news stories Tagged “Benefits and Administrative Services”
Equitable Compensation Grant applications for July to December 2025 are now available
April 2, 2025 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Commission on Equitable Compensation has issued guidelines and application forms for salary grants to local churches for the period July to December 2025. Salary grants are available only to churches with a pastor under full-time appointment. To apply for salary assistance from the Equitable Compensation Fund, applicants should review the policies and procedures in the application document for guidance, and then complete the application according to the directions …more
Upper New York welcomes Chelsea Connor
March 12, 2025 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Chelsea Connor joins Upper New York as a part-time Administrative Services Assistant, supporting the Finance, Benefits, and Human Resources Ministries. Chelsea began her new role on Monday, March 10. A graduate of Keuka College with a degree in Communication, Chelsea brings a wealth of administrative experience to UNY, most recently as an Office Administrator in Rochester. With years of experience managing schedules, coordinating logistics, and ensuring smooth office operations, …more
Guidelines for Certified Lay Servant, Certified Lay Minister, and Certified Lay Speaker honoraria changes
October 14, 2024 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Lay persons providing short-term pulpit supply while a pastor is away should take note of honoraria changes, beginning January 1, 2025. The Upper New York Cabinet approved the changes in August 2024 following the 2024 UNY Annual Conference session. The honoraria changes do not apply to persons who are lay supply, hired by the district superintendent (DS), to serve long-term and functioning as a worship leadership. The changes are as follow: …more
New York State minimum wage and salary increase effective January 1, 2025
October 10, 2024 / By Tracy Rickett, UNY Human Resources Generalist / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Effective January 1, 2025, New York State is increasing the minimum wage and minimum salary amounts. The new amounts for New York State (excluding New York City, Long Island, and Westchester) are: MINIMUM WAGE: $15.50/hour MINIMUM SALARY: $1,161.65 per week / $60,405.80 per year Employers within the Upper New York Conference, regardless of the number of employees, must pay non-exempt staff minimum wage. Non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay under the state and …more
Time off to vote and posting requirement
October 3, 2024 / By Tracy Rickett, HR Generalist / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
This is a reminder that 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 an employee has four consecutive hours to vote either from the opening of the polls to the beginning of their work shift, or four …more
United Methodists of Upper New York Parental Leave policy
September 27, 2024 / By Tracy Rickett, UNY Human Resources Generalist / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
As approved at the 2024 Annual Conference, there is a new Parental Leave policy for all clergy and laity employed by the Upper New York Annual Conference or any of its funded extension ministries. This policy applies to all clergy, regardless of their part-time or full-time status, and lay employees who work 20 or more hours a week, or who have worked for at least 175 hours. This policy was effective …more
Susan Latessa to leave role as Director of Human Resources and Benefits
July 31, 2024 / By Shelby Winchell, UNY Director of Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Susan Latessa, Upper New York’s Director of Human Resources and Benefits is vacating her role to pursue other work in ministry. Susan joined the Upper New York Conference in 2017. “I’m leaving to answer a new call to ministry. I’ve been praying for a while to become closer to Jesus and I feel like He answered my prayers with this new opportunity,” …more
NYS paid breastfeeding breaks
June 18, 2024 / By Susan Latessa, Director of Human Resources and Benefits / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On Monday, June 17, 2024, the New York State (NYS) Department of Labor (DOL) released its guidance on paid breaks for breastfeeding. Beginning on June 19, 2024 and as part of the state budget passed earlier this year, paid breastfeeding breaks become law and take effect. Click here to read the full guidance. The guidance provides some much-needed clarification, particularly on the following points: An employee is entitled to as …more
UNY Archives Hires Archives Assistant
February 22, 2024 / By Tara Barnes, UNY Commission on Archives and History member / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Upper New York Commission on Archives and History (UNYCAH) is excited to welcome Reilly Callahan as Archives Assistant to help with the important work of keeping the historical records of our churches. Reilly graduated summa cum laude in May 2023 from Syracuse University with a master’s degree in information studies. She worked as an archives intern at the university’s Special Collections Research Center and is a …more
New York State Minimum Wage / Salary Increase, Effective January 1, 2024
January 11, 2024 / By Tracy Rickett, UNY Human Resources Generalist / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Effective Jan. 1, 2024, New York State increased the minimum wage for hourly (non-exempt) employees as well as the minimum salary amount for salaried (exempt) employees. The new amounts for New York State (excluding New York City, Long Island, and Westchester) are: HOURLY (Non-exempt): $15.00/hour SALARY (Exempt): $1,124.20 per week / $58,458.40 per year Employers within the Upper New York Conference, regardless of the number of employees, must pay non-exempt staff the minimum wage. …more