Worker's World Today - Issue 48

September 2023

Protect Your Legacy!

INSIDE

Estate Planning Guide: See pages 7-10

Issue #48

OP-ED: A Fight for All Working People: New Yorkers Stand with Unions

BY INCENT ALVAREZ PRESIDENT, NYC CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL, AFL-CIO

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ew Yorkers are no strangers to the echoing chants of a picket line, or the appearance of a looming inflatable rat on a corner. But even the most jaded urban dwellers can’t help feeling that there’s something happening with our city’s labor movement today.

Much has already been written about the ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA. Screen-

Central AFL-CIO Council Pres Vincent Alvarez Editorial credit: a katz / Shutterstock.com

writers and actors want what every worker wants: stability for their families and a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

Their bosses have responded by stripping them of the residuals that pay the rent between jobs, and insisting on the use of AI that takes away ownership of their words and likenesses.

Rapid, unregulated technological changes aren’t just impacting entertainment workers. Across our economy, workers are being treated like robots, driven to meet arbitrary quotas at the risk of their continued on page 5

Editorial credit: a katz / Shutterstock.com

Hot Topics and News You Should Know About

Photo courtesy: NYC CLC

Editorial credit: nito / Shutterstock.com

Labor-Related News - Nationally & Locally

Staten Island Ferry Workers Agree to New Contract ...14

UAW Strike News Roundup! NY Workers Join the Fight ...15

Why Attempts to Empower Employees Often Fail ...21

Child Care Support for Working Parents ...6

New York NY USA-January 23, 2022 Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,joins delivery workers to celebrate the passage of delivery worker bills. Editorial credit: rblfmr / Shutterstock.com

BY CLAUDIA IRIZARRY APONTE, THE CITY

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pp-based food delivery services must pay workers at least $17.96 an hour before tips in New York City, a Manhattan judge ruled Thursday, defeating legal efforts by giants Uber, DoorDash and Grubhub to stop the rule from going into effect. continued on page 4

Coping with Relationship Anxiety ...19

DHS’ New Work Permit Measures Are Welcome Change with Potential to Address USCIS Challenges

BY ADRIEL OROZCO

Dedication of the Triangle Fire Memorial ...3

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Losing Our Mothers in the Black Maternal Health Crisis ...16

Planning Succession for Your Business ...9

Court Clears Minimum Hourly Pay for NYC Food Delivery Workers

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n September 20, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced measures to accelerate the processing of some work permits and to continued on page 12

Brian Figeroux, Esq.

Sept 2023

Workers’ World Today - Sept 2023

www.workersworldtoday.com

NYC Food Delivery Workers’ Rights

If you do restaurant deliveries for an app, you have rights regardless of your immigration status.

Your Rights Free insulated food delivery bag after 6 deliveries Apps must give you a bag. You can decide whether to use it.

More control over your deliveries • You can limit how far you will go from restaurants and pick which bridges or tunnels you will use.

• Apps cannot offer you trips outside the limits you set, and you have the right to change your limits.

No Retaliation It is illegal to punish or deactivate workers for exercising their rights.

Workers should immediately contact DCWP about retaliation.

Advance notice of delivery details Apps must tell you the pickup address, estimated time and distance for trip, tip, and pay before you accept a trip.

File a Complaint The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) enforces the law. For more information or to file a complaint:

Better access to restaurant bathrooms when you pick up orders Exceptions apply. Contact DCWP. More information about your pay Apps that take customer orders directly must tell you how much the customer tips for each delivery and your total pay and tips for the previous day. Exceptions apply.

Contact DCWP. Payment at least once a week Apps cannot charge a fee to process your payment.

Minimum pay rate (Effective 1/1/2023) New York City will set a minimum pay rate and may update it from time to time.

• Visit nyc.gov/DeliveryApps • Email OLPS@dcwp.nyc.gov • Call 311 (212-NEW-YORK outside NYC) and ask for “Delivery Worker” DCWP will not share your identity without your prior consent.

You can also file a case in court.

However, you cannot have a complaint with DCWP and a claim in court at the same time.

This information is brought to your courtesy of THE ASK THE LAWYER Radio Program For a legal consultation on these and other issues, please call 855-768-8845 or schedule an appointment at www.askthelawyer.us

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In Solidarity

Dedication of the Triangle Fire Memorial

O Supports Workers’ World Today

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ecently, I was in Albany fighting and seeking support of A1261/S1947, legislation that will create a clear definition of public work and level the playing field for New York’s contractors.

District Council 9 Painters and Allied Trades Union (DC9), the union for painters, prides itself on being a strong advocate for workers’ rights and safety. We are excited about this new publication, Workers’ World Today, which covers the issues of relevance and concern for all workers.

We are encouraged that all workers: blue and white collar will have a voice and platform.

Congratulations on your inaugural issue. We wish much success to the leaders and team of Workers’ World Today and pledge our support.p Davon Lomax Political Director, DC9

n Wednesday, October 11, 11:30AM: The longawaited Triangle Fire Memorial, located at the site of the fire in Greenwich Village, New York, will be dedicated.

The memorial is one of the very few in America that honors workers, most of whom were women and immigrants, and it is unique in that it tells their story in their own languages, English, Italian, and Yiddish.

“This beautiful memorial will help us remember the workers who lost their lives because of employers’ greed, shining a light on this dark history and reminding us of the need for collective action,” said Mary Anne Trasciatti, President of the Triangle Fire Coalition.

“Outrage in the aftermath of the tragedy changed labor and fire safety laws and these changes continue to protect us

TEAM Publisher Workers’ World Today, Inc Editor-in-Chief Pearl Phillip Contributing Writers Linda Nwoke Victoria Falk Travis Morales Mary Campbell Janet Howard JR Holguin Chris Tobias Erin Telesford Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Telephone 1-866-435-3286 Email info@workersworldtoday.com Visit us at www.workersworldtoday.com

more than 100 years later. We are honored to partner with

New York University and to have gotten so much support

from the labor movement and others in the community for this project.” Please join us as we gather for this historic occasion at the corner of Greene Street and Washington Place!p

CJNY Receives New York City Council Proclamation During Climate Week

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n Tuesday, September 19, the New York City Council honored Climate Jobs New York with a proclamation to recognize the coalition's work to achieve good union jobs within the ever-expanding green economy. CJNY was honored at the event alongside environmental groups and was issued the proclamation by Council Speaker Adams and Councilmembers Sandy Nurse, Carmen De La Rosa,

Amanda Farías, Alexa Avilés, and James Gennaro.

A large contingent of rankand-file members from the coalition came out to receive the proclamation on behalf of CJNY and their unions. Three speakers from CJNY also told their stories to the crowd about the impact climate change has had on their workplaces and lives, and how they see their unions as heading the charge towards a greener economy. p

Photo credit: Dan Hinton, IBEW Local 3

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Workers’ Rights Minimum Hourly Pay for NYC Food Delivery Workers continued from page 1 The food delivery minimum wage stems from a local law that was supposed to kick off in January and whose implementation has been delayed by the city under fierce pressure from the app companies.

Only Relay, a smaller New York-based operation, is exempt under the decision from Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Nicholas Moyne, who granted the platform’s request for an injunction because it works directly with restaurants and already pays an hourly base rate. The decision allows the company to continue challenging the rule.

Because the app companies treat their workforce as independent contractors and not as employees, delivery cyclists and drivers are not entitled to either the federal or state guaranteed minimum wage. Food delivery workers on average earn $11 hourly before tips, according to estimates from the city.

Barring further legal challenges, the companies must begin paying delivery workers $17.96 an hour before tips beginning on the first day of each app’s next full pay period.

