March/April 2017 Newsletter

Voice of Business Newsletter March/April 2017

New Positions to Focus on Community Outreach

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reater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy created two new positions within the organization to enhance community outreach. Duffy named Shannon Ealy as Office of Future Leadership Manager and Adrian Hale as Strategic Initiatives Manager.

Duffy created the Office of Future Leadership to focus on workforce development in the Greater Rochester region and to equip young professionals to lead us into the future of business, politics, and community action.

with young professional organizations such as RocCity Coalition and Rochester Young Professionals in gathering input on business policy reform priorities such as health care, infrastructure, workers’ compensation, and education as well as highlighting emerging leaders’ achievements in Rochester Chamber publications.

Duffy said, “Adrian brings a wealth of life experience to Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. His youth and enthusiasm serve him well as our chamber moves into the future. Using his own personal journey as inspiration, Adrian will work on initiatives to help students complete school and go to work. He will also be heavily involved in supporting our efforts with young professionals in assisting our Office of Future Leadership.”

Ealy is a Rochester Young Professionals member and co-chair of the Employment Action Team for RocCity Coalition’s Vision 2025 initiative as well as a member of its advisory committee.

Duffy said, “Today’s young professionals are the business leaders of tomorrow.

We created this position to proactively get them involved in Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce activities and events and to make us a stronger organization and a stronger community moving forward.

Shannon is the perfect fit for this role because of her connections in the young professional community and her commitment to improving the Finger Lakes region served by Rochester Chamber.”

Ealy previously served as Rochester Chamber’s Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator. In her new role, she is responsible for working What’s your networking style?

Click on Upcoming Events at the top of our website for series details!

Rochester Chamber of Commerce during the summers of 2015 and 2016 while earning a political science degree at Yale University.

Hale is a Rochester City School District and Monroe Community College graduate as well as a United States Marine Corps veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan.

Shannon Ealy began at Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce in 2014 and has a Bachelor’s degree in advertising from Syracuse University.

Duffy created the position of Strategic Initiatives Manager to align Rochester City School District students with workforce development efforts, participate in the Rochester Monroe Anti-poverty Initiative, and manage the execution of special projects.

Adrian Hale worked as an intern at Greater

Hale said, “I’m excited to return home to Rochester and use the wealth of opportunities that I have received to give back and help others who share my background and life experiences achieve their maximum potential.”

Connect with Shannon Ealy at Shannon.Ealy@ GreaterRochesterChamber.com or (585) 256-4658. Reach Adrian Hale at Adrian.Hale@ GreaterRochesterChamber.com or (585) 256-4605.

Watch a video interview with Ealy at http://bit.ly/EalyInterview. Watch a video interview with Hale at http://bit.ly/ HaleInterview.

inside Focus on property tax cap burdens

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2017 New York State Budget Recap

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HR trends for 2017

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The future of the new Final Overtime Rule

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2016-2017 Board Officers Rob Sands, Chairman of the Board Constellation Brands, Inc. John Pitton,Vice Chair Bank of America Brian Flanagan, Second Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer Nixon Peabody LLP

Senior Staff

Robert J. Duffy President and CEO

Bill Anderson Sr. Director, Membership, Sales, and Events Bill.Anderson@GreaterRochesterChamber.com Colleen DiMartino Chief of Staff/Manager of Administrative Services Colleen.DiMartino@GreaterRochesterChamber. com Kevin Donahue Director, Membership Kevin.Donahue@GreaterRochesterChamber.com Susan George Director, Events and Affiliate Relations Susan.George@GreaterRochesterChamber.com Burt Parks Sr. Director, Business Services Burt.Parks@RBAstaffing.com Kathy Richmond Sr. Director, Human Resource Services Kathy.Richmond@GreaterRochesterChamber. com Nina Shelton Director, Group Health Insurance Nina.Shelton@GreaterRochesterChamber.com Dan Smith Sr. Director, Communications Dan.Smith@GreaterRochesterChamber.com Tammy Stefani Chief Financial Officer Tammy.Stefani@GreaterRochesterChamber.com Chris Wiest Vice President, Public Policy and Advocacy Chris.Wiest@GreaterRochesterChamber.com Kristin Graves, Newsletter Editor Voice of Business is the official newsletter of Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, published at 150 State St., Rochester, NY 14614.

Articles printed are for information only and are not intended to render legal advice.

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March/April 2017

From the CEO

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recently delivered written testimony on the matter of property tax relief to a joint legislative public hearing related to Governor Cuomo’s 2017-18 executive budget proposal.

The testimony focused on savings through local government consolidation and alignment.

Read the testimony in its entirety below: At the heart of the County-wide Shared Services Property Tax Savings Plan is the desire to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Those are two issues that the business community can relate to as they’re priorities for employers each and every day. We are all painfully aware of the high property tax burden in New York. The nine-county Finger Lakes region represented by Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce has some of the highest property taxes, as a percentage of home value, in the nation. Efforts to reduce property tax burdens are something that we strongly support. Governor Cuomo’s leadership in establishing the property tax cap was a step in the right direction. We agree, though, that there is more that can and must be done. People complain about the tax cap, when it is spending that must be reduced to lower our taxes. The property tax cap keeps annual increases to approximately 2%, when in essence we should focus on cutting property taxes.

