Category Archives: Office / HR / Employment

Pension Administrator And Actuarial Firm Opens Its First Upstate NY Office In Saratoga

February 9, 2018

INTAC Actuarial Services, a national third-party pension administrator and actuarial firm with over 40 years in business, announces the opening of its first upstate New York office in Saratoga Springs.

“Choosing Saratoga Springs as the latest addition to our family of offices came naturally to us as we recognized the need to continue building a presence in this vibrant business area,” said Charles Rosenberg, INTAC managing partner. “This exciting Capital Region setting now complements our New Jersey and California offices, strengthening INTAC’s ability to serve our clients and industry partners.”

INTAC, a second generation, family-owned and operated company, provides its clients with unparalleled pension administration expertise and personalized service. The office is on Clinton Street in the downtown area.

“Our firm’s motto—Employer of Choice, Clients for Life—is proven by the business and industry awards we have received for gold star service to clients, financial advisors and other industry partners by the finest staff of professionals in the industry,” affirms Rosenberg. “Every plan sponsor has unique goals and needs; we greatly look forward to building valued and trusted relationships with our new clients.”

Properly Utilized Office Space, High Functioning Equipment, Help Workers Be More Productive

February 9, 2018February 9, 2018

Dorothy Rogers-Bullis, owner of drb Business Interiors in Saratoga Springs, says she takes care to make sure the work they do will help improve the productivity of their clients’ businesses.
©2018 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Rachel Phillips

Businesses with cluttered offices or cramped reception areas might think that their poorly designed spaces are just a minor inconvenience, but one local business believes otherwise.

According to Dorothy Rogers-Bullis, owner of drb Business Interiors in Saratoga Springs, an office with properly utilized space has more benefits than being aesthetically pleasing.

“We make people very successful in their space,” said Rogers-Bullis.

Similarly, while a business can’t function without hardworking employees, there’s no denying the role equipment can play in deter. Whether it’s break room supplies, printer ink and toner, computer hardware, everyday office supplies, or cleaning supplies, Seeley Office Systems, which serves businesses in Saratoga, Washington and Warren counties, has a broad catalogue of wares available for business owners.

Vertucci Consulting Helps Employers Accomplish Tasks; Also Assists Job Seekers

February 2, 2017February 3, 2017

Anthony and Rebecca Vertucci are cofounders of Vertucci Consulting LLC. ©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com — Anthony and Rebecca Vertucci are cofounders of Vertucci Consulting LLC.
©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

February 2, 2017February 3, 2017

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.

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

February 2, 2017February 3, 2017

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.

First-GIG Operates Career Placement Services For Military Veterans, High School Students

February 4, 2016November 29, 2017

First-GIG LLC, a business that operates
two career placement services, is relocating
its headquarters from Madison, Wis., to
Saratoga Springs.

First-GIG operates 1stGig.com, which
focuses on jobs for college graduates, and
VetsBridge.com, which specializes in the
employment of returning veterans of the U.S.
Armed Forces.

After operating for more than three years
out of Madison, First-GIG is relocating to
Saratoga Springs, in part because of the thriving
IT industry in the Albany-Saratoga area,
officials said. The company plans to continue
its active role in the national marketplace.

First-GIG officials said the company has
developed proprietary algorithms for both
programs that make it easier for potential
employees and employers to find each other.
The service is available to students and veterans
at no charge.

Office Wellness Programs May Include Creating Healthier Work Spaces For The Employees

February 4, 2016November 8, 2017

Dorothy Rogers-Bullis, owner of drb Business
Interiors, supports office health initiatives.

BY RACHEL SPENSIERI

With the new year, many people have resolved
to improve their overall wellness. Similarly, many
businesses are considering ways they can help their
employees stay happy, healthy, and satisfied with
their jobs in 2016.

“During the recession, the workforce was generally
thankful just to have a paycheck,” said Dorothy
Rogers-Bullis, owner of drb Business Interiors, a
workspace design firm located in Saratoga Springs.
“Now that the economy has turned around, employers
can’t take that top talent for granted.”

Indeed, a 2014 LinkedIn study found that over
three-quarters of the global workforce was actively
or passively looking for a new job, so companies
have to up their game to keep the best-of-the-best
on their team.

The way to employees’ hearts may just be, well,
through the heart. Rogers-Bullis increasingly
notices that one approach her clients’ are using
to encourage employee retention is with wellness
programs. But today’s workplace health initiatives
go way beyond putting a gym in the building.
From hiring nutritionists to work with the cafeteria
food service staff to bringing in a yoga teacher for
lunchtime Zen sessions, companies are coming
to understand the sorts of perks that truly make
employees loyal and even improve productivity.

Business Report: Make The Payroll Process Work

February 4, 2016November 8, 2017

Jeannine Dubiac is the owner of Priority One
Payroll LLC based in Malta.

BY JEANNINE DUBIAC, FPC

Payroll should be that process that just flows.
As a business owner you know first-hand that
your employees need to be paid on time, correctly,
every time.

Unfortunately, for many companies, it’s anything
but smooth. Staying on top of payroll can
be a time-consuming and stressful process, especially
when relying on outdated payroll methods
to get the job done. With the multiple of IRS and
state penalties looming over every business, and
great employees anxiously waiting for payday, it’s
best to adopt the most efficient payroll tools and
resources at an organization.

To avoid unnecessary payroll-induced headaches,
for employers and employees alike, here
are a few suggestions to help improve efficiencies
in your payroll process.

1. Managing payroll.

Issue: Undertaking various job duties and
titles is often a necessity skill for business owners.
Unfortunately, the more tasks there are to juggle,
from marketing to human resources to accounting,
the greater likelihood of dropping the ball
on one of the many fine details related to payroll
and payroll taxes.

Business Report: Obligations Under Fair Labor Standard Act

February 4, 2016November 8, 2017

james marco c.jpg

Jim Marco, president, Consultant of Saratoga
Human Resources Solutions Inc.

BY JIM MARCO

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the
piece of federal legislation that established
minimum wage and overtime requirements, and
defined which employees are exempt from the
minimum wage and overtime provisions of the act,
and which employees need to receive overtime pay.

The FLSA provides definitions under which employee
can be exempt. These exemptions fall under
certain categories such as executive exemption,
administrative exemption, professional exemption,
outside sales exemption, and the computer
employee exemption. Exempt employees are often
referred to as salaried employees.

In order to qualify for exempt status, employees
must meet three critical criteria related to job duties,
a minimum level of weekly pay, and they must
be paid on a salaried basis, which is also defined
by the FLSA. Companies who pay all employees a
weekly salary, thinking they are avoiding overtime
payments, are taking a substantial risk. Both the
federal and state departments of labor enforce
these laws, although it is usually the state that you
will be dealing with during an audit.

This can result in back pay, for several years,
fines and other penalties. Your best defense is an
accurate and compliant job description, good job
analysis, and a thorough documented review of
the requirements.

Minimum Wage Increase Affects Some Employers, But Woes Not Insurmountable

February 6, 2014

By Jill Nagy Generally, local employers "were aware but not happy" about the increase in New York state's minimum wage that took effect Dec. 31, with further increases scheduled for December 2014 and 2015, according to Wayne Dubiac of...