Judge affirms city rules mandating at least $17.96 an hour before tips for Uber, Grubhub and DoorDash workers, clearing New York as the first major U.S. city with a guaranteed driver wage.

In rejecting the apps’ request for an injunction, Moyne called any harm to Uber, DoorDash and Grubhub “speculative,” noting that they will be able to pass any increases in costs on to consumers.

The decision came after the four companies, which jointly account for 99% of food deliveries in the city, filed lawsuits in July challenging the wage rules, arguing the pay obligations would cause irreparable harm to their business.

Delivery worker leaders, who had been advocating for better wages and pay standards for more than three years under the banner of Los Deliveristas Unidos, cheered Moyne’s decision and vowed to hold the companies accountable.

Sergio Ajche, a cofounder of the group who delivers for Grubhub, said on Thursday that he was “contentísimo” — thrilled — with the judge’s decision.

Deliveristas rally outside New York County Courthouse ahead of a hearing about minimum app pay rates, Aug. 3, 2023. | Photo: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY “For me it’s important that the most powerful of the companies lost here,” he said in Spanish. “We demonstrated that that change can happen, even if they don’t want it to.”

In the 43-page decision, Moyne also dismissed claims

by Uber, DoorDash and Grubhub that the city was unfair in the way it conducted a required survey of companies and workers during its wage-setting process, as well as their claims that the law unfairly excludes third-party grocery delivery companies.

Moyne gave the city 60 days to appeal the decision.

DoorDash spokesperson Eli Scheinholtz called Moyne’s d e c i s i o n “deeply disappointing” and said the company is evaluating its legal options.

“The city’s insistence on forging ahead with such an extreme pay rate will reduce opportunity and increase costs for all New Yorkers,” he added, contending that the wage requirement will result in less work for drivers.

According to Grubhub spokesperson Patrick Burke, the platform will be “forced” to make changes “that will have adverse consequences for delivery partners, consumers and independent businesses.”

Relay attorney Adam Cohen, the sole company to secure an injunction, cheered the decision, saying in a statement on Thursday that Moyne’s decision “protects” their workers and restaurant partners. Relay pays workers around $13 an hour before tips.

Uber spokesperson Josh Gold slammed the decision, saying that it was “shocking that a rule designed to make third party delivery apps behave more like Relay will not actually apply to Relay.”

Nine-Month Delay The pay standard is mandated by a 2021 law under which workers’ hourly wages will increase annually starting this year and reaching $19.96 by April 2025. The new minimum wage takes into account delivery workers’ costs of operating, from transportation equipment to insurance.

The minimum pay law was supposed to go into effect in January, but the Adams administration reversed course earlier this year, reopening the public rulemaking process following intense campaigning from several of the major delivery companies. The backand-forth delayed the implementation of the law by more than nine months.

In legal filings and in court, the companies argued the law will force them to pass on added costs to consumers and potentially drive away business, and claimed bias by the city in the rulemaking process.

Mayor Eric Adams praised the decision in a statement that

said his administration was grateful “to the deliveristas who have raised their voices in support of better pay and working conditions.” Vilda Vera Mayuga, the DCWP commissioner, said in a statement that with the ruling “New York City has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring restaurant delivery workers earn a dignified pay.”

City Comptroller Brad Lander, who as a Brooklyn City Council member introduced the 2021 bill mandating the pay minimum, said on Thursday that he was “thrilled” by the ruling and looked forward to having workers “finally receive the raises they have been entitled to for almost 10 months.”

In recent months, Los Deliveristas Unidos and its parent organization, the Workers Justice Project, had begun laying the groundwork to educate workers and consumers on the new rules and workers’ rights to pay.

“Multi-billion dollar companies cannot profit off the backs of immigrant workers while paying them pennies in New York City and get away with it,” Ligia Guallpa, the head of the Workers Justice Project, said in a statement on Thursday. “The judge’s ruling is another reminder that workers will always win.”

The worker-leaders will focus their efforts in the coming months to ensure the minimum pay rates are being duly paid out to workers and to educate workers on how to make complaints to the DCWP and other regulatory agencies should problems arise.p This story was published on September 28, 2023 by THE CITY. Reprinted with permission.

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Workers’ Rights New Yorkers Stand with Unions/continued from page 1 own health and safety, with shift schedules set by algorithms that don’t understand how human beings function.

Too often, automation is being deployed to eliminate workers instead of being used to make work better.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher nailed it when she said “What happens here is important because what’s happening to us is happening across all fields of labor, […] when employers make Wall Street and greed their priority and they forget about the essential contributors that make the machine run.”

It’s been called the summer of strikes, but this current wave of worker actions didn’t just start heating up with the temperatures. For decades, the playing field shifted, taking power out of workers’ hands and giving it to those whose primary motivation is not to produce but to devour. As inequality grew, and taxes on corporations and the 1% were cut, workers were told that bosses knew what was best for us and our families.

When our communities faced the ravages of COVID, many workers risked their own safety to keep the machine running. They took on those burdens, getting us through the crisis only to watch in dismay as corporations pocketed their historic profits and then ravenously demanded more.

Approval for unions is at a nearly 60 year high, and 60 million workers would join a union today if they could. But workers aren’t operating on an even playing field — years of attacks and neglect have decimated the laws meant to protect workers’ rights. A recent NLRB decision could compel employers to recognize unions if they commit labor violations during union elections, a major step forward after decades in which the fines incurred through harassment and retaliation were simply the cost of doing business.

But in New York City, workers from our coffee shops to our legal services providers have successfully unionized only to find themselves mired in first contract negotiations that drag on for years because there’s little incentive for

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 6: Protesters holding signs walk on a picket line during a protest of Liox Cleaners in front of a lower east side location on March 6, 2021 in New York City.

Editorial credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com

bosses to come to the table in good faith.

Today, workers are taking matters into their own hands. New Yorkers have seen at least a dozen job actions this year, directly impacting more than 50,000 workers. Health care, media, retail, legal, cultural and other workers have all stood up to say that enough is enough. And there’s more coming — right now 20,000 building service workers who made it possible for offices to reopen safely are ready to fight for a contract that reflects the value of their work and defends the labor standards they’ve already achieved.

Tying these fights together is an unprecedented wave of solidarity across unions and class divisions. When the writers put up picket lines, their entertainment union siblings refused to cross. When Alphabet workers rallied outside Google’s NYC headquarters, unionized musicians provided the soundtrack.

When 7,000 Montefiore and Mount Sinai nurses fought for a fair contract in the cold of winter, interns and residents were out there with them, and when physicians at Elmhurst Hospital were forced to strike this spring the nurses returned the favor.

Workers are done waiting for the wealth to trickle down, for bosses to stop rigging the game in their own favor.

They’re watching each other, learning from each other, and showing up for each other.

They’re showing the bosses that when you take one of us on, you take all of us on.

You don’t have to be part of a union to be part of the struggle. This Labor Day, striking workers will take a break and enjoy a well-deserved day of rest with family and loved ones. But when the morning comes, they’ll be back out on our City’s sidewalks.

They’re fighting on behalf of all working people. Let’s help them hold the line.p This op-ed appeared in the New York Daily News on September 4, 2023.

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Workers’ Matters

Child Care Support for Working Parents

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ore than two decades ago, a coalition of unions came together to advocate for policies to support working families. One of their greatest successes has been the Consortium for Worker Education’s Child Care Facilitated Enrollment Project, which created a streamlined process and new subsidies to support child care programs for working parents. Today, it remains a life-changing program for many New York workers and their children.

"The Facilitated Enrollment Project helped me get my toddler into a licensed day care program where she is learning letters and shapes,” says Karla.

