jessewinters

1197 Articles

Business Report: Compensation Package Concerns

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Rose Miller is president of Pinnacle Human Resources LLC.

By Rose Miller

With the frequent changes in wage and hour laws, many companies are struggling with decisions regarding increases in pay. Minimum wage will be increasing again in December. The end of the year is also a time when employers are evaluating performance and employees are evaluating their jobs and their pay.

Although pay dissatisfaction is only a symptom of job unhappiness, it can be the excuse on whether an employee decides to stay or leave. Many companies have advertised their company’s record high in sales and profits yet not have it translate to increases in pay for workers. The new laws passed regarding pay history and pay equity have female and other workers wondering if they are being paid equally and fairly.

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State Enacts Workplace Harassment Law Containing Stronger Employee Protections

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New York state has enacted sweeping new workplace harassment protections that strengthens anti-discrimination laws to ensure employees can seek justice and perpetrators will be held accountable.

It eliminates the restriction that harassment be “severe or pervasive” in order to be legally actionable; mandating that all non-disclosure agreements allow employees to file a complaint of harassment or discrimination. It also extends the statute of limitations for employment sexual harassment claims filed from one year to three years.

“There has been an ongoing, persistent culture of sexual harassment, assault and discrimination in the workplace, and now it is time to act,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “By ending the absurd legal standard that sexual harassment in the workplace needs to be ‘severe or pervasive’ and making it easier for workplace sexual harassment claims to be brought forward, we are sending a strong message that time is up on sexual harassment in the workplace and setting the standard of equality for women.”

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Curtis Lumber To Open New Bathroom Design Center At Its Ballston Spa Facility

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Timothy Minholz, kitchen and bath designer, stands in the new bathroom design center that will be unveiled Sept. 12 in Curtis Lumber Co.’s Ballston Spa location.

By Susan E. Campbell

Curtis Lumber Co.’s Ballston Spa location will unveil a new bathroom design center this month.

A ribbon cutting is scheduled for Thursday Sept. 12,  and there will be a weekend of special events, including tours of the new showroom and the opportunity for “spectacular savings,” according to Elmer Manzer, facility coordinator for the store at 885 Route 67.

A 34-year employee at Curtis, Manzer has seen the rise in popularity of the showroom concept, especially over the last two decades.

“The design centers have been growing for nearly 20 years,” he said. “There is a massive project center that is like a year-round home show, featuring ideas for patios, lighting, kitchen cabinets and counters, a one-car garage and many other aspects of home building and renovation.”

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Business Report: Sustainable Energy Saving Options

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Lee Evans, partner with ReWire Group LLC energy advisory firm in Saratoga Springs.

By Lee Evans

Running a household or a small business can be expensive. However, many people don’t consider the choice and control they have over their energy expenses.

Now the emerging green economy combined with high connectivity has given birth to a bold new era of energy saving options for everyone. What follows is a list of essential, straightforward items that both homeowners and businesses can check off to trigger the type of cost reduction they’ve always wanted in terms of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

In general, the three main steps you can use to unlock the maximum amount of energy savings for your home or small business: Reduce, electrify and replace.

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Business Report: Homebuyers Should Get Chimney Inspection

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Jamie Wallace is the owner of Chimney Heroes of Saratoga Springs.

By Jamie Wallace

People considering buying a home should not neglect getting a chimney inspection.

Here are five reasons why.

1) Chimneys are one of the most neglected structures in a home

Did you know that very few chimneys that vent a furnace or fireplace have ever been professionally inspected? The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 211) is the national standard for chimneys and vents and states that a chimney shall be inspected annually. A chimney is always under attack by corrosive flue gasses which wreak havoc on its flue liner.

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NYSERDA Launches Second Phase Of Its Home Energy Rating Pilot Program

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The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has  launched the second phase of a multi-year Home Energy Rating Pilot initially launched in February.

NYSERDA is seeking applications from licensed home inspectors to deliver home energy ratings during pre-purchase inspections to support homebuyer remodeling of a newly purchased one- to four-family home.

Alicia Barton, president and CEO of NYSERDA, said reducing energy use in homes “provides a foundation for greater statewide energy savings and advances us another step towards meeting Gov. Cuomo’s energy efficiency target by 2025. Piloting home energy ratings with home inspectors offers New York homebuyers access to a useful and informative tool that will identify energy efficient needs, features and upgrade opportunities to inform future remodeling decisions that will help them lower energy costs and increase the comfort of their homes.”

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Woman Opens enLiven Studio In Saratoga Springs, Offering Affordable Yoga Classes

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Carrie Winograd Kaufman conducts a yoga class at her enLiven studio in Saratoga Springs.
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Christine Graf

Saratoga Spring’s newest yoga studio, enLiven, is now offering a full schedule of yoga and movement classes.

The studio, located at 120 South Broadway, had a Memorial Day soft opening. Since that time, owner Carrie Winograd Kaufman has been busy hiring teachers and planning class offerings.

Regular classes at enLiven will be taught by one of the studio’s five teachers. Guest teachers will also be conducting special classes and workshops.

Kaufman has been teaching yoga locally for more than 12 years. Five years ago, she quit her job to found enLiven Retreats. After working exclusively on her business for several years, she resumed her career as an internet executive. She continues to operate enLiven Retreats in addition to operating her new studio.

Kaufman’s retreat business has evolved over time to meet the demands of her customers. Part of that evolution included opening a Saratoga Springs studio.

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Individualized Fitness And Nutrition Made Available At Saratoga Health & Fitness

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Michael Lapolla, left, and Nicholas Galuardi, are owners of Saratoga Health & Fitness.
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Andrea Palmer

Michael Lapolla and Nicholas Galuardi are celebrating 10 years in business with Saratoga Health & Wellness at 538 Maple Ave. in Saratoga Springs.

“Nick and I previously worked for a cardiology group in town, and they went through some changes and challenges. At that point, we ended up going off on our own. We officially opened in November 2009,” said Lapolla.

The center provides a variety of fitness programs, including some specialized for golfers.

Good nutrition is also important.

Rebecca Mahoney, a certified and registered dietitian, provides nutrition services to all members.  She specializes in behavioral nutrition and can provide very specific advice regarding various medical problems, including diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension and eating disorders. 

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Fitness And Training Programs Are Custom Designed At Capital District Sport & Fitness

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By Christine Graf

Capital District Sport & Fitness (CDSF), located at 21 Wood Road in Round Lake, celebrated its first year in business in June. Owners Mike Sirani and Dan Jones are Capital Region natives who met while on the baseball team at Springfield College.

After receiving a B.S. in applied exercise science, Sirani moved to Boston and worked as a trainer for professional, collegiate, and high school athletes. Jones stayed on at Springfield College after graduating with a B.S. in sports biology. He served as a graduate assistant coach for the college’s baseball team while working on his M.S. in exercise science with a concentration in exercise and sport psychology. After earning his M.S. he returned to the Capital Region to begin his training career.

Sirani relocated to the area after he and Jones decided to open a training facility together. Although they specialize in small group, semi-private training, they also offer group fitness classes.

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GlobalFoundries-Malta Foundation Accepting Applications For Its Annual Grant Program

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The GlobalFoundries-Town of Malta Foundation is accepting grant applications for its next round of funding to support local community organizations. 

Applications for grant funding can be submitted electronically or may be downloaded and mailed to the foundation by Oct. 31.

The foundation plans to award approximately $160,000 in grants to selected organizations by the end of this year.

Instructions and links for the application can be found at the foundation’s website, sites.google.com/site/gfmaltafoundationorg/home. 

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