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce believes New York’s Regional Economic Development Councils can play a major role in fostering governmental consolidation and shared services. The ten Regional Councils brought together leaders from academia, business, government, and non-profits to determine priorities for their regions. The model has been successful in creating greater communication, teamwork, and relationship building in the community and is a great precursor for the work that can be done in the future. It is an example of what we can do when communities work together.

Rochester Chamber proposes that the Regional Economic Development Councils, in conjunction with elected officials and leaders from each region, be tasked with submitting a plan on how to lower local government spending. Regional Councils can and should play a leading role in the development of consolidation plans, shared services, alignment, co-locations, and other strategies to ease the burden on taxpayers. Regional Council funding could then be tied to tangible results with

the best plans receiving priority in funding decisions.

Across the nine-county Finger Lakes region served by Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, there are ample opportunities Bob Duffy to decrease property tax burdens and create more effective and efficient governments through alignment and consolidation. A term often heard from business leaders is “innovate or die.” To succeed, organizations need to seek new ways of doing business and change based upon the needs of their customers. This holds true for government and its taxpayer customers as well. We need to think and act differently; we cannot afford to continue down this same road. Every government should run their operations like a small business and count every penny. The cost of government is the reason for high taxes. Government has a spending addiction, which has caused the spiraling tax issues we see today. In order to be competitive, businesses must reduce their costs. Already, businesses are faced with a high tax and regulatory climate.

Government alignment and consolidation will lower business taxes, lower property taxes, and allow businesses to be more competitive.

If businesses cut jobs to reduce their costs under government burdens, shouldn’t government also reduce staffs, cut take-home cars and seek other reductions?

Indeed, there are many factors that get in the way of alignment and consolidation. The biggest impediments are concerns about the loss of government jobs, politics, and turf issues. Unfortunately, we can’t have it all ways. We can’t complain about our high taxes and not show the courage to make the tough decisions. We need to put the interests of our region and our people first.

Some residents can’t afford to pay their tax bill. People are leaving the area. Businesses are moving out of state. We need to stop outmigration, and instead encourage people to move to our area. This cannot happen in our current tax and regulatory climate. The most onerous tax is our property tax and the biggest opportunity for change is at the local/ regional level. Government is here to serve (Continued on p. 3)

Voice of Business New Member Profile:

From the CEO (cont.) the taxpayers and make it easier for citizens. It will take courage and leadership on everyone’s part to bring about change.

We all need to look at ways to reduce redundancies. It is not just local governments that need greater alignment. There is work to be done at the state level, as well. We should leave no stone unturned. Rochester Chamber has approached local leaders with a proposal to consolidate state offices in Rochester into one building. Rochester is the only major upstate city without a dedicated New York State office building. We are pleased that the state is considering our proposal of locating its Rochester offices in one building. This creates not only savings for the state, but also convenience for its taxpayer customers and outside organizations considering a move here.

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce regularly hears the stories of decisions that businesses must make to keep their doors open, make great products, and maintain their employment base. We need to support these

businesses with lower taxes, lower costs, and regulatory reform.

Finally, Rochester Chamber encourages the state to hold regional hearings to seek public input on how local governments can reduce costs. A study should also be commissioned to determine what other states have successfully done to reduce spending and ease the burden on taxpayers. I would also like to suggest that this body convene hearings in all regions of the state and invite our business owners to testify how they reduce costs and stay in business, even in the wake of mandates such as minimum wage increases, paid family leave, and high workers’ compensation costs.

Only trepidation will stop this plan from moving forward. That is something we must overcome for the good of all taxpayers and for the future of our regional economy.

CEO Confidence

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he tenth annual Upstate New York Business Leader Survey from Siena College found a nine point increase in CEO confidence this year, demonstrating more optimism than pessimism among leaders of private for-profit companies. The Index of Business Leader Confidence, computed based on interviews with 440 business leaders of companies from Rochester, Buffalo, the Capital Region, and Syracuse stands at 103.8, up from 94.8 last year. That number is above the breakeven point of 100 at which overall optimism and pessimism towards the current and future economic conditions are balanced.

Driven primarily by increasing confidence in the future, the Capital Region’s overall index was up 7.3 to 112.5, Buffalo rose 14.1 to 106.3 and Syracuse increased 9.6 to 101.4.

Rochester was virtually unchanged at 88.7.

Siena College Research Institute Director Don Levy said, “The CEOs of the Capital Region increased in confidence establishing a ten year high overall, and setting a record

Mercy Flight Central

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ochester Chamber welcomed new member company Mercy Flight Central in January and had a moment to get acquainted with Jeff Bartkoski, President & CEO, to learn more about this business.

Tell us about your company.

Our mission is to save lives! This year we commemorate 25 years of doing just that.

As your non-profit air medical services provider, we have cared for more than 14,000 critically ill and injured patients throughout New York State’s Finger Lakes, Central, and Mohawk Valley regions. The community support of our mission has been a great reward.

What prompted you to join the chamber?

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce offers beneficial training opportunities and valuable services and tools that will help us to better manage our workforce. Further, this is the community that enables our service, this is the community that we serve daily – it is very appropriate to be part of Rochester Chamber.

at 121.1 for future confidence for any region.

Across upstate, business leaders tend to say that 2016 was flat but that they expect the New York economy to improve in 2017. Fiftyone percent, up from 45 percent, anticipate revenue growth and 43 percent, up from 35 percent, expect their profits to increase in 2017. Thirty-nine percent, the highest number we’ve seen, plan to increase the size of their workforce this year.”