“My toddler comes home every day knowing a new nursery rhyme and talking more every day. With the voucher, I am on cloud nine because my toddler is now prepared to enter 3K." Child care in New York is expensive — often more than $20,000 per year for an infant at a licensed day care.

CWE's Child Care Facilitated Enrollment Project was created because existing child care subsidies were not meeting the needs of working families

“Who can afford that, even if you are working?” asks Tarmo Kirsimae, Director of the program from CWE. Many child care subsidies have historically targeted families in poverty, leaving those above the poverty line to fend for themselves. Traditionally, applying for child care subsidies was also a burdensome process, requiring parents to miss work for in-person appointments. If they did not have a needed document, then they would have to take another day off for a second appointment.

The Child Care Facilitated Enrollment Project took a different approach. CWE partners with unions to bring the appli-

cation process directly to workers at their jobs -- from hospitals with 1199, to schools with UFT, to Macy’s with RWDSU, and more. CWE holds application events in communities as well and parents can apply by email, fax, or online.

“It should be as easy as possible for working families to access child care subsidies,” says Jocelyn Mazurkiewicz, Assistant Director of the program from CWE. “We come to you and move through the application process at your speed.”

Parents receive a voucher and can select any child care provider, including licensed daycare, in-home care, or informal, unregulated care. The voucher moves with the child,

from one provider to another.

Or from after-school care, to summer camp, and back again.

On average, families save $15,000 a year thanks to the program.

“Receiving the child care subsidy has impacted my life because it has allowed me to remain in the workforce and provide for my family,” says Nathalia. “Without help I wouldn’t be able to continue working, child care would consume most of my paycheck.

With the assistance provided by the Child Care Facilitated Enrollment Project, I can continue to remain at my job as an essential worker and contribute to the community.”

During the pandemic, federal funds allowed the Child Care Facilitated Enrollment Project to enroll more families. 1,400 children are now benefiting from the program.

Thanks to new support from the state legislature, led by Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi and Senator Jessica Ramos, all child care subsidy

programs are expanding eligibility to higher-income parents. Starting October 1, maximum income limits will increase so families earning up to 85% of the state’s median income for a household of their size will be eligible for subsidies. That is $99,250 for a family of four. A new scholarship program that will be offered by the Child Care Facilitated Enrollment Project will be open to even more working families at higher income thresholds.

“The Child Care Facilitated Enrollment Project removes the stigma of subsidized child care,” says Jocelyn Mazurkiewicz. “Instead of the process being a drain, it is empowering for parents. With increased state funding, we will be able to provide this transformational benefit to even more families.”

New York City families with children under 13 can start the application process by filling out the pre-screening form at cwe.org.p

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SPONSORED INSERT: Estate Planning

Estate Planning Guide Getting Your Financial House in Order: The Three Essential Elements of an Estate Plan

BY PEARL PHILLIP

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f there is one gift you can give to those you love, it is getting your financial house in order. A comprehensive estate plan is vitally important, yet many put it off until it is too late.

You may not realize you already have an estate plan, but it differs from what you intended. If you fail to create a comprehensive plan for your estate and assets, the state will do it for you - and the people you love may not be happy with the results.

Why not make this the year you finally create that estate plan? It may not be a pleasant subject, but life and death are unpredictable. Knowing that you have a written plan for your estate will give you and the people you love the peace of mind, and here are the essential elements that the plan should include.

A Written Will A written will is the cornerstone of any comprehensive estate plan and is generally the best place to start. If you do not yet have a will in place, contact an attorney and get one put together.

You will want to prepare for the meeting with the attorney, bringing as much documentation as possible about your assets and their desired disposition. If you are working with an estate planning law firm, you can complete the other elements of your plan when drawing up your will,

Study Finds 1 in 4 Americans Recognize a Greater Need For Estate Planning Due to Inflation

simplifying the process and reducing the time the whole thing takes.

A Durable Power of Attorney The next essential element of your estate plan is the durable power of attorney. You may not want to think about it, but deciding who can make decisions for you if you become disabled is very important, both for your well-being and that of your overburdened family members.

Once the durable power of attorney is in place, the person you name will be empowered to make critical decisions if you become disabled or cannot communicate.

Hopefully, this part of your estate plan will never kick into place, but having it established will help you breathe easier.

A Living Will The third and final part of your comprehensive estate plan is a living will, which

is vitally important. Medical advances have allowed patients to live longer, but not always better, lives, and it is crucial to think about what you want the medical authorities to do - and not do.

Would you want to be kept alive on a ventilator? Do you prefer robust life support or a more natural approach to death?

Again these are not pleasant subjects, but they are important. The purpose of the living will is to lay out your wishes, removing any ambiguity and making it easier for your loved ones to make critical decisions on your behalf.

A comprehensive written estate plan is essential in preparing for your future. You might not want to think about it, but the estate plan you create will need to go into effect someday, and the sooner you lay it all out, the sooner you can get on with living your life to the fullest. p

aring.com, a leading senior living referral service and the nation’s top site for senior care reviews, published its annual Wills & Estate Planning Study that explores the prevalence of estate planning in the U.S. and the reasons Americans do or do not engage in this end-of-life planning process. In the 2023 survey, responses from over 2,400 American adults indicated that only 34% have a will – albeit an increase of 3% since 2022 and 6% since 2020.

The study, which highlights the differences in attitudes towards estate planning among various age, socioeconomic and racial groups, found that inflation has had a disproportionately larger impact on younger Americans’ views of estate planning. While 54% of young Americans (ages 18 to 34) say inflation changed their views on estate planning, only 32% of Americans ages 55 and older say their views changed.

Likewise, 35% of Black Americans say inflation changed their views on estate planning, compared to only 27% of Hispanic Americans and 25% of White Americans. Overall, 26% of all American adults now see a greater need to establish an estate plan due to inflation.

While many see a greater need for endof-life planning, certain demographics are less likely to have an estate plan than in continued on page 4

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SPONSORED INSERT: Estate Planning

Health Care Directives: What You Need to Know

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hen you become too frail or sick to make your own decisions on end-of-life health care, the emotional strain is passed on to your family or loved ones. Not only can this cause incredible stress, but the avenue they take may not be the route you had in mind.

Be open and honest about your final wishes.

Don’t procrastinate when creating an advance care plan. Age isn’t the only factor that should be considered. A medical crisis that leaves you too ill to make your own decisions could strike at any time.

Emergency Treatment Without a solid health care directive in place, family members may be tasked with making difficult decisions for your treatment. Here are a few common instances you must have clear and legal instructions regarding, as suggested by the National Institute on Aging: • CPR: If your heart begins beating with an abnormal rhythm, it can be life- threatening. Discuss with your family your opinions about resuscitation so they can determine if CPR should be administered.

Choosing an Estate Attorney

O • Ventilator: When you are unable to breathe on your own, a ventilator can be used to keep you alive. It usually includes a tube which is connected to your trachea to ensure you’re receiving enough oxygen.

• Comfort Care: Deciding how to keep you comfortable while suffering is another factor you should have clear instructions for. Consider instances like limiting medical testing, spiritual and emotional counseling, and pain medication.

Compensation for Victims & Families of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

If your loved one was neglected or abused in a Nursing Home or assisted living facility, financial compensation may be available.

Call 855-768-8845 for a consultation One in six residents in nursing homes and community facilties were neglected last year resulting in thousands of families experiencing trauma, mental illness, medical emergencies, and even death. Nursing home abuse and neglect is real.

Has your loved one experienced any of these or other types of abuse?

•Bedsores •Improper Treatment/Medication •Choking/Death •Malnutrition/Dehydration •Falls •Respiratory Illness •Fractured Bones •Sexual Abuse •Infections •Sexual Assault

Experience matters. The lawyer you hire does make a difference.

