From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Following feedback from the state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission and stakeholders, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is expected to indicate sometime this fall how they intend to proceed with potential proposed changes to the state’s overtime eligibility rules.

In 2018, the PA Department of Labor and Industry proposed new rules related to employee eligibility for overtime pay, including doubling the minimum salary threshold for exemption and requiring regular increases. The PA Chamber, along with hundreds of other employers and advocates, submitted comments to IRRC expressing concerns, and ultimately IRRC issued its own comments with a significant number of questions and suggestions to which the Department must respond in a subsequent filing. Among IRRC’s directives to the Department was more robust stakeholder outreach and in May and June of this year, the Department conducted a series of employer roundtable meetings throughout Pennsylvania. 

When President Obama proposed similar changes to the federal rule in 2015, the response from employers was swift and deeply negative, particularly among small businesses, nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions and the health service industry, among others. Employers not only described significant increases to the cost of providing services or doing businesses, but also the reality that this dramatic change would damage workplace culture and morale, as employees would have to be shifted from earning a salary to being paid by the hour. This transition typically requires employees to start clocking in and out, along with more burdensome record-keeping, less flexibility, a rigid work schedule and fewer training opportunities and benefits.

In February 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor released a new proposal to update overtime eligibility standards, which includes raising the salary threshold for exempt status but to a level considered less disruptive.

• The Ken Pollock Auto Group will hold a car seat safety check in conjunction with the PA State Police tomorrow, Sept. 19, from 2-5 p.m., at its Tire and Auto Center, located at 88 Wyoming Valley Mall Blvd, Wilkes-Barre. 

• The Danville Area Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, will hold its grant awards breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 8:30-10 a.m., at the Meadows Community Center at the Maria Joseph Continuing Care Community. This event annually celebrates the investments made to community organizations through the work of the DACF. Local nonprofit organizations will be presented with 2019 grant awards during the breakfast. Reservations are required but there is no cost to attend (see printed invitation). To reserve your seat, please contact Katie Simpson by email or at 570-752-3930 by Oct. 2.

• The Ronald McDonald House of Danville recently had the opportunity to partner with Beiter’s Home Center during the Little League World Series to raise funds for thousands of families. Beiter’s presented RMHD with a check for $30,057.05 which represents 100% of the proceeds raised from parking cars during the Little League World Series. RMHD extends a big thank you to all of the fantastic volunteers who helped make this fundraiser a huge success.

• The Danville Child Development Center’s September newsletter is now available. 

• Susquehanna Steam Electric Station (SSES) recently hosted its annual Team Susquehanna/Berwick Area United Way golf tournament raising over $84,000 to benefit the Berwick Area United Way, and the local programs and agencies it supports.  In the tournament’s 10-year history, it has raised over $730,000 for the Berwick Area United Way.  In 2018, the event supplied 77% of all the funding awarded to agencies that serve the local community. 

  

  (L-R): Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Employee and Golf Tournament Chair, Kip McCabe; Talen Energy senior vice president and Chief Nuclear Officer, Brad Berryman; United Way President and Chief Executive Officer, Bill Jones; and United Way Community Impact Coordinator, Ayrin Shortlidge.

  “Susquehanna Station is proud to support the Berwick Area United Way through our annual golf tournament,” said senior vice president Chief Nuclear Officer, Brad Berryman.  “We are grateful to all the volunteers and sponsors who helped to make our 10th tournament a success.” In addition to their annual golf tournament, SSES supports the Berwick Area United Way through an annual employee giving campaign, backpack donations for their Stuff the Bus initiative, and volunteer resources for their annual Day of Caring.  They are also hosting their first annual clay shoot tournament fundraiser this fall.  

• There will be a fun, Halloween-themed, family-friendly fundraising event on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Hawkins Chevrolet, located at 1856 Montour Blvd. (Rt. 11), Danville, to benefit the Montour Area Recreation Commission, which manages the Montour Preserve. This event is being hosted by the Danville Business Alliance and several other Danville-based organizations. It will feature an obstacle course, pumpkin toss, trunk or treat and much more. All proceeds raised from the event will benefit MARC, which currently does not have enough funding to sustain operations beyond next fall. For additional information, visit the Facebook event page, and view the below video. 

Portions of this article are from PA CareerLink

A new website intended to provide a place for employers to connect with students and schools to highlight the many career opportunities available in the local area has launched. Pathtocareers.org is the result of a collaboration between the Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation, Central PA CareerLink (which includes PA CareerLink Columbia/Montour Counties), and the Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce. 

Here is what organizations can do with the website. 

HIGHLIGHT YOUR BUSINESS

Share information you want young people, teachers, and parents to know about your business. Highlight reasons young people should consider a future with your company and what steps they must take to start a successful career with your business.

POST AVAILABLE EXPERIENCES

Post career experiences you are able to offer and when you offer them. You set the agenda and define whether you’ll offer experiences such as company tours, internships, co-ops, and job shadows. Schools will initiate connections with your designated staff through the click of a button.