What business or economic challenges are you currently facing?

Changes in healthcare regulations, an increase in Medicaid and Medicare patients, and employer-based health insurance plans are among those that can significantly impact reimbursements. In addition, a recent influx of nationally-based for-profit competition has caused a decline in the number of missions we complete each year.

CEOs cite health care costs (79 percent), governmental regulation (68 percent), and taxation (57 percent) as challenges that they are concerned about. Only 19 percent of CEOs (unchanged) think local government is doing either an excellent or good job supporting business and only 15 percent (up from 13 percent) are confident in the ability of New York’s government to improve the business climate. However, this year with a new administration in Washington, confidence in the federal government’s ability to improve business conditions rose sharply from only seven percent to 32 percent.

What is your business outlook?

Our business outlook is positive because of this supportive community and the critical need for our services. We will continue to enhance the long-term sustainability of our company to ensure continued delivery of the most advanced care to the regions in which we support.

www.mercyflightcentral.org www.GreaterRochesterChamber.com

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Voice of Business You Might Have Heard...From the Office of Future Leadership Young professionals are entitled, shallow, and lazy.

We see young professionals (YPs) in Rochester as passionate and engaged. The Office of Future Leadership seeks to bring together motivated, ambitious, and committed young people from all sectors of the working world to do something good for their careers and the community.

Young professionals are “millennials”.

YPs are around 21-40 years old—in an earlier stage of their careers.

If you fall outside this range but still want to get involved, there may be opportunities for mentoring.

Young professionals do ‘white collar’ jobs in offices, cubes, or other administrative settings.

A professional –at any age—is someone who takes pride in their work and strives for excellence.

Today’s young professionals are the leaders of tomorrow.

Our job at Rochester Chamber is to help prepare and empower them to lead the Finger Lakes region into a bright future. There are incredible success stories, knowledge, and experience here. We are the connection point for the exchange of ideas that leads to real growth.

On June 15, Rochester Chamber will host Re: Generation, a half-day conference focused on the personal and professional development of our young members.

It will feature valuable seminars, a keynote speaker, and a networking reception. This event will unveil an exciting new initiative and provide key takeaways for young professionals to achieve meaningful results in their work lives.

Are you a young professional age 21-40?

Save the date – Thursday, June 15 from 1-5 p.m. at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

Plant the Sees Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce invites you and your team to our

Are you an HR manager or involved in internal for a Secure 130th Anniversary Celebration communications?

Thursday, March 30, 2017 Make the most of your Rochester Chamber membership by sharing Future.

Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center this opportunity with your employees.

5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Enjoy complimentary heavy snacks, wine, Sponsorship opportunities available! beer while browsingprofessional a member vendor showcase. and get great Show your and support for young development exposure for your company through various levels of Reserve involvement.

Space Contact Susan George, director of events, at Susan.George@ in our exhibitor For your free ticket(s) for GreaterRochesterChamber.com or (585) 256-4612 forshowcase more to the event! $125 information.

Plant the Sees Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce invites you and your team to our

for a Secure 130th Anniversary Celebration Thursday, March 30, 2017

Future.

Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Enjoy complimentary heavy snacks, wine, and beer while browsing a member vendor showcase.

For your free ticket(s) to the event!

Reserve Space in our exhibitor showcase for $125

Rochester Chamber welcomes its new members AMD Business Brokers, LLC..................www.amdbizbrokers.com Atria............................................................. www.thelandingofbrighton.com Badge of Honor Association...................www.boha.info ClickSpark, LLC ........................................www.clickspark.com Consiliarium Group, LLC ........................www.consiliariumgroup.com Country Sweet Chicken & Ribs.............www.countrysweet.com Century Benefits Group Inc. ..................www.aboutcentury.com Dinosaur Bar-B-Que.................................www.dinosaurbarbque.com Dynalab Corp. ............................................www.dynalabcorp.com Eat Me Ice Cream, LLC.............................www.eatmeicecream.com Emerald Print Management, Inc...............www.emeraldprint.com EZaccessMD................................................www.ezaccessmd.com FM Office Products/Merkel Donohue ..www.fmop.com Good Deed Hospitality............................www.gooddeedhospitality.com Grid Marketing...........................................www.gridnewyork.com Happier at Home.......................................www.HappierAtHome.com Helendale Dermatology & Medical Spa..www.helendaledermatology.com INSIGHTOVATION® Consulting...........www.insightovation.com

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March/April 2017

International Paper......................................www.internationalpaper.com Mercy Flight Central...................................www.mercyflightcentral.org Rochester District Golf Association.......www.rdga.org Rhino Trunk & Case, Inc............................www.rhinotrunkandcase.com Right-On-Time Bookkeeping Services... www.Right-On-TimeBookkeeping.com Monroe County Airport Authority..........www.rocairport.com San Group, Inc...............................................www.sangroup.com Semco Construction.....................................www.awningrochester.com Surmotech, LLC.............................................www.surmotech.com Sydor Technologies........................................www.SydorTechnologies.com The Great Escape Room.............................. www.thegreatescaperoom.com/new-york/rochester Tuf Trucks and Fine Cars............................... www.tuftrucks.com UniLink Inc....................................................... www.UniLinkinc.com WMA Rochester..............................................www.wmarochester.com *Company listed in blue denotes our Partner Member*

Connecting Business Rochester Chamber offers a variety of events each month. For more photos, visit our Facebook page.