Schedule a consultation now.

Get compensation for your loved one’s suffering.

Call 855-768-8845 or visit www.askthelawyer.us

Types of Facilities Visit different facilities to make the decision on where you will stay if you become disabled to the point you can’t take care of yourself. It’s important to have a plan for different stages of life. Here are a few to consider: If you require minimal assistance to live your day-to-day life, an assisted living community is a great option. You have the freedom to reside in your own space yet receive help in areas like laundry services, prepared meals and personal care.

A nursing home is a better option when you need constant assistance from medical professionals. Here, you can receive 24hour supervision and help with daily necessities like bathing, grooming and medical management.

In-home care is a great option for someone who wants to stay at home while receiving the same benefits as an assisted-living facility. While it can be expensive to call on medical professionals to come to your home, it is a very comfortable option for those needing help.

What Happens If You Do Not Have An Advance Directive?

If you do not have an advance directive and you are unable to make decisions on your own, the state laws where you live will determine who may make medical decisions on your behalf. This is typically your spouse, your parents if they are available, or your children if they are adults. If you are unmarried and have not named your partner as your proxy, it’s possible they could be excluded from decisionmaking. If you have no family members, some states allow a close friend who is familiar with your values to help. Or they may assign a physician to represent your best interests.

Legal Help Think of your advance directives as living documents that you review at least once each year and update if a major life event occurs.

If you have questions regarding health care directives, call the experienced professionals at the Law Office of Figeroux & Associates. To schedule an appointment, call 855-768-8845 or visit www.askthelawyer.us p

rganizing your estate can be overwhelming without the help of an expert. With the assistance of an estate planning attorney, you can discuss your vision for your assets before death.

Don’t risk creating a plan that doesn’t specify your decisions to the exact details.

When searching for a specialized attorney, it’s important to chat with a few different experts in your area. Make sure you feel comfortable in their office as the discussions of finances and final wishes can be intimate. Once you find several attorneys to interview for the role, here are some questions you should ask before deciding: How Long Have They Been Practicing Estate Planning Law? Many general attorneys will advertise that estate planning is a part of their practice.

They can be a great help when creating legal documents like a will, health care directives and power of attorney. However, if your financial situation is more complicated, an experienced estate planning lawyer will have better knowledge of the ever-changing laws and knows how to protect your legacy.

You should also know how long they have been in practice. Someone who has extensive experience in the industry has likely discovered flaws in previous cases and has learned how to correct them. Ensuring your final wishes are in good hands is great peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.

Do They Regularly Update Plans?

To stay on top of your estate, find an attorney who offers an updating and maintenance program. The service may cost more, but they will contact you throughout the year and discuss new techniques, life-changing events which may impact your plans and alterations to laws.

Working with a lawyer who stays in contact with you about your estate plan ensures your documents will be up-to-date when they’re needed.

How Do They Charge?

Estate planning is necessary to prepare your family before your death. Ask about the fees the attorney charges. During the interview, find out if the fee is a fixed rate or hourly. You don’t want to be surprised with unexpected fees.

Ready to start your estate planning? call the experienced professionals at the Law Office of Figeroux & Associates. To schedule an appointment, call 855-7688845 or visit www.askthelawyer.us p

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SPONSORED INSERT: Estate Planning

Planning Succession for Your Business

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uccession planning involves creating a plan for someone to either own or run your business after you retire, become disabled, or die. In simple terms, succession planning is the process of passing control of the business to others. Here are some steps to take for succession planning: Find Successor If you are passing the business to a family member, you may consider transferring ownership through your estate planning process. Often, however, new management comes from your pool of existing employees. If you have a larger business (such as an LLC or a corporation), succession planning involves preparing people for management and leadership roles in order to replace you or other managers when the time arises.

Finding your replacement is difficult so plan ahead, it is best to start early. Leaders are not always easy to find and it takes time to mentor someone into a management role. You will need to identify potential successors in your family or among employees. You can hire from outside the company, but it’s helpful to groom someone already in your business, over a period of time, so the transition to

rent employee should be ready to step into the vacated role. As the need arises, with good succession planning, employees or family members are ready for new leadership roles.

Ease Tax Exposure Tax exposure arises when one generation gives way to the next generation in a closely-held family business. In this case, succession planning and estate planning become intertwined by the family. Multiple types of taxes must be considered when planning this type of succession, including: •Income tax •Gift tax •Generation-skipping tax •Estate tax new leadership will be smooth.

Train Successor Once you have successors identified, deliberately create a training plan to ensure that everyone involved has time to learn the skills, gather the information, and practice the leadership roles critical to the future success of the business.

Whether you are transferring a business to a family member or you are promoting

employees into leadership roles, you need to plan ahead.

A succession plan takes into consideration the development of future leaders’ skills and abilities. The plan should deliver a return on your business’s training investment by providing for your successors’ advancement while simultaneously ensuring your successors don’t leave your business. Even if someone leaves, a cur-

Start family succession planning sooner, rather than later, because starting sooner will give you more flexibility with your planning. Consult an attorney and an accountant about putting the proper estate documents in place, especially for succession planning in a family business.p Source: sba.gov

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SPONSORED INSERT: Estate Planning

Planning for a Disabled Child

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state pre-planning should be an important part of everyone’s financial regimen, but this process becomes even more important when you have a child with disabilities.

A lot of factors go into creating a uniquely designed plan, depending on their unique personal challenges and whether they are a minor or adult. The goal is to help your special-needs child continue to lead an enriching, happy life even in your absence.

A Lifetime of Care The larger goal of special-needs planning is to preserve public aid while also supplementing your child’s care. There are additional benefits to taking care of this right away: If plans are put in place while you’re still alive, the estate avoids probate. Others interested parties, like their grandparents, can contribute to a trust.

Named co-trustees can also get hands-on experience in helping with childcare and administering the guardianship. Depending on the child’s capability, this moneymanagement program may be critically important since it will be the only future path to protecting eligibility for benefits.

It will provide additional funds for a broader scope of care and create a financial resource should benefits become re-

child. Many public-aid options are designed to be resource dependent, meaning recipients aren’t eligible if they have access to a certain amount of money. These trusts allow for an inheritance without endangering aid provided by Medicaid, SSI or other government programs because assets held in trust are not directly available to the child. Funds from life-insurance policies, IRAs and retirement plans can also be directed to the trust, and the child still has access to other programs.

stricted or end all together.

Special-Needs Trust Children are at particular risk if they are unable to live independently after the death of a parent of guardian. A specialneeds trust can ensure that they are provided with needed resources and care over the course of their lifetime. Parents or guardians should name the trust as a beneficiary in their will, according to the American Bar Association, instead of the

Designating a Caretaker Beyond the obvious financial considerations, parents and guardians must select a designated caretaker to look after their special-needs child — or to manage their care, if the child is in an assisted-living environment. Work with an attorney who specializes in estate planning in order to create both a trust and this succession plan, since states have differing regulations and laws regarding who may serve as a legal guardian.p

Greater Need for Estate Planning/ continued from page 1 are less likely to have an estate plan than in years past. Hispanic Americans are the least likely racial demographic to have a will, with only 23% saying they have an estate plan in 2023 – this is a decrease of 17% since 2022 and 39% since 2021. Additionally, findings show that young adults are nearly as likely as middle-aged adults to have a will—26% of Americans ages 18 to 34 said they have a will, compared to 27% of Americans ages 35 to 54.

