Skip to content

In the News

Employees face financial peril with ‘benefits cliff’

Blog Categories

BUFFALO, N.Y. (The Buffalo News) — When can a raise, a promotion, or more work hours be a bad thing for employees?

When it pushes them over the "benefits cliff."

It is a workplace problem employers may not even be aware they have, but it is becoming more of an issue in today's tight labor market, where employees often are being asked to work longer hours by companies that are struggling to fill open jobs.

"People are very rational," said Dottie Gallagher, president and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. "They look at this and they say, 'I can’t take that overtime because I’ll hit that cliff, and I’ll lose food for my family, or I’ll lose my housing, or I’ll lose something.'

Read more here.

Related Posts

The Buffalo Niagara Partnership announces second cohort of Minority-Owned Business Initiative Program Expanded to Respond to Applicant Needs

By communications@thepartnership.org | June 1, 2023

The Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s (BNP’s) Minority Business Initiative (MBI) strives to eliminate the obstacles that have long hindered minority business ownership by providing minority-owned businesses access to BNP’s extensive resources and networks to build their business. The 2023 cohort was announced at today’s DEI Symposium and includes two tracks to better serve participant needs. The MBI Program is funded through generous underwriting of Bank of America, National Grid, and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.

Another Voice: Proposed recycling reform would harm manufacturers

By mcotter@thepartnership.org | May 31, 2023

BUFFALO, N.Y. (The Buffalo News) — New York lawmakers are rightfully looking to address the problem of plastic waste. One of Albany’s proposed solutions is an extended producer responsibility (EPR) bill called the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S.4246/A.5322).

Note to Albany: Pushing workers over ‘benefits cliff’ makes no sense

By mcotter@thepartnership.org | May 24, 2023

BUFFALO, N.Y. (The Buffalo News) — If the moral imperative of making work pay doesn’t prompt compensation adequate for a decent life – and clearly it often doesn’t – maybe the impact on the economy of penalizing workers for bettering themselves will change some minds.

Buffalo Niagara tourism builds back from Covid crash, but faces challenges

By mcotter@thepartnership.org | May 19, 2023

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — As the weather gets warmer, tourism in the Buffalo Niagara region becomes more visible – whether it’s the blue ponchos at the Maid of the Mist or convention attendees making their way down Franklin street to the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.