The partnership will reach over 50,000 businesses, according to NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, who announced a major outreach project between the Department of Labor and more than 100 regional chambers of commerce throughout New York State as part of strategic approach to provide free services and help businesses access capital incentives, grow their workforce and manage their operations.
The State Department of Labor and Empire State Development are partnering with businesses to tailor services for them in each region of the state. Since February, the Department of Labor has completed a series of more than 60 meetings with more than 100 chambers of commerce to outline the benefits of using the state’s no-cost services for businesses. A complete list of services can be found below.
Using state services saves businesses time and money. The amount of cost savings for businesses depends on the services used.
Job fairs and customized recruitment services
Job fairs and recruitment can be tailored to the requirements of a business to assist in their hiring needs. Department of Labor Business Services Team members will help businesses review applicants, set up and schedule events and match candidates based on skills and applicable hiring and training incentives. Events can be held at a worksite, an off-site location or in one of 96 New York State Career Centers.
Businesses can save up to $12,000 on a staff-assisted recruitment event and up to $20,000 on a customized job fair.
Post job vacancies on Jobs Express
Jobs Express (www.jobs.ny.gov) is Governor Cuomo’s online jobs database, which currently lists more than 95,000 available positions. Businesses can save up to $6,000 per year on job postings. Between May 2013 and May 2014, more than 8,200 businesses posted jobs using Jobs Express.
Businesses get their own service manager for one-on-one help to find workers. Staff will also help identify applicable hiring and training incentives including for youth, veterans and minimum wage workers.
Tax credits for hiring youth
The New York Youth Works Program encourages businesses to hire unemployed, disadvantaged youth, ages 16 to 24, who live in 13 designated cities and towns. Businesses can earn up to $5,000 in tax credits per youth.
Human Resource Consultation
The Department of Labor can complement or act as a company’s Human Resources team with its no-cost Human Resource Consultation. This includes choosing candidates, writing job postings and writing an employee handbook.
Shared Work - the layoff alternative
Shared Work allows businesses to enroll a percentage of their workforce in partial unemployment benefits to avoid layoffs.
Health and safety consultations
No-cost on-site health and safety consultations offer ways to improve safety conditions and can save businesses up to $4,500 for an initial visit and up to $1,400 for follow-up visits. Each year, the agency helps businesses avoid millions of dollars in possible fines.
Labor law Seminars
Labor Law Seminars help businesses avoid penalties down the road and provide ongoing savings in prevented fines.
The Department of Labor is now working with chambers of commerce around the state to survey their members and then distribute data collected about the needs of their member businesses. This information will complement the industry and jobs data already collected through federal surveys, which is available on the agency’s website, and will be a powerful tool to help shape workforce development in the region. Among the areas included are NYC and Long Island.
New York City
Ryan Gleason, Government Affairs Director for the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, said: “Over the last couple of years, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce has developed a good working relationship with the New York State Department of Labor. Earlier this year, the Department of Labor hosted a presentation with the Chamber on its programs to connect employers and employees in new and innovative ways. This includes utilizing new technology to provide greater resources to companies and job seekers. The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce looks to continue building its relationship with the Department of Labor to help provide information on compliance, hiring and workforce development. Together, we can help grow Staten Island’s economy and provide greater opportunities for more New Yorkers.”
Long Island
Lionel J. Chitty, Chamber President for the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce, said: “I feel that it was a great idea for the New York State Department of Labor Business Services Division to do outreach to the chambers and foster a great working relationship with us. Our chamber’s members needed to be informed of all the valuable services available to them. As President of the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce, I could definitely tell you that our members received vital information on the following: Job Posting, Talent Bank, Customized Recruitments, Human Resource Consulting, Tax Credits and On-the-Job Training, to name a few. In addition, the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce will be participating in a business survey to further assist our members. Thank you to New York State Department of Labor Business Services Division for your excellent presentation and commitment to the business communities throughout Long Island.”