“Inflation is causing the public to think more about their financial futures, and for many people, this means that they are thinking about end-of-life planning,” says Jim Rosenthal, CEO of Caring.com. “Yet we haven’t seen a significant uptick in estate planning, with too many people simply putting off this crucial piece of financial planning. More education is needed to help Americans understand the importance of estate planning — and the consequences for their loved ones if they fail to do so.”

The survey asked respondents without wills what would motivate them to create one – 41% said they are waiting until they have a health crisis, and 1 in 4 said nothing would motivate them to plan their estate. When those who do have a will were asked what prompted them to create one, 28% say retirement, 26% say death of a loved one, and 22% say family expansion. p

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The Law Offices of Figeroux & Associates, 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Brooklyn, NY. Visit www.askthelawyer.us

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Be Equity Smart

Go Big or Go Home: 3 Reasons Why Your First Home Should Be a Spacious One

BY EQUITY SMART REALTY INC

B

uying a home for the first time?

One of the key considerations you'll need to make is just how much 'house' you want to buy. While going minimal might seem like a good idea to save on costs, having a smaller living space can end up cramping your lifestyle in many ways. Let's look at three great reasons why your first home should be roomy, spacious and luxurious.

You Might End Up With More Family Than You Think Have you considered whether you want to have a family? Whether you're a single young professional or part of a newlywed couple, there's always a chance you'll end up with more kids than you think. If you're buying a home for the long haul, you'll want to ensure that you have enough bedrooms to contain a growing family. It's much easier to make other use of a spare room than to invent an extra bedroom if you end up with one or two more children than you had planned.

Even if you don't have kids, you may end

up welcoming other family members into your home for extended periods.

Small Spaces Limit You In Just About Every Way As you might imagine, small living spaces will limit your options. Whether you want to build out a new media room or just want more luxurious furniture, much of the time living small means living without. Buying a larger home from the start will give you all the space needed to build your dream home. And over time, you're far more likely to enjoy living in a home that you can tweak and customize to suit your changing tastes.

Call 888-670-6791 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Downtown Brooklyn

You Can Always Monetize the Extra Space Don't forget that extra space can always be put to good use. If you have a finished basement, you can rent the suite out to a tenant. Or, you can host guests in your extra bedrooms using apps like Airbnb. If you're more of an entrepreneurial type, you can start a small business out of one of the spare rooms.

Call Equity Smart Realty at 888-670-6791 for a consultation.

Guidance These are just a few of the many reasons why buying a larger home is an excellent idea. For more information, contact one of our professional real estate agents today. Call 888-670-6791.p

Minorities continue to be the target of the predatory practices by real estate and mortgage brokers and the man who comes knocking on your door with a bag of cash. To save your home, call us now for a consultation at 855-768-8845.

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Sept 2023

12

Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights New Work Permit Measures continued from page 1 extend their validity period for particular categories of individuals. These changes are substantial and are likely to have a meaningful impact on the large work permit backlog in the long run.

For the past few months, the calls for the Biden administration to do more to provide work permits to newcomers have been increasing. Under federal law, all U.S. employers must make sure their employees are legally authorized for employment. Without such authorization, noncitizens are locked out of the formal labor market. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in particular, has used charged rhetoric to call on the federal government to speed up work authorizations for the nearly 60,000 migrants currently in his city’s shelters.

Local officials in other cities have also called for federal assistance.

The Biden administration’s recent announcement is one step toward this goal. Beginning October 1, DHS will “dedicate additional personnel and implement improvements” to decrease the median

processing times to 30 days for employment authorization documents (EADs) associated with migrants who entered through the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan (CHNV) parole process or through the CBP One mobile app. According to Customs and Border Protection’s public information, over 211,000 individuals have arrived through the CHNV program and more than 241,000 through CBP One since January 2023. Currently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is processing 80% of the parole-based EAD applications in four months.

One particular problem is that migrants paroled into the U.S. through these processes have to affirmatively apply for work authorization. In its announcement, DHS acknowledged that “only a small percentage” of those paroled through CBP One have applied. According to the White House, that number is a shockingly low 16%.

In late August, DHS sent emails and text messages to about 1.4 million individuals, including CHNV and CBP One parolees as well as those with pending asylum applications, notifying them of their potential eligibility for a work permit. The White House esti-

mated that about 20% of the noncitizens paroled through CBP One who indicated that New York, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania was their intended destination could be immediately eligible to work.

In addition, the Biden administration committed to sending personnel to New York to inform migrants about the process. Parole programs like Uniting for Ukraine and Operation Allies Welcome come with automatic employment authorization due to USCIS’ interpretation of recently passed laws providing those groups refugee-like benefits.

Without the same support for the CHNV and CBP One parolees, DHS is largely limited to sending more reminder emails and text messages to get them to apply.

Asylum seekers who are not paroled through any program face particularly complex barriers to work despite their eligibility to request employment authorization. Putting aside the dearth of legal services that hinder asylum seekers’ ability to file an asylum application in the first place, a 1996 law requires those who have successfully applied to wait at least

180 days after filing to receive a work permit. To complicate matters, DHS’ regulations require these applicants to wait at least 150 days after submitting their asylum application to file for their work permit.

Currently, most initial work permits for asylum applicants are being processed within 60 days, but that was only after the American Immigration Council, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, and other partners, sued USCIS in a yearlong lawsuit where the plaintiffs moved to hold the government in contempt three times because USCIS kept dragging its feet. Without this type of pressure, or additional resources from Congress, it’s unclear how DHS will reorganize its resources to “accelerate” the cited categories of work authorizations.

Adding more pressure to the backlog, the Biden administration recently announced the redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) that will benefit nearly 472,000 Venezuelans. Given legal constraints that limit TPS designations to up to 18 months, these folks will soon join the approxcontinued on page 13

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Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights Employment-Based Visa Green Card Applicants are Encouraged to Respond to Requests for Evidence as Soon as Possible

New Work Permit Measures continued from page 12 imately 680,000 TPS holders who frequently depend on USCIS’ processing capacity to work.

In its announcement, DHS also indicated that, starting October 1st, it will extend the validity period for EADs from two years to five years for refugees, asylees and withholding of removal recipients as well as applicants for asylum, adjustment of status and cancellation of removal. The goal is to reduce the frequency these individuals will need to renew their EADs. This has the potential to have a significant impact on USCIS’ backlog.

Currently, there are over 1.5 million work permit applications pending, which represent 17% of all pending applications at the agency. Out of those, 36% are renewals with asylum-based and adjustment of status-based EAD applications making up 43% of USCIS’ EAD workload.

Despite the potential benefits of these new initiatives, given the large number of work permit applications pending, one wonders—how will the federal

government “accelerate the processing” of all these applications? As the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman referenced in that agency’s annual report, without additional funding and capacity, USCIS’ advancements in some areas have caused significant regression in others.

One tool the Biden administration has been silent on is the Temporary Final Rule announced last year that increased the regulatory automatic extension for certain renewal EAD applications from 180-days to 540-days, which is set to expire on October 26, 2023. Given DHS’s intention of focusing on initial work permit applications for

recent arrivals, an extension of this rule could help relieve pressure on USCIS, especially since the agency has other processing backlogs apart from work permits that it needs to address.

The Biden administration’s new measures will have a significant and positive effect on reducing work permit waiting periods, which will benefit newly arrived migrants who want to be self-sufficient but who are locked out of the formal labor market. However, to truly eliminate the processing backlogs at USCIS, Congress will need to act as well and provide significant and recurring funding to that agency.p

I

f you received a Request for Evidence (RFE) to submit your Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record to USCIS, please respond to the RFE as soon as possible rather than waiting the entire 87-day response period.

