October 2025

Reminder: Pay Off of Unemployment Trust Fund Loan is Big Boon for Businesses

October is Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month (DREAM)

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October is New York State Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month (DREAM).  On average, the employment rate among working age people with disabilities is less than half of what it is for people without disabilities.  This month, we are highlighting the rights of people with disabilities and continuing discussion on how to increase the employment rate for individuals with disabilities throughout New York State.  Employers are encouraged to sign the Employability Pledge.  Taking the pledge shows a commitment to the philosophy of inclusivity and  serves as a promise to create a work environment that meets the accessibility needs of all staff and customers.  Businesses who sign the pledge will appear on the Employability Honor Roll on the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) website.  Businesses will also receive a digital badge that can be posted on their own website.  Taking the pledge is a great way to demonstrate to your customers and community that your business is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace.  For more information about all the benefits of hiring people with disabilities, please visit OPWDD’s EmployAbility toolkit.  Let’s celebrate inclusivity and highlight the uniquely talented individuals who deserve a chance to thrive in today’s workforce.

Your Workers May Be Eligible for Voting Leave

Early voting starts this month, but if your employees are unable to vote early, they may be eligible for 2 hours of paid time off on Election Day through New York State's Voting Leave.  All New York State employees are eligible for up to two hours of paid time off to vote if they do not have "sufficient time to vote".  An employee is deemed to have "sufficient time to vote" if:

• They have four consecutive hours to vote from when polls to the start of their work shift, or;
• They have four consecutive hours to vote between the end of their shift and the closing of polls.

Election Day is November 4, and early voting is happening from October 25 through November 2.  Talk to your employees to make sure they know their rights by visiting: https://elections.ny.gov/time-vote.

2025 Empire State Apprenticeship Tax Credit

Request NYSDOL's Free Consultation Services

NYS Shared Work Program: Keep Your Team, Cut Costs!

Reminder: Apply Today for the Commercial Security Credit

New York employers with physical retail locations: the Commercial Security Tax Credit now gives businesses a valuable financial incentive to bolster security and deter theft.  Eligible small retail businesses can receive up to $3,000 per location to help offset the cost of security enhancements.  To qualify, businesses must have spent more than $4,000 per location if they have 25 or fewer employees, or more than $6,000 per location if they have 26–50 employees.  Eligible expenses include:

• registered security guards
• surveillance cameras
• alarm systems
• locks
• panic alarms
• access control systems
• exterior license plate readers
• and other approved anti-theft devices

Apply by October 31 each year.  Applications are processed in the order received, and the program has a statewide cap of $5 million per calendar year.  Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your security while reducing costs—visit the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services website to learn more and apply today.