Introduction
Our DOL Family
Milan Bhatt, Deputy Commissioner for Worker Protection
Milan Bhatt’s passion for helping the underserved and forgotten began with a transformational trip to Europe, where he bucked the typical trend of sightseeing and stepped out of his comfort zone. From helping at-risk populations in Spain to launching an HIV awareness program in South Africa, Milan’s background shaped him for a career in service to others, giving him a wealth of experience to draw upon in his role as the Deputy Commissioner for Worker Protection.
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Chris Sifka, Senior Labor Services Representative
Chris Sifka had one rule: when the workday is done, the work stays at the office. But when the office came home during to the pandemic, along with his new responsibilities as a supervisor in the Telephone Claims Center, Chris learned how to juggle his new role and find ways to be more productive by focusing on what matters most: his family.
Rockin' It Remotely: Amber Nebolini
In March 2020, many of us traded our offices for remote workplaces. In Rockin’ It Remotely, we interview members of our DOL family who are Rockin’ It while working remotely. This month we recognize another outstanding remote DOL employee.
Amber Nebolini started with DOL in April 2012 in the Office of Special Investigations and is currently a Workplace Violence Prevention Specialist with the Division of Equal Opportunity Development (DEOD). Amber has a crucial position with DOL. She monitors the Unusual Incident Reports and assists with Reasonable Accommodation requests. However, as another critical part of her position, she investigates Workplace Violence threats and incidents.
Amber is enjoying working remotely and being closer to her family and her Chow mix Morgan, all while her position has gotten a lot busier during the pandemic, like many of us here at DOL. She has found that working remotely, she can handle more of her job quickly and efficiently. Working remotely, she can respond more rapidly to a threat during off-hours than if she was in the office. Also, Amber has set up her workstation remotely to have complete privacy. She works closely with law enforcement on very sensitive threats, and at home, she has more privacy to listen to calls and sensitive threats containing threatening or foul language than she would in the office.
Amber’s director, Shawna McDaniel, has nothing except great things to say about Amber. Her director tells us that Amber still has all of the job responsibilities she had before going remote, and has taken on even more. For example, she is currently reviewing social media accounts and identifying possible threats. Shawna writes, “Amber goes above and beyond to provide meaningful assistance to DOL staff and customers.”
While Amber is Rockin’ It working remotely, she does miss being in the office for in-person meetings, or the quick trip to the cafeteria, which gives her a break and gets her moving. Amber does have some advice for us; she shares that we need to stay in the zone while working remotely. Stay focused on your job, and your mindset should be no different if you are home or in the office. Forget about your house if you are home; your chores will still be waiting for you after work hours. Remember to end your workday; when your day is over, close the computer and disconnect. Make sure you are enjoying your life outside of work hours. Amber’s family has taken to the outdoors during this time and is spending more time hiking and in the yard. She reminds us that by working remotely, we can get sedentary. Amber’s best advice is to keep your work relationships – keep connecting with your coworkers and remember to celebrate birthdays and events.
With all the changes and challenges we have faced here at DOL, Amber has risen to the occasion. Thank you, Amber, for Rockin’ It Remotely and being a part of the DOL family.
Small Business Week
In the first week of May, we celebrated Small Business Week, a time to focus on our diverse small businesses, the heartbeat of the New York State economy.
NYSDOL reminds employees that while the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the entire economy, small businesses have been especially affected. These smaller operations are the fabric of our communities and are always there for us in our time of need. Now it is time to return the favor.
Join us in continuing to buy local and support small businesses in your neighborhood.
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) began in 1977, when Representatives Frank Horton and Norman Mineta, along with Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga, introduced resolutions asking President Carter to declare the first ten days of May as Asian/Pacific Heritage Week. May was chosen for its historical significance, as the first Japanese immigrants came to this country in May of 1843. In 1978, President Carter made it an annual event, and in 1990, President George H.W. Bush proclaimed the entire month of May to be Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
The observance of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month honors the great contributions Asian Americans have made over the course of this country’s history. From the invaluable work of Chinese laborers on the Transcontinental railroad, to the soldiers of the 442nd RCT, a segregated World War II unit made up entirely of Japanese Americans, to the brave doctors who have helped save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is so much that Asian Americans have done and continue to do that needs to be recognized and celebrated.
But even in a year which saw the first person of South Asian descent achieve the position of Vice President, APAHM takes on a more somber meaning. Asian communities across the country have faced a massive spike in anti-Asian hate incidents since the beginning of the pandemic. This month, take some time to show your support. Take at least one action. Visit Asian-owned businesses. Contribute to causes that work on behalf of Asian Americans. Educate yourself on Asian American history and raise awareness of anti-Asian sentiment, so that others can take up the fight against Asian hate. Do your part to help in the fight for equality.
We Salute Our Heroes
As we prepare for our annual Memorial Day observance, our DOL family would like to salute our U.S. military men and women who gave their lives in the service of defending our country.
Did you know that Memorial Day has historical roots in our great state of New York?
Although Memorial Day didn’t become an official federal holiday in 1971, on May 26, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson designated Waterloo, New York as the "official" birthplace of the holiday and signed a presidential proclamation giving Waterloo its official bragging rights.
Thank you to all of the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice to keep all of us and our freedoms safe!
Annual Training for Employees
Each year, the State offers annual training to its employees to support and assist them in their work. Training topics range from workplace safety to cultural awareness to cyber security. All Department employees are pre-enrolled in these training classes in the Statewide Learning Management System (SLMS) at nyslearn.ny.gov.
All classes are designed to keep employees informed and safe, helping them perform the work of the State with integrity and accuracy. The Department would like to make sure all employees are aware of the following topics and that they complete the relevant training classes by the end of May. Please be sure to review each of the descriptions below.
Ethics for NYS Employees
This class reviews the State’s Code of Ethics and guidance for employees in their role as public servants.
Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation
You will watch a video on real-life scenarios in case of an emergency. You will learn about risks and how to stay safe in case of a fire emergency.
Information and Cyber Security Awareness
Being safe online is more important than ever. This class will guide you through preventing information security breaches.
Internal Controls
This class will look at ways to prevent fraud, reduce waste and avoid errors.
Language Access
This class goes over the importance of Language Access and how New York State provides translation services to the people of our state.
Have questions or need assistance?
The Training and Development Office helps with the annual training effort, and if you have any questions, they are always happy to hear from you.
You can reach them at 518-457-7442 or [email protected].
Did You Know...?