Background We have issued RFEs to applicants for employment-based adjustment of status (including those adjusting as Special Immigrant Juveniles). These RFEs ask for a valid medical clearance (Form I-693). Although you have up to 87 days to respond to the RFE, we encourage you to respond with all requested documents as soon as possible so that we may adjudicate your application and, if your case is approved, allocate an immigrant visa before Oct. 1, 2023.

Visa allocations for fiscal year 2023 end Sept. 30, 2023. If your visa is not allocated before the cutoff date, we cannot adjudicate your case, and your case will be reviewed per the FY 2024 visa allocations.

You may return your completed RFE response to the address on the RFE notice.

USCIS accepts responses sent by mail (including overnight and other priority options), commercial services, and courier.

If you have already responded to an RFE, there is nothing more you need to do.p

www.workersworldtoday.com

Sept 2023

14

Union In Action

Staten Island Ferry Workers Agree to New Contract After 13-Year Wait

BY CLAUDIA IRIZARRY APONTE THE CITY

M

ore than 100 Staten Island Ferry workers who have gone without a pay raise since 2009 on Monday announced a collective bargaining agreement with City Hall that guarantees them a hefty salary bump — and six-figure sums in back pay.

The 16-year agreement between the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association and the administration of Mayor Eric Adams guarantees an immediate 28.55% retroactive salary increase for the ferry system’s roughly 120 engineers, captains and mates. Ninety-four percent of workers approved the contract, which expires in January 2027.

According to sources with

knowledge of the deal, in recent weeks the union and City Hall quietly hashed out the contract, which members were voting on through Friday.

It is an agreement 13 years in the making: Employees covered under the contract last received a raise in 2009. Since then, they have been cast adrift to the frustration and bewilderment of workers, local elected officials and Staten Island Ferry commuters facing service disruptions with little notice and labor shortages.

It is the last of 152 contracts covering more than 300,000 municipal employees that had not been settled since Bill de Blasio became mayor in 2014 and its terms are retroactive to November 2010.

Adams inherited the labor stalemate from his predeces-

The Adams administration and the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association reached a tentative pact on long-awaited raises and overtime. Editorial credit: nito / Shutterstock.com

sor’s predecessor, Michael Bloomberg, with City Hall and the union agreeing to enter mediation last August after a spate of worker absences repeatedly disrupted service.

Due to the length of the contract and the raises laid out in the prevailing wage decision

— which will lift ferry workers up to the pay standards of the private sector — the deal is expected to cost the city $103 million over the life of the contract.

While Adams usually announces labor deals from the City Hall rotunda, he traveled by ferry to the St. George Terminal on Staten Island on Labor Day to make the announcement alongside MEBA secretary-treasurer Roland Rexha and other labor leaders with the Lower Manhattan skyline as a distant backdrop.

In a statement, Rexha commended the Adams administration for finally reaching a deal after two decades of the union and City Hall “sailing on separate courses.”

“This achievement is due in part to having a mayor who truly values the hard work of our members and comprehends the challenges our mariners face day in and day out,” Rexha said. “Mayor Adams, a blue-collar mayor who gets things done, has been instrumental in making this contract a reality.”

“Today, we thank our tireless ferry workers, not just with words — but with a contract that delivers the fair wages and benefits they deserve,” Adams said in a statement.

“Thanks to this agreement, both our ferry workers and the working people of Staten Island can continue to ride forward without worry or interruptions.”

An End to Delays?

The terms of the agreement largely stem from an August 2022 ruling by Judge Faye Lewis of the city’s Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings that the system’s marine engineers are entitled to the prevailing wage in the private sector. The mariners com-

prise roughly half of the ferry workers’ bargaining unit.

Lewis’ decision was referred to the city Comptroller’s office, which enforces prevailing wage standards for the municipal workforce. In March, city Comptroller Brad Lander ruled that the system’s marine engineers must receive approximately $300,000 per person in back pay, and chief engineers approximately $1.2 million per person.

But the union made some concessions to reach a final deal. The union agreed to distribute the raises laid out in the Comptroller’s award evenly to the entire bargaining unit; to increase the worker’s week to 40 hours up from the current 32, which is the standard set by the Coast Guard; and agreed to an overtime rate lower than the city-wide time-and-a-half standard.

Because of the prevailing wage decision, the mariners’ contract does not follow the pattern set by other municipal labor unions this year.

Adams said he is hopeful the deal will help stem a worker attrition crisis that routinely leads to delays. This summer, so many Staten Island Ferry workers signed up for a singleday civil service exam that their absences would have ground the whole system to a halt. The union successfully moved the city to reschedule the exam over the course of several days in September instead, Rexha told the Chief Leader last month.

Due to the labor shortages, many captains and mates currently work six to seven times a week for up to 12-hour shifts, Rexha told THE CITY last year.

Marine engineers operate, design and maintain ships and below-deck infrastructure. U.S. Coast Guard standards require that two engineers be on duty while ferries are in service. A single absence forces a vessel to be grounded.

Many mariners are collegeeducated, with at least eight years of schooling and training under their belt before qualifying for the required licensing exams.p This story was published on September 4, 2023 by THE CITY. Reprinted with permission.

Read more stories at www.workersworldtoday.com

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Sept 2023

15

In The News

UAW Strike News Roundup! NY Workers Join the Fight, Solidarity Rally, Historic Presidential Visit and How to Help

W

ith the UAW entering its third week on strike today, Friday, September 22, 5,600 workers at 38 parts distribution plants operated by Stellantis and GM have now joined the 12,900 workers at GM's Wentzville, MO plant, Ford's Michigan Assembly plant and Stellantis' Toledo, OH Jeep plant who walked off the job on September 15th. Among those answering the call to join the Stand Up Strike are the first workers here in New York, more than 75 members of UAW Local 3039 at the Stellantis parts distribution center in Tappan.

Local 3039 President Jeff Purcells (pictured here) was on hand in NYC on Wednesday for a powerful UAW Region 9/9A solidarity picket with members of SAG-AFTRA and the WGA East, alongside the NYC CLC, elected officials including City Comptroller Brad Lander, and hundreds of supporters from unions across

every sector of New York City.

Leadership from each union expressed their commitment to standing strong together and making sure that no union and no member is left behind. Find more photos from our UAW Solidarity Picket Album here!

History was also made this week when President Joe Biden became the first sitting President ever to walk a picket line with striking workers, joining members of Local 174 Willow Run in Belleville, Michigan on Tuesday.

"You’ve heard me say it many times, Wall Street didn’t build the country," said the President. "The middle class built the country, and unions built the middle class. And that’s a fact. So, let’s keep going. You deserve what you’ve earned, and you’ve earned a hell of a lot more than you’re getting paid now."

In another show of solidarity, the Labor Network for Sustainability (LNS), which hosted a webinar for environmentalists

ers in winning their demands."

UAW members are striking because they have to, in order to ensure that every job is a union job with union-set standards. The Big Three companies have made record profits, so we know they can afford it.

The stakes couldn’t be higher for 150,000 UAW members and their families.

Here's how to help this week: 1. Come to Saturday's Rally at the GM Building in NYC— Scroll down to upcoming events for details.

