Our DOL April 2022

As we look forward to Earth Day on April 22, we’re highlighting a group of employees aiming to make every day Earth Day: the DOL Green Team.

The Green Team is led by sustainability coordinator Linda Murray, who is planning to implement number of initiatives to promote conservation and sustainability within DOL.

“Sustainability is all about closing the loop,” Murray said. “There are so many things we create that could be put to greater use and given a longer life cycle.”

The Green Team has set a goal of reducing the agency’s carbon footprint by 23 million kBTUs (a measure of heat energy) by 2025. Some strategies include:

• Transitioning fleet vehicles to hybrid or ZEV (zero emissions vehicles)
• Transitioning to energy efficient buildings for new leased facilities
• Installing additional filtered water bottle filling stations
• Performing waste audits and commuter surveys

There are many simple things you can do at the office to reduce energy and your carbon footprint:

• When buying office supplies, purchase products with the GreenNY icon. See the tip sheet with more information and instructions on how to search for products.
• Enroll in paperless with Payroll Online.
• Carpool to work. Check out 511NY Rideshare to find someone in your community who has a similar commute. 511NY Rideshare has reduced 414 million miles of vehicle travel since 2010 – 4.5 times the distance from Earth to the sun.
• Close the blinds between peak hours (11-2) to reduce solar heat gain and keep you cooler.
• Pick up a set of silverware for the office at a yard sale. This is a sustainable alternative to using plastic for office parties.

And finally, April is a great month to see some greenery in New York’s state parks! Download the Parks Explorer App and plan your next adventure.

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

Her band’s music has been featured on shows like Gray’s Anatomy and The Punisher. When she’s not rocking out, DOL’s Sustainability Coordinator Linda Murray is looking for ways to promote conservation at the office and at home. See how Linda’s vintage sense of style is influenced by her passion for sustainability and giving items new life.

As an agency that sets the tone for businesses across the state, the DOL has made it a priority to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion are part of everything we do.

Those efforts will now be more formalized with the creation of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, Compliance and Equity – or DICE. The office will be led by Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) Selica Grant.

DICE’s mission is to foster a culture of integrity among DOL staff by serving as a resource in addressing ethical and compliance matters, developing tools, guidance, policies and programs, as well as training that promotes diversity, inclusion, ethics and compliance with applicable policies, laws, rules and regulations. The office is composed of the Division of Equal Opportunity Development (DEOD) and the Internal Controls Unit. DEOD maintains DOL’s commitment to equity by ensuring compliance with nondiscrimination laws and policies in all workforce employment programs, while Internal Controls increases DOL’s operational efficiencies by ensuring regulatory compliance and agency programmatic risk mitigation.  

According to Grant, one of her primary goals as CDO is to create a space where employees can have conversations and work collaboratively to understand one another and capitalize on our unique backgrounds and perspectives. An attorney by profession, Grant also serves as the New York State Equal Opportunity Officer for Workforce Development.  

“We start from the inside and work our way out. Our business, operations and personnel should reflect the communities we serve,” Grant said. “As a lifelong advocate, it’s about making sure there are voices of people in places where those voices were not previously or are not currently adequately represented, ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table and that those voices are heard at that table.

“Inclusivity does not mean that we’re asking anyone to compromise or sacrifice their values. It’s creating an understanding that everyone has a right to be in that space, co-exist and work together with those differing values,” Grant added.

In step with fostering an environment shaped by listening to one another, DICE wants to hear from you. The office will soon make available a cultural climate survey to give employees an opportunity to reflect on their experiences at DOL related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“We’ll be interacting with one another on a different level, so employee feedback and engagement is necessary in order to identify what will be most beneficial in achieving our goals,” Grant noted.

Ed Vargas was a passionate advocate, a voice of reason, and a deeply devoted protector of working New Yorkers. When he passed away in November 2021, he left a void at the New York State Department of Labor that can never be filled. However, his legacy will continue inside the new Ed Vargas Conference Room at our Church Street office in New York City. Please watch as Commissioner Reardon delivers a heartfelt tribute at the March 24 dedication ceremony.

Last month marked the 2-year anniversary of the COVID-19 lockdowns, which brought about the most difficult time in agency history. To celebrate the incredible efforts of everyone who helped us weather the storm, we shared a thank-you video, recognizing the contributions of each division and the people who got the job done and got us through to the other side. For anyone who may have missed it, we are sharing the video again here. It was an unprecedented time, and we couldn’t have done it without all of you. 

Can you go the distance for NYS DOL? Lace up and join Team DOL in the annual 2022 CDPHP Corporate Challenge on Thursday, May 19 at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. The 3.5 mile course is open to walkers and runners. The race kicks off at 6:25 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Hudson-Mohawk Road Runners Club and will help to underwrite college scholarships, grants, and more. To register, visit cdphpwtc.com and sign up under our team name “NYS DOL”. The registration fee is $30. There is also a virtual option offered with a $20 fee. The deadline to register is Sunday, May 1. For more information, contact DOL Team Captain Justin Heinbuch at [email protected].

The DOL Communications team is looking for a social media content coordinator who is a creative thinker with exceptional writing skills, who thrives in a collaborative team environment, and who loves the challenge of developing and managing impactful social media campaigns. If you know someone who might want to join a great group of creatives whose work makes a positive impact on the people of New York, have them apply today!

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:

April

• Wednesday, April 20 | Excel Level 100
• Wednesday, April 27 | Word Level 200
• Friday, April 29 | Office Hours

May

• Wednesday, May 4 | Teams Channels and Files Level 100
• Wednesday, May 11 | Excel Level 200
• Wednesday, May 18 | SharePoint Level 100
• Wednesday, May 25 | Outlook
• Tuesday, May 31 | 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!