CONNECT AND IMPACT

You’ll meet young people and educators who are eager to learn from you! Build meaningful connections with schools and students more efficiently and effectively as you look to find the next generation of leadership and impact the future.


To register your business on this website, visit the website and the instructions for doing so. 

More than 400 businesses and organizations belong to the Chamber to receive benefits and support efforts to strengthen their businesses and our region. Increased membership allows us to offer additional programs and benefits, have a stronger voice in advocacy and be involved in more activities and initiatives in our communities. The Chamber welcomes its newest member, The Keystone School, to help us fulfill our mission.

The Keystone School is an accredited online school that offers cyber education for all levels, from elementary school through adult learning. They have students from all around the country as well as internationally. The Keystone School is a division of K12, Inc. Located at 920 Central Rd. in Bloomsburg, Keystone School can be reached at 1-800-255-4937, or visit its website. 

From ChamberChoice & Smart Business Pittsburgh

Let’s face it, one of the most important and costly issues for employers today is implementing and managing a successful employee benefits program.

“When it comes to retaining and recruiting quality employees, your benefits program is a critical component, and in most cases, it can account for 40 percent or more of total compensation costs,” says Ron Smuch, Insurance and Benefits Analyst at JRG Advisors. “Employers should take the time to implement a strategic, well-thought-out benefits program that meets the employee needs and the business objectives.

Smart Business spoke with Smuch about what employers need to consider to achieve a successful benefits program.

How do the objectives and budget shape these programs?

A successful employee benefits program has clearly identified objectives. If you’re offering benefits just so you can say that ‘we offer benefits,’ you’re missing the mark.

Identifying clear objectives will lay the groundwork and guidance to establish the selection and design of your benefits program. Keep in mind, the objectives should reflect both the employer and employee needs. Additional factors also to be considered include employer size, location and industry. Unless you have an open checkbook, budget is an equally important factor. If you already have a benefits plan in place, current benefits costs and projected costs should be analyzed.

Why are the employees’ needs important?

A survey or needs assessment should be conducted to identify the coverage, cost and network that reflect the needs of your employees. Benefits are by no means one-size-fits-all in today’s diverse workforce. Gaining feedback from your employees will increase motivation and satisfaction with the benefits program. Employee feedback can also help to prioritize which benefits would be most helpful in achieving satisfaction with the plan.

How can employers use survey data?

After analyzing the employee feedback, employers should prioritize the survey findings. For example, the cost of providing the prioritized benefits can then be evaluated and compared to the overall budget and cost sharing methodology.

This process can involve many factors. For instance, should changes be made to the current benefits plan design to promote cost savings? Can underutilized benefits not important to employees be eliminated? What cost containment features can be implemented? These are all important points to evaluate when considering the design of the benefits program.

Where does communication come into play?

Developing effective communication channels should be at the forefront of the planning and management of any employee benefits program. The only way to get employees on board is to ensure that they fully understand their benefits and coverage. Without employee support and satisfaction, an employer’s efforts could prove futile. If employee feedback was used as a determining factor in the benefits program design, employers should make employees aware of how their feedback influenced the design.

Additionally, communications with employees about benefits should extend beyond legal requirements. A good communications strategy and dialogue create awareness and appreciation, provide a heightened understanding of the benefits and promote wise use of the coverages.

What about ongoing evaluation?

Review and assessment of the plan throughout the year will ensure you are meeting employer and employee objectives. Many factors can impact the benefits program, such as the economy, regulatory environment and workforce demographics.

Set the measurements on your goals in order to assess the benefits program and quantify adjustments. The use of benchmarking data and periodic employee surveys further assist employers in evaluating the effectiveness of the employee benefits program.

The United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties held an open house for members of the community to stop by its new office building in downtown Bloomsburg on Thursday, Sept. 12, and to kick off the event, a ribbon cutting was held. 

Earlier this year, the United Way moved from its previous location at the Chamber office on Market St., to a new location a few blocks down Main St. next to Fog and Flame at 36 East Main St. The move was made necessary by the agency’s growth, as an increase in its scope of services led to an increase in staff. Two agencies that the United Way often collaborates with have also set up auxiliary offices at the same location: Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc. and The Gate House. This has enable better and move efficient collaboration between the organizations. 

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Rep. Frank Ryan, R-Lebanon, held a news conference two weeks ago where he discussed yet-to-be-introduced legislation (H.B. 13) that calls for the elimination of school property taxes in the Commonwealth with new revenue derived, in part, through a retirement income tax.

Specifically, the proposal intends to generate $15 billion annually in replacement revenue for the state’s school districts through:

• A 4.92 percent retirement income tax, excluding Social Security benefits
• A 1.85 percent local Personal Income Tax (in addition to the state’s 3.07 percent PIT)
• A local Sales and Use Tax of 2 percent on items that are already subject to the state Sales Tax; and
• A local Sales Tax of 2 percent that would be added to most food and clothing, which are currently exempt from the state Sales Tax.