In a session focused on higher education, guests interacted with Rochester Institute of Technology, Roberts Wesleyan College, SUNY Geneseo, and St. John Fisher College.

Rochester Chamber members got a rare behind-the-scenes look at how 13WHAMTV prepares for an evening newscast during this special edition Rochester Chamber Spotlight Tour.

Our February Chamber Business Rounds featured Partners + Napier, Jay Worldwide, Tipping Point Communications, and Causewave Community Partners.

Speed Networking participants sat down for three minute mini-meetings, forming new relationships while swapping business cards at Pole Position Raceway.

Rochester Chamber teamed up with the Rochester Americans hockey club to offer members discount tickets and a private pre-game happy hour January 27.

A recent Friday HR Briefing focused on the annual employment law update. Attorney Kim Harding of Nixon Peabody delivered the presentation.

In this follow-up to our popular and successful 2016 Active Shooter response event, attendees took away tips on business continuity following an incident.

High Workers’ Compensation costs have consistently been a concern of the employer community. The Workers’ Compensation Reform Committee meets regularly to discuss solutions to these barriers.

Executives from Rochester Chamber member organizations shared their success stories in launching a business or social movement and made 90-second business pitches to compete for the best pitch.

Recent Member Company Visits

Lifetime Care Member Visit

MAXIMUS Member Visit

RGRTA Member Visit

YMCA Member Visit

www.GreaterRochesterChamber.com

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Voice of Business Upcoming Affiliate Events

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reater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is made up of employers big and small, in just about every industry imaginable. While our programs and events are designed for all, we recognize that there are times when employers and employees want to be among a smaller group that shares their specific business issues. Here are some of our affiliates’ upcoming events: Associated New York State Food Processors • April 12: Networking/Tasting at Wine & Culinary Center nyfoodprocessors.org Greater Rochester Quality Council • March 20: Manufacturing Renaissance in America: Rochester’s Leadership • May 11: 11th Annual GRQC Showcase & Performance Excellence Awards www.grqc.org Small Business Council of Rochester • March 8: Boot Camp: The Smart Sales Method • April 12: Boot Camp: CyberSecurity How to Protect Yourself and Your Business www.rochestersbc.com Rochester Hispanic Business Association • March 21 - Lunch Series with Raul Salinas • April 18 - Lunch Series with Christine Vargas www.rochesterhba.org The Women’s Council • May 1: Women’s Council Young Women of Distinction Scholarship Awards www.ROCWomenscouncil.org

Through our affiliate groups, you can meet business people who share your interests and challenges.

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March/April 2017

Local Colleges Weigh in on Free Tuition Proposal

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hile participating at a recent Chamber Business Rounds event, the presidents of Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. John Fisher College, and SUNY Geneseo weighed in on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to offer free SUNY and CUNY tuition. The governor has proposed tuition-free education at State University of New York and City University of New York schools for families with household incomes of less than $125,000 a year as part of his 2017-18 executive budget SUNY Geneseo President Denise Battles called the proposal very exciting in the face of concerns about the affordability of higher education. Battles said, “We all understand increasingly getting a college degree is very important to enter the jobs now being created and those going forward. There are estimates that 70 percent of jobs are going to require a college degree. In this state, fewer than 50 percent of our citizens have that credential.

So, it’s very important that we expand access.

The state is in a position to provide a level of investment to cover the differential between what the state already provides through primarily the Tuition Assistance Program and also federal financial aid such as Pell, and to fill in what they’ve called that last mile.”

RIT President Bill Destler said Governor Cuomo’s proposal is a step in the right direction, but may come with unintended consequences. Destler said, “We have a lot of students who will go the first two years at Monroe Community College because they save a lot of money. Then, they can transfer to RIT on one of our exchange programs. They can get an RIT degree for really almost half the price. But if all of a sudden the SUNY and CUNY institutions are free, the low-cost advantages of the community colleges will disappear. I think what finally comes out as a bill and gets the governor’s signature might be quite different than what we imagine right now. At RIT, we are not terribly concerned about this but I do think that we will see various parties in Albany positioning to protect themselves. It is a concern for the smaller private institutions and we ought to be concerned about them because they educate an awful large number of people in aggregate across the state and do a wonderful job of it.”

Roberts Wesleyan College President Deana Porterfield added, “I want to advocate for students who want a choice in their education.

What I’m hoping for is the continuation of support for that so that TAP would remain at institutions like Roberts and St. John Fisher and RIT and others. Because we are a faithbased institution, we want students to have that choice if they want to come. Affordability for students is on our minds all the time.

We are trying to figure out how to offer an education to those students who want the opportunity to continue their education so they can be successful. And we want to make that as open as we can.

St. John Fisher College President Gerard Rooney said the program may give more people an incentive to stay the course in high school and get to college. Rooney said, “I think one of the larger problems is not just the access from a cost standpoint, but it’s the academic preparedness of the students who are coming to us that is going to get them to the workforce ultimately. It is a complex matter that I hope we don’t simplify to a degree. There are a number of things I think about the initiative that are positive.

College choice, at the end of the day, is what would enable people to get into academic environments where they might flourish.”

The 2017-18 New York State budget deadline is April 1. The current legislative session ends June 21.

