Employee Retention, New State Legislation Are Seen As Key Issues For Employers To Address

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Dhianna Yezzi is the president and owner of Integrated Staffing. Courtesy Integrated Staffing
Dhianna Yezzi is the president and owner of Integrated Staffing.
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. 

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Multi-Function Office Printers Make It Easier For People On Mobile Devices, Save Money

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Rick Gallup, owner of Document Solutions of the North Country, says multi-function printers are valuable to workers who ‘don’t operate from 9 to 5 out of a cubicle, attached to their computers.’
Rick Gallup, owner of Document Solutions of the North Country, says multi-function printers are valuable to workers who ‘don’t operate from 9 to 5 out of a cubicle, attached to their computers.’

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.

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Business Report: Payroll Services Help Small Businesses

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Jeannine Dubiac, owner of Priority One Payroll LLC in Malta. Courtesy Priority One Payroll LLC
Jeannine Dubiac, owner of Priority One Payroll LLC in Malta.
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.

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Albany Med Will Construct The First Pediatric Emergency Department In Northeast Region

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This rendering shows part of the new Pediatric Emergency Department at Albany Medical Center. The $50 million project will be funded by loans and donations. Courtesy Albany Medical Center
This rendering shows part of the new Pediatric Emergency Department at Albany Medical Center. The $50 million project will be funded by loans and donations.
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.

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Iconic Coffeehouse Caffè Lena Reopens After A Year Of Renovation And Modernization

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The second-floor space that is the iconic Caffè Lena, at 47 Phila St. in Saratoga Springs, underwent some major renovation and modernization and reopened on Dec. 30. ©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com
The second-floor space that is the iconic Caffè Lena, at 47 Phila St. in Saratoga Springs, underwent some major renovation and modernization and reopened on Dec. 30.
©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Maureen Werther

A sold-out crowd celebrated the long-awaited re-opening of the legendary Caffè Lena at 47 Phila St. in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Dec. 30. The first concert in the newly renovated space featured the one-man band of Matt Lorenz, the Suitcase Junket. In honor of its re-opening, the evening ended with musical tributes to Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez.

Caffè Lena holds the distinction of being the longest continuously running coffeehouse in America. They have been showcasing great folk artists for 56 years, putting on 16,000 shows since 1960, with 35,000 artists at the same iconic venue since opening there in 1960.

It’s been six months since Caffè Lena closed its doors to receive a log-awaited facelift that included upgrades. A successful $2 million fundraising campaign, including a philanthropic partnership with Bonacio Construcition, made the renovation and expansion possible. The result is a more spacious concert venue with seating increased from 85 to 110; along with a new, modernized kitchen, a green room and administrative offices.

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Senator Tedisco: Addressing State’s Aging Water And Sewer Infrastructure Is A Top ‘17 Priority

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State Senator Jim Tedisco represents the 49th District that includes part of Saratoga County.
State Senator Jim Tedisco represents the 49th District that includes part of Saratoga County.

By Sen. Jim Tedisco

New York’s aging water and sewer infrastructure, some of which dates back to the Civil War, is the lurking monster which will not go away if we just close our eyes and wish it away.

On the contrary, that monster can catastrophically attack at any time the safety of our drinking water, sewer and gas lines and the ability of taxpayers to afford repairs.

Support for infrastructure including our underground infrastructure that is an important part of the foundation under our roads, sidewalks and bridges is going to be one of my highest priorities this year as I join the New York State Senate as the new representative for the 49th Senate District.

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Vinny’s Barber Shop Opens On Railroad Place in Saratoga; Is Owner’s Second Establishment

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Vinny Frederico, left, owns Vinny’s Barber Shop at 57 Railroad Place, Saratoga Springs. ©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com
Vinny Frederico, left, owns Vinny’s Barber Shop at 57 Railroad Place, Saratoga Springs.
©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Jennifer Farnsworth

For over 10 years, Vinny Frederico and his staff have been serving many loyal patrons from Saratoga County at Vinny’s Barber Shop in Malta.

Spinning off of that success, Frederico opened a second Vinny’s Barber Shop location at 57 Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs last month. He said the decision was one that was a long time coming.

“For a very long time I thought about opening up a downtown Saratoga location. With the business district, college, and track season, that area needs a barber shop,” said Frederico.

He said even though the Railroad Street location is not far from Malta, he felt bad for his Saratoga customers who had to get on the Northway and drive for a haircut.

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