You've no doubt heard about - or more likely, watched - the scene during the Monday Night Football matchup on January 2nd. As this article is written, physicians are speaking about the remarkable recovery of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. One point that has been hammered home is the IMMEDIATE care provided when it was discovered Damar was in cardiac arrest.

Bystander CPR and defibrillation is CRITICAL to a cardiac arrest victim having the best chance for survival. As shown in the graphic, the first half of the "chain of survival" occurs BEFORE emergency responders arrive on scene. That means YOU are THE most critical link in the chain.

Perinton Ambulance encourages all businesses to establish emergency action plans that include first aid and CPR-trained qualified personnel on duty during all business hours. For help establishing a plan, including training and assistance purchasing an AED, please email cpr@pvac.org or call (585) 223-9680. To sign up for a class, visit www.perintonambuance.org/cpr.

Our hearts and thoughts remain with Damar and the Buffalo Bills as he continues his recovery.

Why is employee engagement so critical to your company? There are so many reasons, but the bottom line is happy employees make happy customers and add big profits to your bottom line. Golden Hello Company Co-Owner Kellie Wright was in corporate management for 30 years and reports making many mistakes as a manager. She learned through her mistakes - - how to build strong loyal teams that make money.

Below is a great piece about this very topic.Especially note the part about employee happiness.

https://www.hrcloud.com/blog/the-importance-of-employee-appreciation-for...

Many companies don’t actually realize culture is hugely important to their workforce. 65% of millennials rank company culture as more important than salary.

Showcase Your Core Values – Create a gift that reflects the tenets that matter the most to your company. Dedicated to diversity and inclusion? Source exclusively from BIPOC businesses. Looking to support your community? Tap small, local brands for your gift.

Include Quality Products – No one wants meaningless tchotchkes. Think through what your employees would appreciate, want, and need. Some favorites include coffee, candles, and sweet treats.

Branding – Your employees know where they work; there’s no need to go overboard when it comes to corporate branding. One to two branded items are the sweet spot and only to be given if you're holding a company event or onboarding.

Include a thoughtful message – Remember showing appreciation is the goal! A handwritten note is always nice, but if you have a very large team, maybe include a QR code with a video message from the CEO. This is an opportunity to engage one-on-one with all employees to make it count!

Think Outside the Box – Don’t be afraid to get creative! Gifts serve as an opportunity to have fun and catch your employee by surprise. Make it memorable with an unexpected element or a fun, quirky item! For example, incorporate a game night gift that includes a disco ball puzzle!

For more on this read:

https://gethppy.com/company-culture/corporate-gifting-creating-a-culture...

You are not the only one wodering about the State of the Town, Village & Schools! Last year was the first year back at scheduling this event, post COVID. It will continue this year as well. Watch for information to come to the Chamber website Events page: https://fairportperintonchamber.org/?q=events-list

Our member luncheon was held on the 11th of January. We heard speaker Zack Lang from Chamber member Paychex present on the topic of Employee Retention Credits (ERC). Did you know that the ECR requirements have changed since inception? The information is very important for every business owner. We will be placing the presentation on the Chamber website for your review: https://fairportperintonchamber.org/?q=events-list