NYS Needs Your Feedback on Remote Work Plans

It is increasingly clear that we are moving into a new normal with respect to remote or teleworking, which will have significant implications for NYS’s economy. Your responses to the survey below will help provide an anonymous and representative view of remote working plans to assist policymakers in the coming months.
  
These survey responses are being collected by the State of NY and its New York Forward Reopening Advisory Board —a group of business, community, and civic leaders from industries across the state, helping to guide the State’s reopening strategy.

We apologize for this for this late notice as we were just asked to share this survey with you Tuesday afternoon. However, if you could take a moment to COMPLETE THE SURVEY NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, JULY 31 AT 5:00PM,  I know that the NY Forward Advisory Board will be grateful for your input.
Your Voice Matters:
Help Advocate for Workforce Development Funding
from Natalie Branosky, Workforce Development Director

Dear Tompkins Chamber Members,
 
We need your muscle and influence. This is bigger than another round of PPP. In the pandemic and resulting economic shock, we’re experiencing a workforce crisis. The US Senate has decided the free market will self-correct, and that workforce development programs are not important to local communities. 

But since mid-March, over 10,000 Tompkins County residents have accessed the workforce development system. Our goal is to use workforce program tools to support you as businesses, and to get workers skilled and back to work. PLEASE , email, tweet or call our representatives to express our funding request for these programs. You can also quote the attached letter (link below).  
 
  • USE TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, ETC and tag the following at least 3x per day with the hashtags #FundWorkforceRecovery #WkDev #EconDev
@RepTomReed  @SenGillibrand  @GillibrandNY  @SenSchumer  @ChuckSchumer
  • EMAIL OR CALL OUR REPRESENTATIVES EVERY DAY
 
Rep Tom Reed (Washington)
(202) 225-3161
 
Senator Chuck Schumer (Washington)
(202) 224-6542
 
Senator Kristen Gillibrand (Washington)
(202) 224-4451

DRAFT EMAIL/SCRIPT: 
Dear Congressman/Senator:   
New York State is facing an unprecedented demand for unemployment insurance and a looming economic recession due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Over 3 million New Yorkers are unemployed and at risk of not returning to work due to business closure, layoffs, and a lack of skills to meet business requirements. Now more than ever, the employer-led, local workforce development system must have the federal resources necessary to provide businesses with the skilled workers needed for an equitable economic recovery for New York. 

We in Tompkins County are aligned with the entire workforce industry’s request for a $15 billion investment the workforce system. This crisis affects vulnerable groups, low wage workers, and a range of employees who may not be called back to their jobs. The additional funding must get to the local workforce system as quickly as possible, to support businesses and groups who access these services in our local economy.

***
If you need further assistance:
Contact Natalie Branosky, Executive Director of the Tompkins County Workforce Development Board, at 202 868 0975 / nbranosky@tompkins-co.org for assistance or info.
** Submit Your Business Affirmation **
THERE REMAINS CONFUSION ABOUT THE REQUIREMENT FOR ALL BUSINESSES - REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU WERE ESSENTIAL, PHASE 1, PHASE 2, PHASE 3, OR PHASE 4 - TO SUBMIT YOUR AFFIRMATION TO NYS. THIS IS A REQUIREMENT FOR ALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN NYS that are open to employees OR the public.
NYS has made changes to some industry guidelines for earlier phases. We suggest checking your guidelines frequently, and making adjustments to operations if new procedures are recommended. If your business or organization is operating with employees or customers on site, you should have submitted an Affirmation to NYS and be following your industry guidelines. After the County receives confirmation back from NYS, they'll reach out with a poster you can fill out and hang in your business.
Consider your obligations as a business and employer regarding essential work travel, but also how you will address quarantine requirements and Covid-19 sick time for employees who have traveled to these states for non-essential reasons. Travelers coming to NYS from these states are required to fill out and provide a form, as well as quarantine for 14 days.
Questions?
Our Team is Here for You.

Just call the Chamber at 607-273-7080, or email us at info@tompkinschamber.org . For specific need areas:
 
Ritza Francois , Membership Referrals & Support
Carly Hansen , Operations/Account Assistance
Diane Hemly , Bookkeeper - AP/AR Questions
Jennifer Tavares , Economic Recovery/Communications & PR
David Walton , Event & Program/Sponsor Inquiries & OJT Grants
 
Note : Our office is open by appointment only. Our team is on reduced hours due to Covid-19 budget impacts. Please be patient if our response time is longer than usual.
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