8 minute read
Together We Emerge Stronger
Together 4
WE EMERGE Stronger
Bob Duffy
reater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is honored to serve as your resource for the advocacy, information, and services your organization needs to make informed decisions and undertake responsible, factbased planning for continuity during the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. We are here for you through the crisis and beyond. Together, we will do the work necessary to come out stronger on the other side. G
I had the honor of accepting Governor Cuomo’s invitation to serve as his special advisor for the phased reopening the Rochester and Finger Lakes region in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Cuomo has emerged as a national leader through this crisis and I am proud of how he has led New York. Through my work as Governor Cuomo’s advisor, I gathered information from stakeholders on the things they are doing, the support they need, and their view on how to reopen safely with a plan driven by data. That is a key part of what Governor Cuomo is looking for to get businesses going again. Meetings with federal, state, and local elected officials, industrial development agencies, chambers of commerce and business associations, business owners, executives, employees, and leaders from all nine of the Finger Lakes region counties helped gather the data and input that drives decisions in Albany. The governor does not want to reopen too quickly and spike illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths.
Regardless of when any industry gets the go-ahead from New York State, I recommend preparing now for reopening. Every business or organization should first work on basic components: Face masks and appropriate personal protective equipment, hand sanitizing availability for employees and customers, social distancing plans, and facility disinfecting protocols. Governor Cuomo and I know that many people are upset and frustrated. Everyone is losing something during this process. We get that. However, the governor is not going to be pushed into a rapid reopening by criticism or protests. Anyone who chooses to violate the state’s executive orders may be putting their business at risk of enforcement action. As much frustration as we are seeing now, I urge businesses to not compound their troubles by adding more problems down the road. We do not want any business owner to feel more pain than they are feeling right now. We understand the financial pressures people are under. It is horrible on many fronts. Again, public health data will drive Governor Cuomo’s decisions. This is a killer virus and the decisions being made are to protect life. We cannot be hasty and return to square one.
The phased approach to reopening the state focuses on the compilation of infection rate and hospitalization data as well as a rolling evaluation of the capacity for testing and results of contact tracing. Based on an assessment of the data gleaned from these areas, the governor will either continue easing restrictions or implement another pause. We can expect the slow and steady pace to inform Albany on making the proper decisions.
Moving forward to post-pandemic planning, businesses should explore how they can reinvent themselves for the future. One of my biggest fears is that when our economy reopens more, people will justifiably hesitate to flock back immediately. I expect a great deal of fear on the part of consumers going forward until there is a reliable vaccine available.
That could throttle spending even after the public is less at risk of contracting the disease.
The remote workplace is something that Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and many other companies learned to embrace in a matter of weeks. I am proud of how the Rochester Chamber team responded to seamlessly and remotely provide the advocacy and services our members need to navigate the pandemic. We are on point every day, available 24/7, but not doing it the way we usually do. We are not out visiting and touring member businesses to learn how we can help them. We are not hosting in-person networking and professional development events. We are now doing all of those things remotely through technology. I see this continuing even well after the pandemic at Rochester Chamber and other businesses as a way to create efficiencies and save money. Rather than thinking about just getting back to work, let’s reimagine how we can work in the future.
I close by expressing my sincere thanks to the health care professionals and first responders serving our community on the front lines. They have done such an outstanding job and make us all proud. Before the pandemic, many of these people worked in anonymity. Their value has now risen to the top. They risk their lives and in many cases the lives and health of their families every day, not just here in our region but across our state and across our country. In a previous career, I was on the front lines in public safety and never took anything for granted. But when I look at what these men and women have done, it reinforced the great value, courage, and integrity they bring, asking for no recognition in return. So, I ask on their behalf for all of us to both demonstrate and extend our greatly deserved gratitude.
The spirit of this community is something of which I am very proud. Crises do not make individuals, organizations, and communities, but a crisis does show what we are made of. Our region has responded remarkably to this pandemic. What we are doing is working. Now is not the time to let up.
HR services
Kathy Richmond Sr. Director Human Resource Services
Jennifer Suppé Sr. HR Services Specialist
Summer HR Benchmarking Surveys Start Soon
In mid-June, Corporate and Partner members will be sent an email invitation to sign up to participate in a variety of benchmarking surveys taking place throughout the summer. Members that participate automatically receive complimentary results as a benefit of membership. Below is a summary of upcoming surveys.
Health Benefits Survey
This comprehensive benchmarking survey collects Rochesterarea data on many health insurance topics including: average health plan premiums, domestic partner and part-time benefits, retiree benefits, high-deductible and self-insured health plans, and dental plans.
Pay Trends Survey
This annual survey reports pay adjustments (merit, cost of living, etc.) received as a percent of pay in firms giving increases.
Holiday Closing Survey
This annual survey reports anticipated 2021 paid holiday observances.
2021-22 Policies & Benefits
This comprehensive biennial survey reports policies and practices on topics such as paid time off, working conditions, pay practices, and more.
Emails with web survey links for each of the above surveys will be sent out to those who sign up. To sign up to participate in any/all of the summer surveys, click here. Please contact Kathy Richmond at (585) 256-4618 or Jennifer Suppé at (585) 256-4608 with any questions on surveys. As a reminder, only Corporate and Partner members are eligible to participate in Rochester Chamber benchmarking surveys. To discuss options for upgrading membership, or joining Rochester Chamber, so that your company may participate in various wage and benefits benchmarking surveys, please contact Kevin Donahue in membership at (585) 256-4651.
SUMMER SURVEY PLANNING
Health Benefits Survey Web Survey Link Emailed (week of) Participation Deadline (week of) Estimated Survey Release Timing (week of)
July 6 July 27 September 28
Pay Trends Survey July 13 July 20 September 7
Holiday Closing Survey August 3 August 17 September 21
Policies & Benefits September 14 October 19 March/April 2021
2020 Employer’s Guide to NYS Labor Laws Released
This comprehensive guide provides information on New York State labor laws, including clear and concise explanations of each law, compliance and recordkeeping requirements, required posters, and more. This guide is published by Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and updated each year by Nixon Peabody LLP. Topics covered in the guide include the paid family leave law, wage deductions, employment of minors, hours of work, pay frequency, meal periods, termination notices, Wage Theft Prevention Act requirements, and more.
As a benefit of membership, a complimentary PDF copy of the guide is sent via email each April to HR contacts at Rochester Chamber member companies at all levels. This year the guide was released in May due to COVID-19 delays. To order a hard copy of the guide, please click here to download an order form. Rochester Chamber members (membership must be current) can request a resend of the free PDF of the guide or just the updated pages (for those who maintain a hard copy) by contacting Jennifer Suppé at (585) 256-4608 or Kathy Richmond at (585) 256-4618.
h o n o r i n g yo u n g l e a d e r s w h o h av e l i t a spark
wednesday, september 30, 2020 4:30-8:00 p. m . location: tbd
The Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award honors young professionals who strive toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen field, devote time and energy to their community in a meaningful way, and forge paths of leadership for others to follow.
Nominate one young leader from the ROC / FLX Community today! Deadline for submission: Monday, August 24, 2020.
