Introduction
Meet Our DOL Family
For Senior Labor Standards Investigator Johanna Cabrera, enforcing the labor laws is almost as challenging as raising two 13-year-old girls. With the help of her team, Johanna makes sure that underpaid workers get the money they deserve.
Carolyn Piccirillo Promoted to Director of Financial Administration
New York State Department of Labor veteran Carolyn Piccirillo has been promoted to the Director of Financial Administration.
Carolyn has over 32 years of experience at the DOL, all within in the Administrative Finance Division. She has worked on a variety of programs and has vast experience and knowledge in fiscal management and budgeting, including the State Budget submission process, a solid understanding of the Federal Budget process, reporting requirements and State finance law. This is a very challenging position that is instrumental to the successful delivery of services here at DOL.
Please join us in congratulating Carolyn on her promotion!
How the DOL is Helping New Yorkers Left Behind During the Pandemic
By Aaron Cagwin
The application for the historic Excluded Workers Fund (EWF) launched successfully on Sunday, Aug. 1. The $2.1 billion fund was created to support New Yorkers who could not get unemployment, pandemic, or other federal relief benefits. It is the first entirely state-run and state-funded program in the country to support workers who did not qualify for government-issued economic relief. Our DOL family worked closely with advocacy groups, state partners and other stakeholders, to stand up this program as swiftly as possible for those in need, while preserving the integrity of the program.
DOL leaders, staff, state agencies and other supporting partners, as well as members of the Google Cloud program team, gathered for the countdown to launch and monitored analytics as, minutes after going live, applications started rolling in.
The EWF application and supporting information are available on our website in 13 different languages to accommodate the diverse pool of eligible applicants. Additionally, DOL has partnered with more than 70 not-for-profit organizations across the state to provide direct application assistance, education, and training. We have also launched a large multimedia campaign which includes TV, radio and print ads, subway and bus ads, as well as a paid, organic social media campaign in multiple languages.
EWF provides a one-time payment to eligible individuals in one of two amounts: $15,600 or $3,200. The amount awarded depends on the documents submitted to verify identity, residency, and work history.
To learn more about the efforts of our DOL family and EWF, visit dol.ny.gov/ewf.
NY HERO Act: Working to Protect New York Workers from Airborne Diseases
On May 5, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (NY HERO Act) into law. The law mandates extensive new workplace health and safety protections in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the NY HERO Act is to protect employees against exposure and disease during a future airborne infectious disease outbreak.
Under this new law, the DOL, in consultation with the NYS Department of Health, recently developed and published a new Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Standard and a Model Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan, as well as various industry-specific model plans for the prevention of airborne infectious disease.
The exposure prevention plans must go into effect when an airborne infectious disease is designated by the New York State Commissioner of Health as a highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health.
To keep workplaces safe and protect employees, employers are required to provide a copy of the adopted Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan, and post it in a visible and prominent location within each worksite.
More information can be found on our NY HERO Act page at dol.ny.gov/ny-hero-act
National Black Women’s Equal Pay Day
In New York State, we believe in equal pay for an equal day’s work. While we have made strides, the wage gap continues for women, and it is even wider for Black women. NYS DOL is committed to doing our part to help New Yorkers bridge that divide.
Festival Fun Returns to the New York State Fairgrounds
By Aaron Fallon
The New York State Fair is back and better than ever! The annual end-of-summer celebration runs from August 20 to September 6 in Syracuse. Fairgoers can sample the best that New York State has to offer, including food, drink, educational displays, live entertainment and amusement rides.
New York State Fair tickets are $3 per person. Children under 12 and individuals ages 65 and up will be admitted free of charge. Fairgoers also have the option of purchasing $5 parking vouchers in advance of the fair. Attendees will be required to follow COVID-19 health guidance from the Department of Health. For a complete rundown of events, including concerts, visit the New York State Fair website at nysfair.ny.gov.
The Department of Labor will also be participating! Be sure to visit our display connecting New Yorkers to job opportunities and other resources, located in the Center for Innovation.
Did You Know...?
August is National Immunization Awareness Month!
DOL’s Hot Dog Day is Back!
You are invited to participate in DOL’s Annual Hot Dog Day on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Building 12 loading dock.
The department is celebrating 33 years of giving to our veterans. All proceeds from the annual event are donated to the Tri-County Council of Vietnam Era Veterans, and Hot Dog Day is their largest fundraiser.
Last year, we were unable to hold the event due to the pandemic. However, in 2019, we raised $7,246. We hope you will join us in giving back to our veterans who have given so much in their service to our country.
Pre-sale tickets are $6.00, and $7.00 the day of the event.
To learn more about the Tri-County Council of Vietnam Era Veterans, visit https://tccvev.com