Thank you to our website sponsors!

www.GreaterRochesterChamber.com

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Public Policy 2017 New York State Budget Recap

By Chris Wiest Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy

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YS budget negotiations are in full swing as the March 30 deadline approaches.

Governor Cuomo has proposed a $152.3 billion budget that caps spending at 2% for the 7th consecutive year, increases education aidincluding free SUNY tuition, supports statewide ride hailing, extends the “millionaire’s tax”, and calls for another round of Regional Economic Development Council funding.

Highlights of the budget include: • State Operating Funds spending increased 1.9% • Education Aid increased $1billion, School Aid total $25.6 billion • $163m to make SUNY college tuition free for middle class families earning up to $100,000 • “Buy America” provisions for state procurement over $100,000 • Middle class tax relief: Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit doubled, income tax rate reduced • Millionaire’s Tax extended- generating $3.7 billion in revenue

Small Business Day in Albany is March 14

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ochester Chamber will once again be leading a group of business leaders in meetings with NY State Senate and Assembly members from our region at Small Business Day. Join us and help employers’ voices be heard! Workers’ Compensation reform will be the number one area of focus for the day. For more information, click here.

Contact Chris Wiest at Chris.Wiest@ GreaterRochesterChamber.com if you would like to participate or have any questions.

• Transportation Network Companies, like Uber and Lyft, authorized to operate state wide • $750 million investment in Round 7 funding for Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC) • $10 million Photonics Venture Challenge competition in Rochester Coming off a year that saw the passage of minimum wage and paid family leave legislation, this year’s budget proposes fewer new mandates on employers. It does, however, include a number of provisions of interest to the business community.

Continued and increased investment in economic development- through REDC funding- will be of benefit to employers and the entire region. However, proposals such as extending the Millionaire’s Tax run the risk of encouraging those in higher tax brackets to take their businesses, tax dollars, and philanthropy elsewhere. Likewise, the free SUNY tuition proposal will help make college more affordable to many, but could adversely impact private colleges that serve as economic engines throughout the state. According to many Rochester Chamber members, allowing ride hailing services like Uber and Lyft to operate upstate as they do throughout the nation is a law that is long past due. As always, finding the right cost-benefit balance on all of

these issues will be key.

An area of significant interest to Rochester Chamber members and employers statewide is Workers’ Compensation (WC) reform. NYS is currently ranked third in the nation for high WC costs and high costs are consistently rated by members as one of their biggest business concerns.

Rochester Chamber, through its Workers’ Compensation Committee, is heavily engaged in this issue on the education and advocacy fronts. In 2015, Rochester Chamber presented two education workshops to members that explained how the WC system works as well as cost-drivers. In 2016, we held a WC Conference attended by over 200 members and conducted an employer survey with upstate chambers and business groups to gather feedback and data to assist with advocacy work. Currently, Rochester Chamber is working with Unshackle Upstate, the Business Council, National Federation of Independent Businesses, NY Self Insurers, and others in pushing for WC reform this legislative session. Conversations with legislative leaders are ongoing and several senators and assembly members are sponsoring reform legislation. Stay tuned for more information on these, as well as our other advocacy efforts, and how you can help.

2017 Business Advocacy Resource Guide is Available

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ochester Chamber recently released its 2017 Business Advocacy Resource Guide. The brochure contains Rochester Chamber’s 2017 advocacy agenda, tips on communicating with elected officials, legislative directories for state and federal officials, and information on policy and advocacy committees.

In staying true to our mission to advocate for our members, we hope this brochure provides the guidance necessary to highlight the issues important to member businesses, outlining the areas of focus for the coming year. Additionally, this serves as a guide on how to reach public and elected officials - complete with a directory of contact information for direct access.

Click here to view to brochure, which is also available on the Publications section of our website and on our Facebook page.

As always, if your business is experiencing a policy or regulatory issue, our Public Policy & Advocacy staff is here to help. Contact Chris Wiest at Chris.Wiest@GreaterRochesterChamber.com or (585) 256-4626. www.GreaterRochesterChamber.com

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Human Resources

OSHA Electronic Recordkeeping Reminder

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lectronic submission of injury and illness records to OSHA will be required by July 1 for establishments with 250 or more employees that are currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, and establishments with 20-249 employees that are classified in certain industries with historically high rates of occupational injuries and illnesses. Covered establishments with 250 or more employees must electronically submit information from OSHA Forms 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses), 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses), and 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report). Covered establishments

with 20-249 employees must electronically submit information from OSHA Form 300A.

covered establishments must submit the information by March 2.

The new reporting requirements will be phased in over two years. In 2017, all covered establishments must submit information from their completed 2016 Form 300A by July 1, 2017. In 2018, covered establishments with 250 or more employees must submit information from all completed 2017 forms (300A, 300, and 301) by July 1, 2018, and covered establishments with 20-249 employees must submit information from their completed 2017 Form 300A by July 1, 2018.

Beginning in 2019 and every year thereafter,

The OSHA electronic injury and illness data collection system was scheduled to be released in February 2017. The electronic data collection system as well as various FAQs can be found on the injury tracking application website. Rochester Chamber Business Builder, Partner, and Corporate members may contact Kathy Richmond at (585) 256-4618 or Jennifer Suppé at (585) 256-4608 with questions on this or other HR topics via the HR Helpline service, which is provided as a benefit of membership.

phenomenon stems from both employees spending more time working from home and younger generations of workers rising in the ranks at companies.