Photo courtesy: NYC CLC

to build support and understanding in advance of the UAW strike in August, this week issued a statement in support of the UAW and all workers and communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis and the necessary transition. The statement, which has now been signed by more than

Orientation is Monday, Oct 9, 2023

Join us via Zoom at 6pm

130 environmental and community organizations, calls on the Big Three's CEOs to either do right by the workers who have sacrificed to keep their companies profitable, or "face a united labor, environmental, and climate movement standing in solidarity, ready to fight side by side with UAW work-

2. If you're able to get to Tappan, join Local 3039's picket line at 108 NY 303.

3. Sign the ‘All In’ w/ UAW online petition and share on social media 4. Call 318-300-1249 and leave a voice message for the Big Three CEOs “Give UAW workers the same 40% wage increase you got!”p

www.workersworldtoday.com

Sept 2023

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Love, Health & Travel

Losing Our Mothers in the Black Maternal Health Crisis

BY ALAINA RUFFIN

M

ore than four months have passed since the sudden death of track and field champion Tori Bowie after prematurely going into labor. This weekend would have been her 33rd birthday and also marks Women’s Equality Day, which recognizes the 103rd anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. While women’s rights have certainly advanced since then, inequities against historically vulnerable communities persist — including within the medical field. For the ongoing health crisis faced

by Black birthing people, every day poses a new risk of health complications or even death.

Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-

NEW YORK CITY - NOVEMBER 13 2017: The annual Glamour Women of the Year Awards ceremony in Brooklyn's Kings Theater on Flatbush Ave. Olympic & NCAA gold medalist in track Tori Bowie Editorial credit: a katz / Shutterstock.com

vention (CDC) reported that the maternal mortality rate for Black women in 2021 was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, nearly tripling the rate compared to white women. Regardless of education, income, or social status, this striking disparity is experienced by Black birthing people of all

backgrounds. Tori Bowie, Serena Williams, and Keisha Knight Pulliam are just a few of the Black women who have experienced the effects of this devastating crisis, and there are countless others. The disproportionate number of Black people affected, as compared to other communities, is

exactly what makes this a crisis — and these continued deaths loom as a stark reminder of medical racism’s continued effects on Black birthing people and the state of our health care system overall.

The Black maternal health crisis has a long and gruesome history in the United States.

From rampant sexual assault and violence, including rape and forced sterilization, to issues like over-criminalization and over policing negatively impacting maternal health, implicit bias permeates the medical realm — and Black birthing people often bear the heaviest burdens. As described by the Women’s Leadership and Resource Center at the University of Illinois Chicago, many social, political, and economic conditions

affect Black birthing people’s reproductive lives — including systemic issues like poverty, substance abuse, and mental illness — and ultimately interfere with their rights both to have and to not have children.

According to the CDC’s largest, most recent data compilation, 84 percent of pregnancy-related deaths were deemed to be preventable.

This statistic is even more alarming when considering how often health care professionals neglect to take a Black patient’s pain or medical concerns seriously. In fact, the United Nations announced in a report this past July that the United States has the starkest disparity in maternal mortality rates between Black women and white women. continued on page 17

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Love, Health & Travel Black Maternal Health Crisis continued from page 16 While the report examined nine countries across North and South America, one of its main takeaways was that Black birthing people are systematically neglected and mistreated across the countries studied, which ultimately causes pregnancy complications and delayed interventions — often leading to death.

These findings ultimately reinforce how medical racism and misogynoir have very real, harmful impacts on Black birthing people not just in our nation, but across the globe.

Unfortunately, disproportionate maternal mortality rates aren’t the only threats to Black maternal health. In the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned last year, moves from states to restrict or outright ban abortion have already had dangerous impacts on Black birthing people. For instance, forced pregnancies in states where abortion is illegal or inaccessible place a heavy strain on historically vulnerable communities — including Black, Latina, and

low-income people — that ultimately jeopardizes their physical, emotional, and financial well-being. For Black birthing people who already face barriers to reproductive and gynecological services, the inaccessibility of potentially lifesaving resources poses another threat. That’s why our coalition continues to advocate for passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act, legislation that seeks to counter state-level abortion bans and restrictions.

Legislators in recent years have worked to protect the rights and health of Black birthing people and propose policy solutions for the crisis.

Rep. Lauren Underwood’s 2021 Momnibus Act, a package of legislation aimed to address the maternal health crisis from an inter-agency approach, is one of the current proposals to confront virtually every dimension of the issue.

In 2019, Rep. Underwood founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus with Rep. Alma Adams. Before becoming the youngest Black woman to ever serve in Congress, Underwood worked as a regis-

tered nurse and previously worked at the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Momnibus Act was reintroduced this year by Underwood and Sen. Cory Booker and aims to reduce health disparities in medicine — and also in the workforce and in our nation’s carceral systems.

A number of organizations, including some of The Leadership Conference’s coalition partners, are working to address and ameliorate the crisis.

The National Partnership for Women & Families, for example, has worked on an array of

maternal health equity initiatives — including recently releasing a roadmap dedicated to improving maternal health outcomes and compiling resources. Another is In Our Own Voice, an organization specifically dedicated to achieving reproductive justice for Black women and improving Black maternal health through policy solutions. Various other coalition partners have dedicated themselves to advancing a vision of economic justice that will lead to better health and economic outcomes, including advocat-

ing for passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, permanent expansion of the Child Tax Credit, and other policies designed to provide holistic support to families.

In addition, The Leadership Conference Education Fund’s data equity work helps to ensure that we are able to collect data disaggregated by race and ethnicity so that we can identify these and other inequities and work to remedy them.

As we remember Tori Bowie and honor her life on what would have been her 33rd birthday, we must continue to combat the Black maternal health crisis by protecting Black birthing people and creating policies that eliminate outdated medical misinformation and build safer, healthier, and more supportive environments for birthing people — especially those from historically vulnerable communities — to live and thrive.p Alaina Ruffin is a summer 2023 undergraduate intern at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

Workers’ World Today - Sept 2023

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Love, Health & Travel

Coping with Relationship Anxiety: Tools for Overcoming Insecurities feel confident in their own worth, they may project their negative self-image onto their partner and assume their partner sees them in the same light. This can create a cycle of seeking constant reassurance and validation, which may strain even the strongest relationships.

BY ESTES THERAPY

I

n the intricate tapestry of romantic relationships, many individuals find themselves entangled in the threads of anxiety and insecurity. The journey of love often comes with its own set of challenges, and for some, these challenges manifest as feelings of doubt, fear of abandonment, and a constant barrage of anxious thoughts. Whether you’re at the start of a new relationship or navigating the depths of a long-term commitment, it’s important to address and cope with relationship anxiety to foster a healthy, strong bond. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of relationship anxiety, explore its roots in low self-esteem and past experiences, and provide valuable tools to help overcome insecurity.

Understanding Relationship Anxiety Relationship anxiety isn’t uncommon; many people experience it at some point in their lives. It’s the unease and uncertainty that stem from various sources, including past experiences, personal insecurities, and even societal influences such as social media.

Those grappling with relation-

ship anxiety often find themselves plagued by anxious thoughts and negative feelings that hinder their ability to fully enjoy and engage in their romantic partnerships.

The Role of Low Self-Esteem Low self-esteem can act as a breeding ground for feelings of insecurity within relationships. When individuals don’t

855-768-8845

Insecurities from Past Experiences Past experiences, especially from previous relationships, can significantly impact current feelings of insecurity. If a person has encountered betrayal, dishonesty, or heartbreak in the past, they might find it challenging to fully trust their current partner.

Lingering wounds from old relationships can cast a shadow on new ones, making it important to address these wounds to prevent them from

affecting the present moment.

Attachment Styles and Relationship Anxiety Attachment styles, deeply ingrained patterns of how we connect and relate to others, play a crucial role in relationship anxiety. Anxious attachment styles, characterized by a fear of abandonment and a constant need for reassurance, can amplify feelings of insecurity. On the other hand, avoidant attachment styles may lead to emotional distance and difficulty in expressing vulnerability.

Recognizing Signs of Relationship Anxiety It’s essential to recognize the signs of relationship anxiety to address it effectively. These signs might include constant questioning of your partner’s continued on page 20

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Love, Health & Travel Coping with Relationship Anxiety continued from page 19 feelings, overanalyzing interactions, seeking excessive reassurance, and feeling overly sensitive to any perceived shifts in your partner’s behavior. Identifying these signs is the first step toward managing and overcoming relationship anxiety.

