared to offer assistance to these business owners in whatever way possible.
SCORE is a network of volunteer expert business mentors. Founded in 1964, the nonprofit group has grown to include a nationwide network of more than 10,000 volunteers and approximately 300 chapters. It offers its services free of charge and receives it primary funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). As a result, they only work with businesses that are considered small business based on SBA criteria.
BY MEGHAN MURRAY
As an investor, you constantly want to see your portfolio move just one way – up. But that’s not possible, because the financial markets will always fluctuate.
So, if you’re going to invest for many decades, you need to be prepared for many ups and downs. Still, the recent market pullback from record highs, caused largely by the coronavirus, may have you particularly concerned. How can you navigate this environment?
Here are five suggestions:
• Avoid the temptation to panic. This pullback, while unsettling and unprecedented because of its speed, won’t last forever. And when it ends, you’ll still want to be invested in the financial markets, because the biggest gains usually occur in the earliest stages of a market rally. Of course, there are no guarantees in the investment world, but we’ve seen many examples of this pullback/rebound pattern throughout history.
Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. announce the promotions of John Marcantonio to vice president and Whitney Burger to assistant vice president.
Burger is responsible for maintaining, growing and servicing the company’s municipal relationships. She joined the bank in 2018 and will continue to work closely with branch staff and business partners to offer a variety of products and services to meet customer needs.