The recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Western New York has demonstrated the importance of workplace safety. It is extremely important that we all do our part to help stop the spread of this virus, in our social lives and in our workplaces. This is especially critical as schools return to session this month.

This is a good time to revisit the guidelines you have implemented at your workplace. As a reminder you can find resources specific to each type of work setting – be it a restaurant, retailer, office, manufacturer, farm, or other type of business – by visiting www.forward.ny.gov. In some cases, the guidelines may have changed since they were first announced. It is incumbent upon each business to remain up to date and in compliance with those guidelines.

In addition, you can find other resources, links, and safety plans, as well as marketing tips and more, on the Chamber of Commerce website at www.chautauquachamber.org. We have compiled a variety of resources over the past several months that remain posted and available for all local businesses.

We strongly encourage everyone to remain safe, socially distant whenever possible, masked, and aware that the pandemic is still with us. Safety is the key factor in keeping our business community, our schools, and our citizens, healthy and thriving in this environment.

HR COMPLIANCE SERVICES INCLUDES WORKPLACE HARASSMENT AND CORONAVIRUS SAFETY TOOLS

Through our arrangement with the Zywave Learning Management System, the Chamber and MAST are able to offer local member businesses a money saving tool to comply with the New York State Workplace Harassment requirements for all employees. In addition, we have opened up some additional available courses through this online tool to help local businesses focus on safety in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The additional courses now available to all Chamber members include Staying Safe at Work; Remote Employees: Safety, Health and Security; Emergency Response Tips, Safety Awareness; Respiratory Protection Tips; and Respiratory Protection Training. All of these courses are now available to all businesses currently enrolled in the Zywave system.

It is also important to remember that the state’s Workplace Harassment Compliance regulations remain in effect. This easy to use online resource offers our members a complete system for employee use.

While programs like this could cost thousands of dollars for a single small business, the Chamber and MAST offer it as a benefit of membership. It’s easy, convenient to use and track employee course completion, and is offered for the price of your membership investment. For more information about HR resources through the Chamber/MAST, please contact Sheila Webster at swebster@chautauquachamber.org or see our website at www.chautauquachamber.org.

BACK TO SCHOOL & ACCESSING CHILD CARE RESOURCES

As our communities gear up to go back to school there are some very helpful resources available to employers and their employees. The Child Care Council is collecting information and working hard to ensure families who need child care have access to options. To enable the Child Care Council to help the business community and their employees address child care challenges, the Council is collecting information. So, help the Child Care Council help you and fill out the survey. For more information go to chautauquaopportunities.com call 1-800-424-4532 or email childcare@chautopp.org.

CHAMBER IS A TRUSTED PROVIDER FOR HEALTH INSURANCE

With a demonstrated history of providing cutting edge plans to deliver health insurance to our members, the Chamber is positioned to serve businesses through a private exchange that includes insurance products and ancillary benefits through multiple carriers. For some businesses the New York State of Health is the best fit for their needs. We work with our members to access a wide variety of plan options and ancillary benefits available through the State exchange. For our medium and large size businesses we partner with Lawley Benefits Group. Through this partnership we are able to offer innovative cost saving solutions to our members as well as help our members address health insurance compliance requirements. We are constantly looking at and implementing innovative ways to lower costs and provide the most cost effective insurance possible for our members. To learn more about the Chamber’s health insurance and ancillary offerings please contact our Director of Finance and Insurance Services, Holly McBride, at 499-6607 or hmcbride@chautauquachamber.org.