By Jill Nagy YMCA members will soon have a new health and wellness facility in the Malta branch, more than twice the size of their current rented space, in a new building on the west side of Exit 12 of the Northway. The new facility is a joint project of the Saratoga Area YMCA...
Tax-Free Homebuying Accounts Favored In NYS
According to results from a homeownership poll conducted by the Siena Research Institute, 84 percent of New York voters supported the NY First Home proposal that would create a tax-free savings account to help New Yorkers save for a first home. Support for the program was bi-partisan and spread across the entire state, according...
Vertucci Consulting Helps Employers Accomplish Tasks; Also Assists Job Seekers
©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Margaret MacDonald
Vertucci Consulting LLC, co-founded by Anthony and Rebecca Vertucci, is a career coaching and consulting firm begun recently in Saratoga Springs.
The company aims primarily to solve business problems, through one-on-one consulting and through Vertucci Career Academy, an interactive website with on-demand, pre-programmed coursework available in a self-paced format.
The website offers advice on topics like resume-building, LinkedIn profile creation, interviewing, networking, negotiating and more.
The overall consulting arm assists employers with business consulting and strategy, marketing and sales, and social media, the owners said. Most of these clients consist of large companies and “solo-preneurs.”Consultations can take place in person, via phone or video conferencing.
The owners said clients generally fall under the categories of transitioning career (or transition out of a corporate job), promotion adjustment, or changing location.
Employee Retention, New State Legislation Are Seen As Key Issues For Employers To Address
Courtesy Integrated Staffing
By Liz Witbeck
There are many aspects involved with being a small business owner. Anybody considering starting a company needs to keep in mind key issues involving employees.
“The biggest issue is finding candidates that are qualified and then want to stay in that position,” said Dhianna Yezzi, president and owner of Integrated Staffing, with offices in Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls, and Albany.
Yezzi said the most pressing issue facing employers today is retaining employees.
Noreen DeWire Grimmick, an attorney and partner with Hodgson Russ, said from her perspective there are pieces of legislation taking effect this year that impact business owners and employers should make themselves knowledgeable of the laws. Some of them will be phased in over time.
She said one of the most recent changes to employment laws is that as of Dec. 31, 2016, the minimum wage has increased to $9.70 for most non-exempt employees. For exempt executive and administrative employees, there are also rules regarding the minimum salaries that these employees must earn each week.
Some employers have purposely mis-classified their employees, said DeWire Grimmick. In an attempt to stop employee exploitation, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order, passed into law in July, establishing a permanent Joint Task Force on Employee Misclassification and Worker Exploitation.
Multi-Function Office Printers Make It Easier For People On Mobile Devices, Save Money
By Maureen Werther
Just as most people have made the transition from cell phones to smartphones, businesses looking to streamline and improve workflow, improves efficiencies, reduce their carbon footprint and save money are also opting for MFPs – multi-function printers – for their businesses.
One of the most important features of MFPs is their ability to interface with remote devices and process and share information more rapidly.
“Many of today’s workers don’t operate from 9 to 5 out of a cubicle, attached to their computers,” said Rick Gallup, owner of Document Solutions of the North Country. People are on the move or working from home and they need the connectivity that an MFP provides.
According to Gallup, there are many models of MFPs that allow an employee to fax or scan directly from their mobile device or tablet. They are also capable of connecting to the cloud and sharing information with other team members. Other features include the ability to print from or scan to commonly used sites such as Google Drive, Microsoft 365 and DropBox, to name a few.
“There are a number of apps available that can be downloaded onto the client’s MFP, offering a variety of functions and features designed to multiply productivity,” said Gallup.
Business Report: Payroll Services Help Small Businesses
Courtesy Priority One Payroll LLC
BY JEANNINE DUBIAC, FPC
For many business owners, payroll taxes can be confusing and overwhelming.
Payroll doesn’t stop with just issuing checks. Compliance with federal, state and local agencies can be a time-consuming responsibility, requiring detailed record keeping and up-to-date compliance with the ever changing tax laws.
Calculating the employees’ withholdings and determining the employer taxes is just one small piece that a payroll service offers to small businesses. The payroll service becomes the responsible party for maintaining all payroll tax requirements on a consistent basis.
Experienced payroll providers should ensure the job is done right, getting employees paid on time, correctly, every time and allowing the business owner to focus on running their core business.
Payroll services save businesses money by eliminating their tax liability and potential penalties. They provide detailed information regarding tax payments and employee wages to your CPA.
Dance Flurry Festival, Slated For Feb. 17-19, Includes New Events For People Of All Ages
The 30th annual Flurry festival takes place on President’s Weekend, running from Feb. 17-19 at various locations in Saratoga Springs. Many events will take place at Saratoga Springs City Center and Saratoga Hilton Hotel, with more performances and workshops scheduled at Saratoga Music Hall, Café Lena, the Parting Glass Pub, and the Saratoga Springs...
Albany Med Will Construct The First Pediatric Emergency Department In Northeast Region
Courtesy Albany Medical Center
Albany Medical Center has plans to construct the region’s first Pediatric Emergency Department. It will be the only one of its kind in northeastern New York and western New England, officials said.
The four-story, 70,500-square-foot Pediatric Emergency Department, expected to be completed late 2018, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Located adjacent to the current Emergency Department, it will provide a setting designed specifically for the needs of children and their families, and offer access to the full range of pediatric specialists.
James J. Barba, president and CEO of Albany Med, and Dr. Christopher King, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine, were joined by Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and other government leaders, as well as donors to the initiative and five-year-old Aedan Conway, a pediatric heart patient who has required emergency care, in a ceremonial groundbreaking in Albany Med’s recently completed Patient Pavilion.