Rachel Mancone, PHR, M.S., Human Resource Generalist, BestSelf Behavioral Health

Rachel has her Masters in Adult Education along with a PHR certification through the HR Certification Institute. Additionally, she has more than 10 years of experience in the Human Resources field, (mostly in Healthcare).  Rachel is currently a Human Resource Generalist at BestSelf Behavioral Health, where she manages all recruitment.  BestSelf Behavioral Health is the largest community behavioral health organization serving children and adults in WNY.  In the past 3 years, they have more than doubled in size and now have more than 900 employees.  Rachel currently serves on the membership committee for the BNHRA.

NYS Legislature Passes “Game-Changing” Bill Extending Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Protections

Last year, New York State passed legislation that dramatically increased the legal protections against sexual harassment, including requiring all employers to adopt a sexual harassment policy and implement annual sexual harassment training for all employees. Late last week, the Democratic-controlled New York State Legislature passed a bill containing several even more sweeping laws further extending protections against not only sexual harassment, but also against all forms of discrimination and harassment in the workplace. If signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo, as is expected, these new laws will alter the legal landscape of employment discrimination and harassment in New York on a scale not seen in recent memory. The new laws would amend the New York State Human Rights Law (“Human Rights Law”) and other laws to establish some of the strongest protections in the country for combating employment discrimination and harassment. The most significant changes would increase the number of employers covered by the Human Rights Law, make it easier for employees to prove harassment, allow successful plaintiffs to recover attorneys’ fees and punitive damages, and extend to three years the time individuals have to file a charge of sexual harassment with the New York State Division of Human Rights (“Division”). 

Read more...

Jeff Wach, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, President, EGW Associates, Inc.

Jeff has over 22 years of experience in recruiting and HR and has earned his SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications. He is currently President of his family’s Talent & HR consulting firm. Over the last 50 years, EGW has served its WNY customers in many ways, providing the services they needed most. In keeping with those needs, EGW currently provides Talent Management, Recruiting, and HR consulting services allowing customers to outsource exactly the help they need – nothing more, nothing less. Jeff is also a speaker, participating in Buffalo’s first DisruptHR event. Jeff is a board member of UBCEL Alumni Association and the Cantalician Center, as well as a NY Committee Member of ESGR.