2017. Completing this process will help your company both determine the right compensation plans for jobs and attract the most qualified applicants for positions.

Creative Compensation Packages and Perks

Flexible Scheduling Flexible scheduling provides benefits to both employers and employees. Employers can reap rewards from having employees work remotely during all hours of the day and night. Employees can better balance their family life with careers. Due to less stress and distractions, employees might also be more productive while working remotely. The undeniable advantages of flexible scheduling will make it a continuing HR trend for 2017.

Wellness Workplace stress can contribute to a myriad of serious physical and mental health issues such as heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and anxiety. To slash stress at work, managers are placing a higher priority on wellness programs. These beneficial programs can help companies decrease rates of employee absenteeism, lower healthcare costs, and attract talented employees. Examples of wellness initiatives include private healthcare plans, gym memberships, and counseling sessions.

Undoubtedly, 2017 will bring both changes and challenges to companies. Managers who know how to adapt to a rapidly fluctuating marketplace will not only survive, but thrive.

HR Trends for 2017

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his time of year, HR professionals focus on the HR accomplishments you hope to achieve in 2017.You understand the valuable role your employees play in success or failure. Consider the following trends and priorities that might make 2017 one of your company’s brightest years yet.

Teamwork Recognizing that companies need to emphasize teamwork rather than individual performance will be a continued HR trend in 2017. Many managers believe developing diverse teams will help them to better meet customers’ needs and compete in a volatile environment. Due to having grown up engaging in team sports and collaborating with peers in the classroom, millennial and generation Z employees are uniquely qualified for teamwork at the office.

Engagement Engaging apathetic employees is a perennial priority for many managers. 2017 won’t be an exception. The numerous benefits of possessing an engaged workforce include: • Heightened employee satisfaction • Improved employee retention rates • Improved employee recruiting efforts • Increased worker productivity • Enhanced employee innovation Casual Workplace Culture In 2017, the workplace will likely continue to become more casual. Formal suits and ties are being replaced with suits but no tie, or even t-shirts and jeans or khakis. This

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To lure the best and brightest new talent, managers are increasingly utilizing creative compensation packages and perks. In addition to fair salaries and healthcare coverage, they’re offering prized, potential employees benefits such as: • Flexible scheduling • Food allowances • Student loan repayment • College tuition reimbursement

Job Descriptions Does your company utilize outdated descriptions for open positions?

If you can’t remember the last time your business updated the required duties, necessary skills, and preferred experience associated with jobs, make it a priority for

Source: Predictiveindex.com

Survey Spotlight • 2017 Turnover and Absenteeism Survey Release expected the week of March 13 • 2017 Annual Wage & Salary Surveys Release expected the week of April 17 • 2017 National Executive Comp. Survey Release expected the week of May 29

Voice of Business The Future of the New Federal Overtime Rule Tammy Tyler Paychex, Inc.

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n his efforts to reshape the government, could President Donald Trump impact the future of the Final Overtime Rule? The rule’s principal provision would raise the minimum salary level for certain white-collar exemptions from overtime under Federal wage and hour law. The Final Overtime Rule was scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2016, but on Nov. 22, 2016 a federal court in Texas issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking the US Department of Labor (DOL) from implementing or enforcing the rule until further review by the court.

The injunction was the result of a lawsuit filed by a group of states, led by Texas and Nevada, claiming the new rule would drive higher employment costs for state and local governments, as well as private companies. In addition, a coalition of more than 50 business groups filed a lawsuit challenging the rule in the same federal court. That complaint alleges in part that the new overtime rule “defies the mandate of Congress to exempt executive, administrative, professional, and certain computer employees from the overtime requirements of the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act).” The business coalition also cites excessive costs that the rule would impose on U.S. companies.

The Department of Labor soon appealed the injunction and initially requested an expedited schedule, granted by the court. More recently the Agency filed an unopposed motion to extend the deadline out to March 2 for their submissions in support of the appeal, to “allow incoming leadership personnel adequate time to consider the issues.” An additional extension was requested later in the month pushing the revised schedule beyond the beginning of May. Rule would affect up to 4.2 million workers The DOL has estimated that the Final Overtime Rule would impact as many as 4.2 million workers. If implemented, the overtime rule would:

• Raise the salary threshold exempting certain employees from overtime protections. The threshold would rise from $455/week to $913/week — that’s an annual salary of $47,476 for an employee who works the whole year; • Allow employers to apply nondiscretionary bonuses and other incentive pay toward up to 10 percent of the salary threshold when those payments are made at least quarterly; • Increase the annual salary amount for employees to meet the Highly Compensated Employee (HCE) exemption from overtime from $100,000 a year to $134,004 a year; and • Automatically update the salary threshold and annual compensation for these exempt positions every three years, based on wage growth over time.

What does the future hold for the Overtime Rule?

While the federal court judge is free to rule on the business plaintiffs’ pending expedited motion for summary judgment, even before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issues a ruling on the appeal, it is also possible that once the new Secretary of Labor is confirmed, the agency will rescind its appeal of the preliminary injunction which would likely mean a permanent injunction, invalidating the rule, would soon follow.

Although President Trump didn’t take a position against the overtime rule during the presidential campaign, he said in an August 2016 interview with Circa, an online news and entertainment portal, that “rolling back the overtime regulation” would be one way to help small businesses. He also indicated in at least one interview that he would like small employers to be exempt from the rule.

