Posts by ESRTA

Governor Hochul’s Labor Department announced today it has determined that the upstate minimum wage for general occupations should rise 70 cents on December 31, 2021, to a new rate of $13.20 an hour. That is consistent with the increases each of the last six years. The upstate minimum has risen 70 cents annually — from…

The NYS HERO Act requires action by all employers – regardless of your size. Every employer in the State is required to have a HERO Act plan in place and, given the recent designation of COVID-19 as a covered illness, those plans need to be active at this time. The State Labor Department has drafted…

The resignation of Andrew Cuomo last month has led to the ascension of Kathy Hochul to Governor. The new Governor immediately announced that anyone cited in Attorney General James’ report on Governor Cuomo for doing anything untoward would be asked to leave the administration. She also said she was going to take 45 days to…

On May 5, 2021, the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (NY HERO Act) was signed into law. The purpose of the NY HERO Act is to protect employees against exposure and disease during an airborne infectious disease outbreak. The New York State Department of Labor released a series of minimum standards and advanced…

It was heartwarming to see our members and friends from around the state at Cronin’s Golf Resort in Warrensburg this week. We had more than 50 golfers load up their carts and hit the links for a beautiful day in the Adirondacks at our Annual Cleo Emmer “Open for Hospitality.” When the weather is beautiful,…

Governor Kathy Hochul has directed the State Health Department to officially designate COVID-19 as a “highly contagious airborne infectious disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health” under the Hero Act, requiring employers to activate the plans they adopted. As a result of this designation, New York employers must immediately implement…

At a press conference this morning, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that New York City will require proof of vaccination for indoor activities at restaurants, gyms, and performances. The mandate will apply to patrons and employees and will be mandatory without a testing option. The policy will go into effect on August…

The State Labor Department has released the Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Standard, Model Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Plan, and industry specific templates (including the template for the Food Services industry) to facilitate compliance with the recently enacted HERO Act. The HERO Act requires employers to adopt and maintain an airborne infectious disease prevention plan to…

Governor Cuomo signed legislation (S.6353-A/A.7733) that will allow restaurants to utilize municipal spaces like sidewalks and streets for outdoor dining. First granted under an Executive Order by the Governor, this law allows restaurants to continue using these public spaces for another year as they recover from the economic devastation brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially…

We’re excited to announce the 2021 Cleo Emmer Open, our annual golf outing, is scheduled for Monday, September 13th at Cronin’s Golf Course in Warrensburg, New York. The day will be filled with hospitality and good times starting with lunch before a noon shotgun start, refreshments on the course, hors d’oeuvres & dinner, awards, and…