Our DOL June 2022

Did you know that the Department of Labor maintains a pool of multilingual employees to assist fellow staff? The intranet’s Language and Sign Language Bank is only one of many resources available to DOL employees, We've put it on hiatus so we can update the list of volunteers and their language skills. Soon it will be available again, and will be an even easier and more effective way for staff to seek out informal language assistance. To do this, we need your help!

The Language Bank needs volunteers with non-English language skills to be part of the Language Bank, and we’re encouraging supervisors to support staff participation in this vital resource. Language Bank volunteers may be asked to help with LEP customers to determine the language being spoken and what services the customer needs, to review and summarize written non-English material, or to assist at outreach events where non-English language skills may be required. Please note, the Language Bank does not replace our formal translation procedure for vital documents and publications, and it does not replace our Language Line service for oral translations. Previous Language Bank volunteers must resubmit their information if they wish to continue volunteering.

Your language skills are valued and needed more than ever. Fill out the volunteer form and become part of this vital DOL resource today!

Are you familiar with barrel racing, yay or… neigh? Vicki Mockler certainly is. When Vicki isn’t overseeing our Career Centers as a DEWS Deputy Bureau Chief, you might find her competing at the rodeo, flying around barrels on her horse, whose name is Brew. See how Vicki’s positive attitude translates to success in racing and in connecting New Yorkers with careers they love.

OER is now ERO!

The DOL’s Office of Employee Relations, commonly referred to as OER, has been renamed the Employee Relations Office (ERO).

The Governor’s Office of Employee Relations, commonly referred to as GOER, has returned to its statutory name, the Office of Employee Relations (OER) effective April 11, 2022 and they get first dibs on acronyms. We’re cool with it.

ERO handles matters related to the contract bargaining agreement within the agency, including but not limited to disciplinary actions, grievance procedures and labor-management functions. They provide support to agency managers and supervisors on a variety of concerns and maintain a good working relationship with public employee unions.

The office’s contact information is staying the same: [email protected] and 518-457-6651.

The staff of ERO look forward to continuing to provide the service and support you have come to expect from them.

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:

June

• Wednesday, June 15 | Lists Level 100
• Wednesday, June 22 | SharePoint Level 200
• Thursday, June 30 | Office Hours

July

• Wednesday, July 6 | Outlook
• Wednesday, July 13 | PowerPoint Level 100
• Wednesday, July 20 | Planner Level 100
• Wednesday, July 27 | Excel Level 100 Part 1
• Friday, July 29 | Excel Level 100 Part 2

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!

June is Pride Month, and here at the DOL we are fully committed to the Pride movement, to the fight for equality, and to the belief that all new Yorkers deserve to work in a safe and welcoming environment. As a show of support to our LGBTQ+ family members here and throughout NYS, we released the video below. If you have not already seen Commissioner Reardon’s message about how we can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone, including our non-binary family members, please take a moment to watch. Pride month is a great reminder that no matter who we are or who we love, at the end of the day we are all part of the New York family.

It’s the “set it and forget it” part of an email: the signature. But if you can’t remember when you last set it, it’s probably a good time to make sure your signature includes all the recommended information and is current with the latest DOL branding. Hint: If your logo says, "New York State of Opportunity", it's not the most recent branding.

Download this simple step-by-step guide that details how to create your DOL-branded signature from scratch or update an existing one. This will also be useful if you’re looking to add your pronouns to your signature.

On the DOL branding page of the intranet, you’ll find not only this information, but also the most up-to-date logos, Power Point templates, and more.

Have any questions or need additional assistance? Email us at [email protected].

Considering the current price of gas, many drivers may be looking to save money by switching to an electric vehicle. As the DOL Green Team points out, making the switch is easier and more cost effective than ever before.

New Yorkers can take advantage of the Drive Clean Rebate by purchasing or leasing an electric car through a participating dealer. The Drive Clean Rebate provides up to $2,000 off the price of an electric car at the time of purchase. Buyers can also capitalize on the federal tax credit for electric vehicles, which provides up to $7,500 for the purchase of new electric cars.

And no matter if you’re looking for a sedan, SUV, or truck you’ve got options. Every major car brand now has at least one hybrid model.

Worried about finding a place to recharge? NYSERDA has committed to adding more charging stations along the state’s major corridors. Planning a road trip and want to see where you can fuel up? Here’s a map of stations across the country!

Learn more about the benefits of driving an electric car.

And don’t just “go green” on the road. The Green Team has a free Lunchtime Learning webinar coming up at noon on Tuesday, June 14 on container gardening at home!

No yard? No problem. The webinar series features Master Gardener Christine Saplin on growing annuals, herbs, or vegetables in containers. You will learn what to consider when putting together container gardens including care and maintenance.

Register for the Green Team webinar and also check out the upcoming Lunchtime Learning schedule!