The GoodBlog

The NYC Mayor's Office for Veterans' Affairs, in conjunction with JPMorgan Chase, is hosting a conference event targeting female veterans on June 10th.  The conference runs from 9am to 3.30pm.

Features

• Guest speakers
• Workshop sessions: 
  • Financial Empowerment
  • Résumé Writing & Interview Skills
  • Personal Presentation
  • Entrepreneurship
• Networking lunch
• Veteran resource fair

To Register

Visit NYC.gov/Service or call (212) 341-2093.

An album of photos from the Post Sandy Job Fair for Greater New York that took place on May 14th has just been posted on their Facebook page.  The event was a great success, with a huge turnout of enthusiastic job-seekers and employers, and some great career workshops.

Head over to the PSJF Facebook page for the photos.

Goodwill Industries NYNJ, in conjunction with NYS Senator Addabbo's office and several other local organizations, is hosting the Post Sandy Job Fair for Greater New York at Resorts World NYC in Queens on May 14th. 

The job fair's aim is to help those affected by superstorm Sandy and the long-term unemployed whose job search was only made even more difficult after the storm.  Anyone in need of work is welcome to attend.

Just a reminder that GoodTemps will be closed on Monday January 21st in observance of the Martin Luther King holiday.  Our employees should ensure that their timesheets for this week are submitted, and approved by their supervisors in GTimesheet by no later than 12 noon on Tuesday (22nd).  Questions? Email us at gtimesheet@goodwillny.org

Some companies go all out to show that their culture and environment makes for a fun, vibrant place to work.  Medium, a San Fran based start-up takes it to the next level in their Office Manager Office Host job ad, which takes you through an overly euphoric and ebullent day-in-the-life-of your future Office Host self.

The NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities will be hosting a symposium on Monday, April 1st, to provide information on accessible housing resources in the city.  

Attending city agencies and organizations include:

• NYC Housing Authority
• NYC Dept. of Housing Preservation and Development
• NYC Dept. of Homeless Services
• NYC Dept. of Finance
• AHRC
• NYS Division of Homes and Community Renewal
• NYC Human Resources Administration

If you want to learn more about accessible housing options, or the housing services that New York City agencies can offer, RSVP for the symposium at www.nyc.gov/mopd or call 311.

The event will be held on Monday, April 1st from 9am to 5pm at John Jay College - 524 W 59th Street, New York, NY. (Photo ID required)

If you've been following the fiscal cliff news on every media outlet, you would have been relieved to hear that 99% of Americans were protected from a federal income tax increase in 2013.  However, another fact you may not have realized is that taxes will still go up for the vast majority of Americans.

So if income taxes didn't go up for 99% of Americans, how can their taxes still increase?  The answer is the FICA or payroll tax.  FICA is a 6.2% tax that the vast majority of employees in the country pay towards the Federal Social Security fund.  In 2011, the Obama administration negotiated with Congress to cut the employee contribution to this tax to 4.2% (the "payroll tax holiday"), which saved the average worker earning $50,000 over $1,000 a year.  Unfortunately for 2013, the government was unwilling to extend the tax cut. 

Effectively, the holiday is now over, and it's back to paying 6.2% in FICA tax again. While it's not really a tax increase - more like the end of a discount - the net effect on your wallet makes it feel like one, so if your first check of 2013 feels a little lighter, now you know why.  Check the "FICA" entry on your paystub's list of deductions to see if it has changed compared to 2012 - typically it's located just below your tax deduction entries.

Season's greetings! Each day, GoodTemps provides scores of companies throughout New York and New Jersey with the staff that keeps their businesses running smoothly. Learn how one of these top candidates can make all the difference.

GoodTemps and other Goodwill offices will be closed on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd for the Thanksgiving holiday. Paychecks for approved time from weekending November 16th have been expedited and will be mailed out tonight via USPS (Tuesday 20th) to help ensure that all clients receive their check by payday - Friday 23rd.

Whether you're travelling or staying home with friends and family, we wish you all a safe and wonderful holiday weekend.

After Hurricane Sandy struck, the Federal government declared the New York metropolitan region and New Jersey as disaster areas.  People whose jobs were interrupted or lost because of Hurricane Sandy may be eligible to receive Disaster Unemployment Assistance even if they would not normally qualify for unemployment insurance benefits.  Read on for DUA eligibility criteria in New York and New Jersey.

Similar to the program New York State is currently offering (which we mention here), New Jersey Department of Labor has set up a hotline for NJ residents interested in a temporary disaster relief job.  Those interested can call the NJ DOL hotline at (877) 682-6238 or email them at sandyhelp@dol.nj.state.us.

Governor Cuomo has announced that New York State has received $27.8 million dollars in federal Disaster National Emergency Grant funds.  The grant permits the hiring of workers to help clean up and recover New York communities such as Staten Island and the Rockaways while putting unemployed New Yorkers back to work.

Goodwill NYNJ, in partnership with Modell's Sporting Goods and WPLJ, is offering free clothing and household goods (up to $50 value per family member) to victims of Hurricane Sandy.  Volunteers can also donate blood via the American Red Cross at our Astoria and Harrison locations.  If you have in-kind goods or clothing that you'd like to donate to help victims of Hurricane Sandy, donations can be made at any of our retail stores in the greater NY/northern NJ area.

The New York State Board of Elections has published a list of county polling sites that were affected by Sandy, along with a list of alternative voting locations for tomorrow's general election.

If you're preparing to vote tomorrow, check out the list of alternative polling sites to see if your local site is affected.  Remember, polling sites open at 6am and remain open until 9pm.

Thank you all for offering to volunteer your time to help with Goodwill's support of the NYC Marathon.  Many of you confirmed that you would follow through in spite of the challenges presented by Hurricane Sandy.  Your commitment is much appreciated.  

Even as Goodwill toured the site in Staten Island preparing for Sunday, discussions of cancelling the Marathon were being conducted.  You know the result -- the NYC Marathon has been cancelled.  This does not take anything away from Goodwill's appreciation of your commitment for those of you who volunteered. 

Thanks to all, and enjoy your your weekend.  Most of all stay safe.