Tag Archives: Employment

Sick Leave in NYC

I was given this on my way in to work this morning:

SickLeave

Sick Leave Law pamphlet, NYC

This new sick leave law, which kicks in on July 30th:

  • Applies to working more than 80 hours a year.
  • You can earn up to 40 hours a year (1 hour for every 30 hours worked). Accrual began on April 1, 2014 for existing employees.
  • Your leave will be paid if your employer has 5, or more, employees and unpaid if under 5.
  • If paid, you will receive your regular hourly rate (not less than minimum wage–$8/hr).
  • Applies to f/t, p/t, undocumented, transitional workers and family workers.

Visit the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs website to get the full details.

Cooperative Businesses

A story out of WNYC this morning highlights the emergence of worker cooperatives. Within these businesses, member-owners participate in democratic-style decisions that gives workers greater control over business decisions that directly effect them. According to the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, cooperative businesses “provide better working conditions and wages for typically low-wage work, and increase household wealth for low-income workers.” The New York City Network of Worker Cooperatives has a listing of 40 cooperatives in the New York City area, ranging from webdesign and production to food services, clothing shops, bookkeeping to law services. 

You can listen to WNYC’s report here: Working Without a Boss for Better Wages.

Flexible Work Arrangements

A report from New York City Comptroller, Scott Stringer, talks about the growing need for, and use of, flexible work arrangements (FWAs) that create alternatives to the traditional 9-to-5 work schedule. Families and Flexibility: Reshaping the Workplace for the 21st Century explains how changing workforce demographics (women who both work and take on the majority of childcare responsibilities, low-wage workers who have less control over their schedules, single-parent workers, workers who care for elderly/disabled family members, etc.) have highlighted the increased need of FWAs. In addition to providing examples of successful work-day restructuring at corporate offices (Aetna saved $78 million in real estate costs in 2012 by introducing FWA), the report also highlights unintended benefits including increased employee satisfaction and morale, and a reduction in overall employee stress/fatigue. You can read the full report here:

Families_and_Flexibility-1

Common Core and the TASC

You’ve probably heard mention of Common Core lately. It’s the new standard of learning for K-12 education in the US, which sets academic standards in math and literacy, and has just been accepted by New York. From the Common Core website: “The standards were created to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life, regardless of where they live.”

The TASC®, the new alternative to the GED® in New York, has begun a gradual alignment with Common Core Standards with full integration by 2016. But what does that mean for adults who left school before Common Core was introduced? At Kingsborough’s Project Rise, administrators and instructors have been attending training through the Young Adult Initiative and the Youth Development Institute specifically geared toward Common Core implementation as it pertains to TASC®, acquiring any and all material they can to help students prepare. From preparation resources to practice tests, Project Rise participants of all ages will be prepared for the new test. As for TASC®, they have posted a small resource guide for learners who want to know more.

If you are interested in learning more about Kingsborough’s Project Rise, visit us on the blog, or contact us at 718.368.6600 or ProjectRise@kbcc.cuny.edu.

Community Health Workers

Community Health Worker jobs are growing in number, complexity and importance…

At 22,053,900 projected workers in 2020, the healthcare industry makes up the largest segment of the United States’ economy. Not just doctors and nurses, the healthcare industry also broadly encompasses the nonclinical, community and social service, and support positions that comprise 42% of the healthcare workforce.

The community health worker has taken on new importance as hospitals look to extend themselves and bring healthcare services to patients where they live. Among the occupations with the largest percentage increases across the country, office workers such as medical office specialists, office supervisors, and medical records technicians have seen their positions adapt and grow. And, a new position, often referred to as patient navigator or patient representative, has been created to facilitate smooth coordination of health services for patients.

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Medical Assistant Jobs

Curious about what a career in medical assisting means? Take a look at this great graphic coming from NYC LMIS as part of CUNY CareerPATH to show inquiring students where this career path can lead.

“Working under the supervision of a physician or nurse, medical assistants perform a combination of administrative and clinical functions. Clinical students may include taking vital signs, drawing blood and preparing patients for examinations. Administrative duties may include scheduling, maintaining records and billing and coding for insurance.”

Medical Assistant Career MAP FINAL 2014-1-21-2

Medical Assistant Career Map, created by NYC LMIS

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Gap to raise minimum wage!

Gap, Inc. has taken a stand in the debate about the effect of raising the minimum wage (See NYT, “Gap to Raise Minimum Hourly Wage”) to $9 this year, and $10 by next year (New York State’s minimum hourly wage is $8 as of December 31, 2013). Their belief is that raising the minimum wage for 60,000 of their 95,000 American-based workers is a step toward reducing turnover, and recognizes the value of front-line service staff. In his State of the Union address, President Obama spoke about raising the minimum wage across the nation, sparking discussions throughout the media about its effect on poverty rates, employment, the price of food and other goods, etc. While some members of Congress point to studies that indicate an increased minimum wage will lead to job losses (projections the White House contests), it is hard to argue with a major retailer’s willingness to push forward absent legislation (or an executive order). It will be interesting to see if other major retailers, foodservice operations, and other companies that depend on large numbers of minimum wage workers, will join Gap, Inc. and raise their minimum wage. For the millions who depend on these wages, this is a welcome shift. For policy makers, it will be an interesting case study, an invitation to watch and see whether there are accompanying reductions in jobs, rising revenues, or ???

The Value of Education

A report by the Pew Research Center evaluates the effect of education on earnings for Millennials (aged 25-32) as compared with previous generations. Most significant, according to this study, is the increasing pay gap between those with a high school diploma, or less, and those with a Bachelor’s degree. Put simply: compared to previous generations, high school graduates are earning less and those with a Bachelor’s degree are earning more. In addition to reporting data on salaries, and unemployment and poverty levels, the survey also looked at attitudes towards work and education. Visit the Pew Research Center for more about this report.

Cohort 4 Finishing Ceremony

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Project Rise, Cohort 4 Finishing Ceremony. Brooklyn, NY

What does it mean to finish?

The Project Rise Finishing Ceremony marks the end of a yearlong commitment to change. Each participant who is here today began last February with the aim of making changes in their lives. Every person sitting here kept their goals in sight and finished what they started.

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