Our DOL May 2022

DOL recently kicked off an exciting new initiative aimed at modernizing our Worker Protections systems and technologies. In partnership with Google and Nuvalence, the project will focus on creating a unified Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system for the first time.

Building on the success of the historic Excluded Workers Fund, which resulted in the payment of $2 billion in benefits to low-wage immigrant workers statewide, DOL leaders say the project will lead to several enhancements, including:

• A unified, user-friendly, and efficient system for all of Worker Protections that will be used by workers, businesses, stakeholders, and of course, by our own staff
• Ability for workers to use their smartphones to inform DOL when their wages have been stolen or to report hazards at the workplace
• Real-time status updates for workers and businesses
• More language accessibility
• The phasing out of paper transactions

Development work has already begun, so stay tuned for updates as the project unfolds.

When Sylvia Kerber and her husband were looking to buy a home in 2000, they made an unconventional purchase: an abandoned building in downtown Binghamton that once housed a bridal salon and doctor’s office. See how the Kerbers were able to convert the building into a home where they now host weekly Sunday dinners, and how Sylvia’s experience as a small business owner made her uniquely qualified to help unemployed New Yorkers during the pandemic.

As New York lays the groundwork for the legalized cannabis industry, we’re aiding the effort by doing what we do best: providing the tools necessary for people and businesses to thrive in this burgeoning market.

Our new Cannabis Education & Employment Development (CEED) team is preparing to help connect New Yorkers, particularly those from communities disproportionally impacted by the policies of prohibition, to an estimated 50,000 jobs set to be created by the cannabis industry.

The team has been working directly with businesses, job seekers, educators, and the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to help outline for workers what careers are going to be available, the skills they will need to work in the industry, and what the future holds.

To learn more, visit the Cannabis Workforce Development webpage or email the CEED team directly at [email protected].

The Coursera Government Innovation Award was recently presented to DOL leaders for the agency’s notable contribution to workforce development. Through our partnership with Coursera, more than 120,000 New Yorkers have invested nearly 1,000,000 hours in online learning! Coursera gives unemployed New Yorkers access to nearly 4,000 programs across high-growth industries, allowing them to hone their skills in data science, business and technology.

Congratulations to everyone involved in forging this invaluable partnership!

The DOL Green Team recently performed an extensive waste audit at Building 12, sifting and sorting through bags of garbage from each floor to identify areas where we may be able to better promote conservation and sustainability. Team members also performed an audit of our recycling efforts.

Here are the key stats from what was thrown away:

• The total daily output of garbage is about 229 pounds.
• Of that, only 62 pounds (27%) of what was thrown away is meant for a landfill.
• There were 30 pounds of plastic recycling in the garbage.
• Fifteen (15) pounds of waste was made up of liquid.
• Plastic garbage bags accounted for 21 pounds of the total output. That’s over 100 pounds a week or 2.5 TONS of plastic bags a year!

The Green Team is currently identifying solutions to help reduce the amount of unnecessary waste, but there are a few ways we can pitch in immediately just by using the mantra Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:

• Reduce = Buying bulk, using reusable containers, and bringing our cutlery with us are great strategies to avoid plastic packaging and can save money.
• Reuse = Yogurt containers, milk jugs and plastic clamshell containers make great seed starting pots that can be used over the seasons. Glass jars are excellent containers for leftovers, dried goods or even a mini terrarium! Need to throw out some broken glass? Stash some padded shipping envelopes make the perfect capsule for hazardous items slated for a landfill.
• Recycle = By NYS Law, most stores are required to recycle plastic bags and surprisingly they DO get turned into some pretty cool stuff, such as composite deck boards and garment fabric. Plastic bottles and containers are most effectively recycled when free of food and liquid, and placed in the blue recycling bins located in each Building 12 break room.

The good news is that most of what can be recycled is being recycled. That audit showed that we have more than 330 pounds of recycled materials (paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and metal) per day and only about 11 pounds would be considered garbage. Keep up the great work and be on the lookout for more activities from our Green Team!

Interested in joining DOL’s Green Team? Email [email protected] or [email protected]. 

Since 1949, May has been observed as Mental Health Awareness Month. Once a stigmatized subject, there is a growing awareness of the prevalence of mental illness and an increased understanding of the importance of sustained mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic had a particularly devastating effect on millions of Americans, leading to increases in depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicidal episodes. This experience inspired new discussions about how we can address the issue at home and in the workplace. Appropriately, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has announced that the theme this year is “Together for Mental Health”.

Everyone deserves to live healthy, fulfilling lives. If you or someone you know needs support, help is available:

• Need Help Now? Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text Got5 to 741741
• New York Project Hope
• Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc.
• Office of Mental Health Crisis Prevention
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – New York State
• NAMI Calendar of Events
  • Wednesday, May 18th - Setting SMART Goals Workshop: A Peer-to-Peer Perspective
  • Tuesday, May 24 Mental Health and Wellness 101 in the Workplace – virtual event
  • Wednesday, May 25th - Rethinking Wellness: Thriving Vs. Surviving
• NAMI - Capital Region

This month, we remember the men and women who gave their lives in the service of our great nation. The Department of Labor cordially invites you to honor these heroes during the 28th annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. It starts at noon at the Veterans Memorial in front of Building 12 on the Harriman State Office Campus in Albany.

EDGE has some exciting opportunities coming up to boost your Microsoft skills! Every Wednesday morning at 10 a.m., Microsoft, in collaboration with EDGE, will host a 60-minute virtual Microsoft Tools workshop.

On the last day of each month, an Office Hours session will be held where trainers will be available to answer any questions you may have on the tools covered that month.

Attendees will receive credit in SLMS for participating. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from [email protected] with a link to join. Register today using the course links below:

May

• Wednesday, May 18 | SharePoint Level 100
• Wednesday, May 25 | Outlook
• Tuesday, May 31 | Office Hours

June

Wednesday, June 1 | Teams Chats & Meetings Level 100
Wednesday, June 8 | OneDrive for Business Level 100
Wednesday, June 15 | Lists Level 100
Wednesday, June 22 | SharePoint Level 200
Thursday, June 30 | Office Hours

These workshops will also be recorded, uploaded to SLMS, and available for you to view 1-2 weeks following each session. You will be able to find them using the keyword search feature in SLMS.

Remember to check the training section of the intranet for additional details and upcoming courses!

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This month, we are proud to support AAPI-owned businesses in New York. AAPI-owned businesses are an integral thread in the fabric of our communities, offering a diversity of distinct experiences that exemplify the New York way of life. Now more than ever, we need to uplift these small businesses and remember that we are all New Yorkers. This May, make some time to visit your favorite AAPI-owned small businesses and celebrate the vibrant cultures that make New York such a uniquely special place to live.