BNP Advocacy Insider – October 2021
The October 2021 Advocacy Insider is a roundup of important issues we are monitoring that could you and your business.
Read More10.6.21 Advocacy Alert: Comptroller’s Report Warns of UI Rate Increases
Unless the state swiftly acts, New York employers may soon face significant unemployment insurance rate increases.
New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli recently released a report detailing the dire financial status of the state’s UI system, confirming concerns that the BNP raised this summer.
Read MoreWorkforce & Labor Concerns Dominate BNP’s annual Member Pulse Report
The Partnership’s annual Advocacy & Member Survey is designed to identify pain points, areas of concern, and obstacles to growth. We have summarized the 2021 results in the Member Pulse Report.
According to the survey, the top concern of Buffalo Niagara employers is their difficulty finding and retaining qualified talent.
Read MoreCarlisle Lipke, 2021 BN360 Spotlight Professional
The Buffalo Niagara Partnership is pleased to present Carlisle Lipke, a 2022 BN360 Spotlight Professional.
Read More9.28.21 Advocacy Alert: NYS To Raise Minimum Wage
The New York State Department of Labor announced a forthcoming increase in the minimum wage across upstate New York.
On December 31, the minimum wage in our region will rise to $13.20 per hour, a 70-cent increase from the current rate.
Read MoreStaff Spotlight: Meet Josh Veronica
Josh Veronica is our Manager of Government Affairs and Economic Development.
His role at the BNP is to keep members informed of relevant updates on local, state, and federal government and to understand the needs and concerns of employers in the region.
Read More9/24/21 Webisode: Navigating the New Federal Vaccine Mandate for Employers
President Joe Biden recently announced a new mandate requiring all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require weekly testing of unvaccinated workers.
Read More9.20.21 Advocacy Alert: Border Closure Extended Through October
This morning, the U.S. federal government announced that it will be extending its closure to Canadian travelers through October 21.
Non-essential Canadian travelers have been banned from entering the U.S. since March 2020. Despite calls from the BNP, numerous members of Congress, and chambers across the nation to open the border, the Biden administration has not relented in its approach – even after Canada opened its doors to American travelers in August.
Read More9.9.21 COVID-19 Bulletin: Biden To Mandate “Vax or Test” Requirement for Large Employers
Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced she would repeal the state’s mask mandate, effective today. However, her announcement did not proactively address how the repeal coincided with the NY HERO Act, which would have required employees in most workplaces to continue masking.
Read More9.7.21 Advocacy Alert: Hochul Triggers HERO Act – Employer Checklist
Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul designated COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease,” citing rising case numbers and concerns about the delta variant. This declaration is significant because it triggers the NY HERO Act.
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