NBT Bank Makes Cybersecurity Resources Available to All To mark National Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, NBT Bank has published a series of cybersecurity webinars addressing the trends and concerns businesses should be aware of. These on-demand webinars were exclusive to NBT Bank partners and customers until now. “With the dramatic shift to more people working remotely, this year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month is more important to consumers and businesses than ever before,” said Terra Carnrike-Granata, Senior Vice President, Director of Information Security at NBT Bank. “While we provide our individual and business customers with robust fraud prevention tools and information, we felt there was an urgent need to get this information out to all members of our community to help them understand how to better protect themselves from cybercrime.” In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission received 4.8 million reports of identity theft and fraud, up 45 percent from 3.3 million in 2019. The rise is mostly due to the 113 percent increase in identity theft complaints. Carnrike-Granata says the best defense against cyber criminals is knowledge and awareness. Any individual who uses an internet-connected device, whether for personal or business use, should make it a priority to understand how cybercrimes can occur and how to best protect our personal and financial information from a potential security breach. NBT Bank’s webinar series comes in four 30-minute videos on the following topics: The Current State of Cybersecurity: Protecting the IntangibleAre You Covered? Proactive Controls You Need NowAfter A Breach: Effective Incident ResponseCybercrime Survivors: Stories & Lessons Learned To view each webinar, visit: www.nbtbank.com/cyber.
Wayne Bank’s Lancia Earns National Certification Kristen E. Lancia, Assistant Vice President and Marketing Officer for Wayne Bank, was recently awarded the Certified Financial Marketing Professional (“CFMP”) certification from the American Bankers Association (“ABA”). President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank, Lewis J. Critelli, noted, “Earning the CFMP certification validates Kristen’s experience and depth of education in the bank marketing arena. We are so pleased to congratulate her on this admirable achievement.” The CFMP certification is awarded to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of financial services marketing. To qualify for the CFMP certification, individuals must have certain levels of experience and education in the financial services marketing profession, pass an exam, and agree to abide by a code of ethics. The CFMP exam covers many areas including financial principles, laws and regulations, market research, characteristics of marketing plans, and marketing components. Kristen began her career with Wayne Bank in 2012 and currently serves as the Bank’s Assistant Vice President and Marketing Officer. She earned a B.S. in Design & Merchandising with a Writing Concentration from Drexel University and specializes in digital marketing. Kristen resides in Scranton with her husband, Ralph, and enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time outdoors.
Update: OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard on COVID-19 Vaccine The OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring employers with at least 100 employees to require employees to either obtain a COVID-19 vaccination or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing has been placed on OSHA’s website, and is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on November 5, 2021 (which will be the ETS’ effective date). This Client Alert is intended to serve as an initial primer about the key points of the ETS.The determination of whether the employer has at least 100 employees is initially made as of November 5, 2021. If an employer has fewer than 100 employees on that date, the ETS would not apply to that employer – but if that employer subsequently hits the 100-employee threshold for coverage, the employer would then be required to comply with the ETS. The determination of whether the employer has 100 employees is made on an enterprise level – there is not a separate calculation for individual facilities. Part-time employees should be included in the calculation.The ETS requires an employer to take the following steps: The employer must establish, implement and enforce a written mandatory vaccination policy – UNLESS the employer establishes, implements, and enforces a written policy allowing any employee not subject to a mandatory vaccination policy to choose either to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or provide proof of regular testing for COVID-19 in accordance with paragraph (g) of this section and wear a face covering as required by the ETS. Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by December 5, 2021. The employer must determine the vaccination status of each employee by requiring each vaccinated employee to provide acceptable proof of vaccination status. Acceptable proof of vaccination status includes: Record of immunization from a health care provider or pharmacy;A copy of the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card;A copy of medical records documenting vaccination; A copy of immunization records from a public health, state or tribal immunization information system; or A copy of any other official documentation that contains the type of vaccine administered, date(s) of administration, and the name of the health care professional(s) or clinic site(s) administering the vaccine(s). In some cases where an employee is unable to provide proof of vaccination, an employer may be able to accept a sworn statement from the employee attesting to their vaccination status. If an employee does not provide proof of vaccination, the employer must treat the employee as being unvaccinated. Proof of vaccination must be maintained as a confidential medical record. Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by December 5, 2021.Employers must provide paid leave for vaccination and recovery from potential vaccine side effects. Employers must provide up to 4 hours of paid time for vaccination (including travel), and “reasonable time and paid sick leave” to recover from side effects experienced following any primary vaccination dose. The ETS does not define “reasonable time and paid sick leave”, but FAQs that accompany the regulations indicate that that OSHA “presumes that, if an employer makes available up to two days of paid sick leave per primary vaccination dose for side effects, the employer would be in compliance with this requirement.” Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by December 5, 2021. Employers must ensure that any employee who is not fully vaccinated undergoes regular COVID-19 testing. The specific testing requirements are as follows: An employee who reports at least once every 7 days to a work location where other individuals are present must be tested for COVID-19 at least once every 7 days and provide the most recent results to the employer at least once every 7 days. An employee who does not report to a work location where other individuals are present during a period of 7 or more days must be tested for COVID-19 within 7 days prior to returning to the workplace, and must provide documentation of that test to the employer. If an employee receives a positive COVID-19 test, or has been diagnosed with COVID-19 by a licensed healthcare provider, the employer may not require the employee to undergo testing during the 90 day period following their test or diagnosis. If an employee does not provide proof of testing as required, the employer cannot allow the employee into the workplace until the required proof of testing is presented. Testing records must be maintained as a confidential medical record. Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by January 4, 2022.Although the ETS states that employers are not required to pay for the costs of required COVID-19 testing, employers may be required to bear the cost of testing under state law or other legal provisions. Employers should consult with employment counsel prior to determining who will bear the cost of testing. Employers must require employees to promptly notify the employer of positive COVID-19 test results, and ensure employees who test positive are removed from the workplace in compliance with CDC guidelines. Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by December 5, 2021. The employer must ensure that each employee who is not fully vaccinated wears a face covering when indoors and when occupying a vehicle with another person for work purposes. There are exceptions to this rule in the following circumstances: When an employee is alone in a room with floor to ceiling walls and a closed door; For a limited time while the employee is eating or drinking at the workplace or for identification purposes in compliance with safety and security requirements; When the employee is wearing a respirator or facemask; Where the employer can show that use of face coverings is infeasible or creates a greater hazard that would excuse compliance with this requirement (for example, where wearing a face covering would cause a greater safety hazard). The employer must ensure that any face covering worn covers the nose and mouth, and ensure that coverings are replaced when they become wet, soiled or damaged. Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by December 5, 2021. Employers must provide each employee, in a language and at a literacy level the employee understands, information about: The requirements of the ETS; The CDC publication “Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines”, available online at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/keythingstoknow.html; andInformation about federal regulations prohibiting retaliation for reporting workplace injuries or illnesses and penalties for knowingly supplying false statements or documentation. Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by December 5, 2021. Employers must report COVID-19 fatalities and hospitalizations to OSHA in accordance with OSHA reporting requirements. OSHA has prepared a fact sheet to assist with these requirements, available online at: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA4129.pdf. By the end of the next business day following a request, the employer must make available for examination and copying the individual COVID-19 vaccine documentation and any COVID-19 test results for a particular employee to that employee and their designated representatives. Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by December 5, 2021. Additional information about the ETS is available on OSHA’s website about the following link: https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/ets2. Other federal agencies are publishing additional COVID-19-related requirements today and tomorrow; additional guidance on those measures will be forthcoming.We expect that legal challenges to the ETS will be filed quickly by multiple governmental and private organizations. It is possible that these challenges may delay or prevent the implementation of at least some aspects of the ETS.As additional information about the ETS becomes available, our office will provide you with updated information and guidance. If you have any questions about OSHA’s new Rule or other workplace safety issues, please call our office. Thank you.This Client Alert provides a general overview of new legal developments. It is not intended to provide legal advice. If you have questions or would like more information about how these developments may affect your business, please contact us at (570) 341-8800.