Property tax reform is an ongoing, hot button issue in Pennsylvania, as these tax rates have risen precipitously in certain areas of the state, making it difficult for some homeowners to continue affording their properties.  One of the most debated legislative “fixes” has been a proposal to replace school property taxes with increases to the Sales and Personal Income Taxes, along with the expansion of the Sales Tax base to additional goods and services.  The PA Chamber stands in opposition to this proposal because it would simply “shift” the tax burden from one segment of taxpayers to another and target renters, small businesses and young families; and would rely on volatile taxes that tend to fluctuate more with the economy.  Tax experts and school officials have warned this framework would put school districts and the entire Commonwealth on financially shaky ground.

As noted by PA Chamber Vice President Sam Denisco at a recent property tax-focused public forum, Rep. Ryan’s bill presents an outside-the-box way of approaching the state’s property tax issues and should be discussed by lawmakers.  At his news conference last week, Ryan stressed that his plan is unlikely to pass without the support of Pennsylvania seniors, admitting that “this is not going to be an easy sell.”

Rep. Ryan’s news conference was covered by various media outlets, including Pennlive which noted the PA Chamber’s previous comments about his proposal.

• Bold Gold Media Group’s Northeast PA based FM rock station, ‘The River 105 & 103.5’ made radio history recently by surpassing 1,000,000 Likes on Facebook, @TheRiverNEPA. The River has become the most followed social media page based within Northeast PA and one of the most followed radio station social sites in the United States. Although The River is based in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre market, its social following has exceeded that of radio stations based in larger markets such as New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Known for its rock music news, humor, arts and entertainment updates and local information, the station’s online following has seen rapid growth locally, regionally, nationally, and more recently, internationally. Bold Gold Media Group owns and operates 14 full power radio stations throughout the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Northern Poconos of Pennsylvania and the Catskills/Hudson Valley region of New York. 

• The Ken Pollock Auto Group will hold a car seat safety check in conjunction with the PA State Police on Thursday, Sept. 19, from 2-5 p.m., at its Tire and Auto Center, located at 88 Wyoming Valley Mall Blvd, Wilkes-Barre. 

• The Danville Area Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, will hold its grant awards breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 8:30-10 a.m., at the Meadows Community Center at the Maria Joseph Continuing Care Community. This event annually celebrates the investments made to community organizations through the work of the DACF. Local nonprofit organizations will be presented with 2019 grant awards during the breakfast. Reservations are required but there is no cost to attend (see printed invitation). To reserve your seat, please contact Katie Simpson by email or at 570-752-3930 by Oct. 2.

Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, and their team are excited to return to Pennsylvania! They plan to film episodes of the hit series American Pickers throughout Pennsylvania this November.

American Pickers is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on the History Channel. The hit show follows Mike and Frank, two of the most skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. They are always excited to find sizeable, unique collections and learn the interesting stories behind them.

As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, Mike and Frank are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, the Pickers want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items. The pair hopes to give historically significant objects a new lease on life, while learning a thing or two about America’s past along the way.

Mike and Frank have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something they’ve never seen before. They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them. American Pickers is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, send your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to:

americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 855-OLD-RUST.

facebook: @GotAPick

The annual Bloomsburg Fair preview luncheon was held on Wednesday, Sept. 4, during which new exhibits, vendors and changes for this year’s event were announced. This year’s fair, which runs from Sept. 20-28, will once again feature several Chamber members as vendors, as well as, for the third consecutive year, a special day for the Ronald McDonald House of Danville.

On Tuesday, Sept. 24, for each regular priced $8 admission ticket sold, $1 will go to benefit the RMHD and its mission of providing a “home away from home” for parents and families of children that are being treated for cancer or other serious illness. This marks the third straight year that the Fair is partnering with RMHD for this promotion.  

WBRE-TV, which put together the news report below on fair preview day, will once again have live broadcasts from the fair all throughout fair week. 

For the first time in the event’s history, there will be a fair queen, which is being sponsored by First Keystone Community Bank. Nicolette Cusate, a Danville native and recent graduate of Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech, was named the inaugural fair queen. 

In addition to First Keystone, several other Chamber members are also fair sponsors, including: Geisinger, PenTeleData, First Columbia Bank & Trust, Renco Ace Hardware, AO Rent, Mahindra of Bloomsburg, PPL Electric Utilities, Ken Pollock Ford Lincoln, Safelite Auto Glass and Lamar Advertising. 

Nearly 900 vendors are also signed up to attend and participate at the fair. They include Chamber members the Columbia Montour Area Agency on Aging, the Columbia Montour Visitors Bureau, Geisinger, J.A. Aten Beef Jerky & Best Bar-B-Q Sauce, Luzerne County Community College, Mahindra of Bloomsburg, On Fire Promotions, Penn College, Renco Ace Hardware, Steph’s Subs, Town of Bloomsburg and Wesley United Methodist Church.