Tools for Overcoming Insecurity Challenge Negative Thoughts: Our minds can often spiral into worst-case scenarios driven by the critical inner voice. Practice recognizing and challenging these negative thoughts. Ask yourself if there’s evidence to support them and if they’re based on past experiences or assumptions.

Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness techniques can ground you in the present moment, helping you manage anxious thoughts and prevent them from overwhelming you. By focusing on the here and now, you can reduce the power of

Whether you’re at the start of a new relationship or navigating the depths of a long-term commitment, it’s important to address and cope with relationship anxiety to foster a healthy, strong bond. negative feelings.

Communicate Openly: Foster open communication with your partner. Share your feelings of anxiety and insecurity, allowing your partner to understand your perspective.

Healthy communication can help build trust and create a supportive environment.

Consider Professional Help: If relationship anxiety is significantly impacting your wellbeing and relationships, seeking professional help is a valuable option. Couples therapy or individual therapy can provide tools to navigate through the challenges and create positive changes.

Explore Attachment Patterns: Delve into your attachment style and how it might be contributing to your relationship anxiety. Understanding the roots of your attachment style can be the first step toward adopting a more secure way of connecting.

Focus on Self-Care: Prioritize self-care to build a strong sense of self. Engage in activities that boost your confidence, practice self-compassion, and work on improving your self-esteem.

Educate Yourself: Read selfhelp books by experts like Dr. Lisa Firestone that offer invaluable advice on overcoming insecurity and fostering healthy

relationships. These resources can be a powerful tool in your journey to self-improvement.

Seek Corrective Experiences: Engage in experiences that challenge your negative selfimage and insecurities. Engaging in positive interactions can gradually reshape your perception of yourself and others.

Set Boundaries with Social Media: Social media can exacerbate feelings of insecurity by fostering comparisons and unrealistic standards. Set healthy boundaries with social media use and remind yourself that online portrayals are often curated and not reflective of reality.

In Conclusion Relationship anxiety, fueled by low self-esteem, past experiences, and anxious attachment styles, can cast a shadow over the potential for a happy relationship. However, it’s essential to remember that addressing these issues is the best way to cultivate a strong, healthy, and fulfilling partnership. By recognizing the signs of insecurity, utilizing tools to challenge negative thinking, and seeking support when needed, you can overcome relationship anxiety and pave the way for a brighter love life.

Remember, the journey toward self-improvement is a continuous one, and every effort you make to conquer your insecurities is a step toward a more confident, connected you.p Here at Estes Therapy we like to put our minds together and collaborate on pieces in order to get the best content for our readers. So when you see a post by “Estes Therapy” it means we all worked together to provide even more well rounded information on these topics from the differing experiences and viewpoints of the team!

COVID or a cold?

You have the right to Safe and Sick Leave

It’s the Law. If you work for a private employer, including as a domestic worker, you can get up to 40 or 56 hours of leave a year to care for yourself or family. For COVID-19 or other health or safety reasons.

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Conversations

Why Managers’ Attempts to Empower Their Employees Often Fail – and Even Lead to Unethical Behavior

BY TOBIAS DENNERLEIN THE CONVERSATION

A

majority of American workers right now are not feeling very motivated on the job, a new survey suggests.

Management experts often encourage business leaders to motivate employees by empowering them. The idea is that when workers are free to make decisions and manage their workday they become more motivated, perform better and work more creatively.

However, for decades, employee empowerment initiatives have often failed or fallen short of expectations. Zappos, for example, was once hailed for its no-bosses structure, but that experiment has largely been dismantled and abandoned in recent years.

As a leadership scholar, I have

studied the effects of leader behavior on employee motivation for over a decade. I’ve learned that when companies design and implement empowering leadership initiatives, they often overlook key factors that are necessary for empowerment to work.

As a result, their efforts to empower employees often result in little impact or are entirely ineffective. In fact, they can even lead employees to engage in unethical behavior.

Here are four ways, my research shows, a company can avoid common pitfalls to empowering leadership initiatives.

1. Provide all needed resources Empowered employees need to know they can access whatever resources they need to succeed. For example, a mar-

tions – not only that resources are available when needed but also that these additional resources can be obtained easily and quickly.

Employees need resources, information and support from colleagues to be truly empowered.

keting professional might need access to information databases, planning software and a sufficient budget for market research. Employees should also feel that additional resources to support new ideas are readily available if and when needed.

To do this, companies can plan and budget jobs in ways that guarantee that employees have additional, or excess, resources to draw upon. Moreover, companies can communicate frequently – verbally in team meetings and also via digital communica-

2. Set clear goals and strategies “People can’t be self-managing without information,” business management expert Gary Hamel once noted. “[T]he goal is to provide staffers with all the information they need to monitor their work and make wise decisions.”

In other words, companies can more effectively empower their employees if they divulge or communicate how their responsibilities fit into the bigger picture or strategic direction of the business. For example, the marketing professional mentioned above might benefit from an understanding of how continued on page 22

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Conversations Empower Their Employees/ continued from page 21 a new product fits into the organization’s overall product portfolio.

Firms can also offer regular check-ins or town hall meetings at which everybody in the organization can ask questions about the strategic goals and vision of the company.

3. Signal clear and unwavering support Employees who are truly empowered believe they have the emotional and physical support needed from colleagues – including supervisors, peers and subordinates – to do their jobs well. This entails verbal encouragement as well as offers to assist on tasks and projects.

Likewise, managers can emphasize that they believe in employees’ capabilities and are there to enable employee growth and autonomy. Organizations can create a company culture of support by rewarding supportive actions that promote employee self-direction.

My research along with management professor Brad Kirkman shows clearly across several studies that when employees do not have access to resources, information and

support, they are not in fact empowered. As a result, the desired performance-boosting effects on their job performance, proactive behavior and creativity do not take place.

4. Remove red tape and other ‘bad’ stressors Unnecessary red tape, office politics, ambiguity and interpersonal conflict create a lot of negative stress for employees, which hinders work performance. These “bad” stressors are different from “good” stressors that can encourage growth.

For example, the marketing professional from the previous examples might have to fill out multiple lengthy forms just to request access to an information database. Or perhaps they have to play political games to garner support for funding of a much-needed planning tool.

Conflict, meanwhile, can take the form of unspoken rivalry with co-workers about perceived unjust promotions or resource allocations.

Another study that Kirkman and I conducted showed that an empowering leadership style paired with high amounts of “bad” stressors can actually backfire and be detrimental to a company. We found that employees in those

situations are more likely to disengage morally from their work and act unethically than employees who work with less empowering leaders.

For example, in one of our experiments, participants were asked to solve unsolvable anagrams as part of their fictitious job. Among participants who faced higher amounts of “bad” stressors before attempting to solve the anagrams, those exposed to an empowering leader were 75% more likely to lie about solving their puzzles for the sake of their organization than those who were exposed to a leader who was described as not empowering.

Empowering leadership instills in employees a mindset to get things done and a desire to pay back the organization for the empowerment re-

ceived. But without the information, resources and support to succeed – or when there is a lot of negative stress in employees’ work environments – people seem to switch to an expediency mindset whereby anything goes.

If business executives truly want to empower their employees, they cannot merely encourage managers to empower their subordinates.

They must go the extra mile and address the four factors identified above. Otherwise, employees can feel left dangling in the void, struggling to prove their ability and even tempted to take actions that could eventually harm the company.p

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Tobias Dennerlein is an Assistant Professor of Management, Purdue University

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