If the outstanding legal challenges to the overtime regulation do not result in its repeal and the rule goes into effect, President Trump and his administration or even Congress could take action including: • President Trump could direct the DOL to issue a stay of non-enforcement of the rule. This action does not repeal the provisions of the rule. But while the DOL would not enforce those provisions, employees could still exercise their

private right of action to sue employers for a violation under the Fair Labor Standards Act. • The DOL could withdraw the rule and release new regulations. Any changes proposed after the rule was in effect would need to go through a notice-andcomment period, and receive approval by the Office of Management and Budget.

This process could take the better part of a year or longer; revised rules issued while the rule remains enjoined are not required to undergo this process but are unlikely given Trump’s recently issued 60-day regulatory freeze adding to the uncertainty.

• Congress could pass legislation to delay, phase-in, or change the rule. Although this issue may not be a priority for President Trump or Congress, the composition of the Congress under the new administration presents other challenges to the rule, as the Senate lacks enough Republicans to override a filibuster.

Don’t wait for change – plan for compliance today Many employers have been pondering staffing and salary adjustments to comply with the DOL’s new regulations. But the uncertainly surrounding the future of the Final Overtime Rule has resulted in confusion for many employers who prepared and possibly began to implement these changes. Employers are encouraged to consult with legal counsel to determine the best course of action for their organization for continued compliance, but all employers should prepare to be able to implement applicable changes to employee classifications, compensation policies and recordkeeping processes if the rule does become effective, as well ensure current compliance with applicable state overtime pay laws, to avoid the potential associated fines and penalties.

The information in this article should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and it should not substitute for legal, accounting, and other professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. It is provided for informational purposes only and may only be accurate as of February 23.

www.GreaterRochesterChamber.com

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Voice of Business Join Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce on an adventure to…

CHINA

Oct. 6 – 14, 2017 Depart at JFK For Only

$2,199*

Beijing ● Shanghai ● Suzhou ● Hangzhou

Your Trip Includes:

● Roundtrip international airfare & Chinese domestic airfare & Tax ● 4-and 5-star hotel accommodations ● 3 meals each day ● Deluxe bus tours ● Fluent English-speaking tour guides ● Entrance fees for attractions

Day 1 – JFK/Beijing Check in at JFK International Airport for an afternoon flight. Cross International Dateline.

Day 2 - Beijing Arrive in Beijing, the Capital of China by midnight. You will be met at the airport by your tour guide and transferred to the hotel.

Day 3 - Beijing Visit the Tian An Men Square, the largest square in the world, and the Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 A.D., where the emperors prayed to the heavens for a good harvest.

Sightseeing today will continue with a tour of the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, home of 24 emperors with a total space of 9,999 rooms, and the Summer Palace, featuring the Long Corridor with painted gallery, Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, Seventeen Arch Bridge and the Marble Boat.

Day 4 - Beijing Tour bus excursion to the Great Wall, the 4,000 mile long and 2,000 year old construction is said to be the only man-made structure visible by the naked eye from the moon. Visit the Ming Tombs. One of the 13 Ming Emperors' Tombs is fully excavated and open for exploration.

Price reflects Double occupancy Add $500 for single occupancy Add $200 to take Terra-Cotta Warriors itinerary Everything listed on itinerary included All Tax & Post Departure Travel Insurance included Trip starts at JFK Airport, New York (price includes bus from Rochester to JFK) English speaking tour guide on deluxe tour bus

Day 5 - Beijing/Shanghai/Suzhou Fly to Shanghai, followed by a bus trip to Suzhou for the Lingering Garden, Tiger Hill, Hanshan Temple and the National Embroidery Institute to see silk embroidery, a local craft with thousands of years of history. Dinner this evening will include a show featuring traditional Chinese music.

Day 6 - Suzhou/Hangzhou Morning tour bus excursion to Hangzhou for a visit to the Economic Development Zone and the centuries-old Lingyin Temple, featuring a 64.3 foot high camphor-wood carving of Buddha.

Day 7 - Hangzhou/Shanghai Morning boat cruise on West Lake with relaxing stopover at jewel-like pagodas and tea houses. Afternoon tour bus trip to Shanghai.

Day 8 - Shanghai Visit the Yu Garden, a maze of marvelous pavilions, ponds, rocky works and overarching trees. Also visit the Bund, Shanghai’s famous waterfront park. Tour the Pudong Economic Development Zone.

Day 9 - Shanghai/Beijing/JFK Morning flight to Beijing connected with afternoon flight JFK where you will arrive on the same day.

An orientation meeting will be held Thursday, March 23, 2017, 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce 150 State St., Suite 400 Rochester, NY 14614 To register, please visit our Events Calendar at www.GreaterRochesterChamber.com or call 585-256-4627

Plan now to join Rochester Chamber group for this once in a lifetime China Adventure. Space is limited. Call Citslinc at 1-844.262.1100 for more information. Send trip registration form to fax 1-844-262-9900 or email address citslinc@yahoo.com

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March/April 2017

Voice of Business Kodak Announces New Battery Pilot Manufacturing Facility

E

mpire State Development announced that Rochester Chamber Partner member Eastman Kodak Company, in partnership with New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium, Inc. (NY-BEST) will install two multi-user battery cell assembly lines at their Eastman Business Park site in Rochester. The site will serve battery and capacitor development and production companies. The new lines will complement existing roll-to-roll coating capability and expertise at Kodak, a battery assembly prototype lab at Rochester Institute of Technology, and the BEST Test and Commercialization Center, a battery cell commercialization and testing center in the same building at EBP. This combination of capabilities expands the energy ecosystem and creates a world-class tool set for the development and production of new battery and capacitor technologies.