Pennsylvania American Water Systems Recognized for 20 Consecutive Years of Excellent Tap Water Customers of Pennsylvania American Water can rest assured of the quality of their tap water, as 17 of the company’s water treatment plants were recently recognized by the Partnership for Safe Water at the Directors and Presidents levels for achieving water quality excellence. The national awards, which honor efforts to continuously optimize water treatment plant and distribution system operation and performance, were announced by the American Water Works Association. “Maintaining these levels of quality demonstrates Pennsylvania American Water’s continued commitment to optimizing treatment processes and providing high-quality water to customers,” said Pennsylvania American Water President Mike Doran. “Through the past year – pandemic and all – the dedicated teams who support these systems have continued their work every day to deliver tap water that is safe, clean, reliable, and meets or surpasses state and federal drinking water standards. I am so proud of our team for receiving more Partnership for Safe Water awards than any other water utility in the nation.” The Pennsylvania American Water treatment plants recognized this year are listed below. A full list of the company’s award-winning water systems can be found here. 20 Year Directors Award Brownsville Water Treatment Plant (Fayette County)Crystal Lake Water Treatment Plant (Luzerne County)Kane Water Treatment Plant (McKean County)Lake Scranton Water Treatment Plant (Lackawanna County)Norristown Water Treatment Plant (Montgomery County)Punxsutawney Water Treatment Plant (Jefferson County)Susquehanna Water Treatment Plant (Susquehanna County)Watres Water Treatment Plant (Luzerne County)White Deer Water Treatment Plant (Union County) 10 Year Directors Award Stony Garden Water Treatment Plant (Northampton County) 5 Year Presidents Award Bangor Water Treatment Plant (Northampton County)Brownell Water Treatment Plant (Lackawanna County)Crystal Lake Water Treatment Plant (Luzerne County)Hershey/GC Smith Water Treatment Plant (Dauphin County)Indiana Water Treatment Plant (Indiana County)Nesbitt Water Treatment Plant (Luzerne County) 5 Year Directors Award Rock Run Water Treatment Plant (Chester County) “We’re proud of our incredible team of expert scientists, treatment plant operators andengineers that support our water systems,” Doran continued. “This impressive award demonstrates their dedication and commitment to protecting the health and safety of our customers for the past 20 years and beyond.” Nationally, just over 400 surface water treatment plants are part of the Partnership for Safe Water, a voluntary effort that is designed to increase protection against microbial contamination through treatment optimization.
Lackawanna College Hosts Recovery Walk for National Recovery Month Members of the Lackawanna College community, including students in the Addictions concentration of the College’s bachelor’s degree program, conducted a Recovery Walk in downtown Scranton today. September is National Recovery Month, and students and staff spent the morning learning about care providers within walking distance of the main campus, including DATS, TPALS, and The Recovery Bank.
Penn State Scranton Hosting Speaker on Race and Identity Michael Sidney Fosberg, founder of Incognito Inc., grew up believing he was white; then, in his early 30s, he learned that he is actually black. On Thursday, Nov. 4 at noon in the Study Learning Center’s Sherbine Lounge, he will present, “Nobody Wants to Talk About It – Race, Identity and the Difficulties in Forging Meaningful Conversations”. For more than a decade, Fosberg has toured the country performing his autobiographical play, “Incognito” at schools, colleges corporations, government agencies, community organizations and military bases. The play is based on his personal experiences in learning of, and discovering, his Black biological father. After hundreds of presentations and in-depth dialogues, Fosberg has assembled a set of tools and takeaways useful in navigating uncomfortable conversations about race and identity. He will share these tools at this presentation, with the goal of providing a road map to more authentic and meaningful conversations and authentic dialogue. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Nicole Paolicelli in Penn State Scranton’s Student Activities Office at 570-963-2703 or email: ntp10@psu.edu. You can also visit the speaker’s website at: www.incognitotheplay.com.
Johnson College Announces New Associates Degree Program Students can now enroll in Johnson College’s new two-year associate degree Welding Fabrication Manufacturing Technology program. The program will start during the fall 2022 semester. The two-year program prepares students for entry-level work in the welding industry. Students learn industry methods such as plasma arc, shielded metal arc, and gas metal arc welding, as well as techniques and critical skills for today’s welding workforce, including safety, print reading, and weld symbols. Program graduates are prepared to sit for various American Welding Society certifications and can work as welders, fabricators, fitters, ornamental metal sculptors, welder helpers, or in similar roles within the welding field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Welding Technology field has a 3% growth potential through 2029. Graduates entering this field have the opportunity to make a medium annual income of up to $44,190. Typical welding industry employers include structural steel fabricators, custom metal shops, industrial contractors, shipyards, pipe and pressure vessel fabricators, and retail welding sales. “Johnson College is adding this two-year associate degree Welding Fabrication Manufacturing Technology program because of the increasing demand from industry for highly skilled welders in today’s workforce,” said Dr. Kellyn Williams, Johnson College’s Chief Academic Officer. “This program, along with our one-year welding certificate program, creates options for potential students interested in entering the highly in-demand welding industry.” To learn more about Johnson College’s new Welding Fabrication Manufacturing Technology Program visit https://johnson.edu/weldingfabrication.