Bus Association of New York
125 State Street
Albany, New York 12207
(518) 426.3233

BANY@BANYBus.org
All Member BANY Zoom Meeting
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
11:00 AM
BANY wants to connect with our members. We will give you an update as to how BANY has responded to COVID-19 and give you a chance to ask questions.
BANY's Follow Up Letter to Governor Cuomo
ABA and UMA - COVID-19: Federal Response

This week BANY participated in webinar hosted by the ABA and UMA. It was a helpful exercise to create a united front for the industry. Here is a copy of their  powerpoint presentation .

The ABA and UMA have also provided us with templates and resources for you. Please use the first link

  • You can find your Representatives contact details here.
  • You can find your Senators contact details here.

 
 
Send a Customized Email to Tell Our Representatives not to MISS THE BUS in the Next Round of Federal Stimulus Funding for Businesses

Last Friday, ABA launched a new microsite to aid in our grassroots advocacy efforts. Bus operators need to educate Congress on what life would look like if our industry fails. We are TOO IMPORTANT to fail. ABA, in partnership with The Bus Network, has launched a new website: BusesMoveAmerica.com to help you contact Congressional leaders and your legislators to tell them don’t miss our bus.

Please visit www.busesmoveamerica.com often and send an email to our Congressional leader of the day. We are currently targeting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and will move on to Majority Leader McConnell next. We also have a template and contact information for your legislators for you to flood their in boxes as well. 

Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

To reduce the impact of COVID-19 outbreak conditions on businesses, workers, customers, and the public, it is important for all employers to plan now for COVID-19. For employers who have already planned for influenza pandemics, planning for COVID-19 may involve updating plans to address the specific exposure risks, sources of exposure, routes of transmission, and other unique characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 (i.e., compared to pandemic influenza viruses). Employers who have not prepared for pandemic events should prepare themselves and their workers as far in advance as possible of potentially worsening outbreak conditions. Lack of continuity planning can result in a cascade of failures as employers attempt to address challenges of COVID-19 with insufficient resources and workers who might not be adequately trained for jobs they may have to perform under pandemic conditions.

Interim Guidance on Executive Order 202.16 Requiring Face Coverings for Public and Private Employees Interacting with the Public During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Essential businesses, as well as state and local government agencies and authorities, must procure, fashion, or otherwise obtain face coverings and provide such coverings to employees who directly interact with the public during the course of their work at no-cost to the employee.

New York State Executive Order 202.16

Governor Cuomo has been holding regular press conferences and making additional announcements throughout each day regarding various mandates being imposed by New York in response to COVID-19, mostly via Executive Order which can be found here .  

Executive Order No. 202.16 – Face Coverings

Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order Number 202.16 which is in effect through May 12, 2020.

For all essential businesses or entities, any employees who are present in the workplace shall be provided and shall wear face coverings when in direct contact with customers or members of the public. Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings for their employees. This provision may be enforced by local governments or local law enforcement as if it were an order pursuant to section 12 or 12-b of the Public Health Law. This requirement shall be effective Wednesday, April 15 at 8 p.m.

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UMA Online Weekly Town Halls Thursdays at 2:00PM  

UMA's hosted online Town Hall meetings will be held weekly on Thursdays at 2:00PM. Join UMA to discuss the most current issues that matter to operators.

New Resources on COVID-19 on BANY's Website

Head to the resources page on BANY's website for a listing of agencies and resources to help you with COVID-19.


U.S. Department of Labor
Employee Rights - Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

The link below is a poster from the U.S. Department of Labor to post in your break rooms, time clock area, etc.

Unemployment Insurance - FAQs

Q. Our company has had to layoff a substantial number of workers? How will this affect my experience rates this year and next year?
 
A. Your experience rate for 2020 will not change based on these layoffs and you will not have to pay any additional contributions in 2020. Your 2021 experience rate may increase if there is substantial number of workers laid off over a long period of time. Experience rates are based on a combination of factors including the amounts of contributions you paid, the number of benefits paid to your workers on unemployment insurance and the overall solvency of the Trust Fund based on current economic conditions.
 
Q. Will the Department of Labor relieve my business of charges caused by COVID-19?
 
A. Federal and State law require all employers to be charged for benefits paid out to workers and for their rates to be based on their use of the system. There is currently no legal authority to relieve employers of those charges based on COVID-19.  
 
Q. Will the Department freeze my businesses’ experience rates for this year?
 
A. Your businesses’ rates and contributions will not be increased and you will not have to pay additional contributions this year.  Any charges you incur resulting from lay offs during 2020 will be reflected in your 2021 rates. 
 
Q. Will I have to pay any additional charges if New York State needs to take out loans?
 
A. The Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Emergency Unemployment Insurance Stabilization and Access Act waived interest on loans states have to pay to the federal government from March 18, 2020 and  December 31, 2020 to pay for the surge in benefits. Employers would therefore not be billed for the interest that would have accrued during period.
 
Q. How else can I reduce the costs of my Unemployment account and future UI contributions?
 
A. You can reduce the charges to your account by hiring back your former workers as soon as your business is in a position to reopen.  By reducing the number of weeks your workers receive benefits, you will be more likely to reduce the risk of having your experience rate increasing next year.  Even if you can have workers return part-time, your workers would receive a partial benefit and your charges would be lower. You should also know that the Federal government is providing an additional $600 on top of your workers’ UI benefits even if they are working part-time.  Your account will not be charged for the $600.
 
Q.  Are there any additional options for saving money?
 
A. You can also apply for the Shared Work program. This allows you to reduce the hours and wages of your workers between 20% and 60% on a weekly based. Your workers would then receive a partial benefit based on the percentage of the reduction, the additional $600 and their reduced wages. Right now the Federal government is providing 100% of the cost of the Unemployment Insurance benefits for Shared Work and the additional $600. Your account will not be charged to pay benefits and you will only have to pay the reduced wages. You also have the flexibility each week of changing the percentage of hours and wages as your business reopens and rebuilds. Federal funding will continue  through December 31st of this year.
Bus Association of New York | 125 State Street, Albany, New York 12207| 518.426.3233

BANY@BANYBus.org | www.BANYBus.org