The battery cell assembly facility, which will be operated by Kodak in partnership with NY-BEST, will utilize equipment supplied

by Kodak. This includes a dry room and specialized manufacturing equipment, such as cutting, winding, stacking, welding, filling, formation, and packaging machines to make batteries, ultra-capacitors, and other energy storage devices.

include security films, electronic films, medical films, and optical films. Kodak’s capabilities, in conjunction with those of others, built in Eastman Business Park, have allowed the creation of energy storage ecosystem to facilitate research, development, and production all in one location.”

Empire State Development has offered incentives for the project through an Upstate Revitalization Initiative capital grant valued at $1.2 million. The project will create nine direct jobs by 2019 while expanding pilot manufacturing capabilities at EBP, which will enable commercial market entry for new products, helping to attract more new business to the 1,200-acre campus in Rochester. The new battery pilot manufacturing facility is expected to open by July.

Eastman Business Park President Dolores Kruchten said, “With this new cell assembly center, Rochester becomes a national hub for battery innovation and production. At the same time, it expands the applications for Kodak coated films. We are pleased that our expertise and equipment in roll to roll manufacturing is now being leveraged to support new energy storage technologies that are changing the world. Making battery electrodes is just one application. Others

RBA Staffing: A Full-service Agency to Meet Your Recruiting Needs

N

ot every company has a recruiting department, so the recruiting of employees often falls on business owners and hiring managers. If you talk to business owners and hiring managers, they will tell you that finding a qualified candidate can be frustrating as well as very time consuming. Reading resumes and setting up interviews that may not bring success can eat away precious time that can be focused on daily operations. When a candidate is finally selected, you still need to coordinate background and reference checks in order to ensure you’re selecting the right candidate with verified credentials.

The time a business owner or manager is away from their primary responsibilities may ultimately end up hurting the business during this arduous process. However, the position needs to be filled accurately to meet growing company needs. Certainly, the recruitment and onboarding process can be costly in terms of dollars, not just time spent doing it.

If you feel somewhat overwhelmed by the thought of taking on recruitment and hiring yourself, consider RBA Staffing’s assistance.

Partnering with us can reduce the time and effort spent on finding the right candidate.

With strong roots in the community and

a solid track record of placements, our recruiters have a deep knowledge of the available workforce and a large pool of candidates at their fingertips. We work with you to identify the qualifications and skills you need and do the legwork to recruit, screen, interview, and verify the perfect match.

Should you choose to participate, we can also incorporate someone from your company into the interview process. Once you make your selection based on our recommendations, RBA Staffing makes an offer to the candidate and sets the start date, leaving you with a new employee ready to work hard for your company.

RBA Staffing also offers background and reference checking services. Let us check a person’s employment, criminal, and educational background for you. Our services are a la carte depending on how much, or little, you need verified for a potential hire. When an employee starts, you can be assured that the individual meets your company qualifications with no surprises lurking in their employment or personal history.

RBA Staffing is a full service staffing and background checking agency, offering your business one-stop shopping from start to

finish in the hiring process. We can save you time and money whether you need to hire one position or fill multiple openings, shortterm or long-term.Visit www.RBAStaffing. com or call (585) 256-4666 to contact one of our qualified placement specialists to assess your needs and hit the ground running.

Friday HR Briefings March 3 - Emergency Management and Business Continuity Planning March 17 - Preparing for New York Paid Family Leave (FULL) April 7 - Benefit Packages for a Multi-Generational Workforce April 21 - Unemployment and Best Practices for Managing Claims Time: 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Location: Rochester Chamber 150 State St., Rochester, NY 14614 Open to: Members only (no cost) To register, email Michele.Hefferon@ GreaterRochesterChamber.com

www.GreaterRochesterChamber.com

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Seminars Held at Rochester Chamber Register at www.GreaterRochesterChamber.com

May 19-June 16 Leadership for Managers This program presents the practical concepts, strategies, and skills needed to enhance a leader’s performance. Learn to create an environment of trust where people do better work by building a higher trust. Integrate generational differences into leadership mindset. Improve interpersonal skills and build emotional intelligence. Improve teamwork and motivation. Understand TQM and lean thinking in the modern organization. Master all forms of communication to reduce stress and conflict.

Upcoming Events For more details and to register, visit www.GreaterRochesterChamber.com

March 7 Policy Matters: An Evening with Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren

March 21 biz. Exchange: Getting Results With or Without Authority

March 23 Chamber Opportunities: Travel to China Information Session

March 30 Chamber Networks After 5: 130th Anniversary Celebration and Membership Showcase

April 5 SPOTlight Tour: Mercury Print

April 12 Chamber Business Rounds: Rochester’s Future Leaders

April 28 Chamber Opportunities: Rochester Chamber Night at the Knighthawks

SAVE THE DATE!

May 5 Rochester TRENDS: Trump: The First 100 Days with John Zogby May 11 Chamber Business Rounds: Professional Women Leaders

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