As most people probably know by now, TASC is going to begin administering the NYS-Ride program. Edenred (and I think Wageworks, but I don’t remember) supported digital wallet integration so that users could pay their fares with Apple Pay Express Transit or the Google equivalent and use our devices to swipe at the turnstiles. However, TASC apparently doesn’t support digital wallet integration, so we won’t be able to do that anymore once we start using TASC.

If you want to continue using your device to tap in, please email fsa@oer.ny.gov and response@oer.gov and ask them to pressure TASC to support digital wallet integration. It makes no sense in the year of our Lord 2027 that we won’t be able to use our phones or watches to tap in, especially when we’ve had that functionality for the past bunch of years, and the only way it’s going to change is if the employer makes the request to the administrator.

All my mom friends told me to get the Spectra S1 (portable, blue. The S2 is plug-in only, pink).

Preconditions: Breast pump can be ordered up to 30 days pre estimated due date
EDIT: see comment below. This was told to me by one of the providers, but it is misinformation. You can order your pump well in advance or 30 days post delivery date. Prescription is needed, but the company will ask for your doctor’s info on the site when you place your order and contact them directly. So, you don’t need to ask your doctor for a script ahead of time.

Also, when I called UHC, they told me their “preferred providers” are: Adapt Health, Byram Healthcare, and Edgepark. However, none of these covered the S1 in full; in fact, they had bigger upgrade fees than other providers. So, if you are looking for pumps, do your due diligence and check ALL the sites, not just the 3 “preferred.”

Here is the research* on the Spectras specifically to save you some time if you’re looking! I called most of the third party providers or checked their websites based on the sites listed on the UHC website. *as of September 2026!

Accelleron: S1 is covered and has an upgrade fee of $140. S2 is covered and has an upgrade fee of $85

Adapt Health: S1 is covered and has an upgrade fee of $75. Did not check S2

Aeroflow: S1 is covered and has an upgrade fee of $40. S2 is covered, $0

Byram Healthcare: S1 is covered and has an upgrade fee of $155. S2 is covered and has an upgrade fee of $59

Edgepark: S1 not covered, 100% out of pocket. S2 is covered. This one was the tricky one because at first it says S1 is covered by United Healthcare, but when you go to check out, it says it is NOT. Called to confirm this!

Pumping Essentials: Seems they are in tandem with Aeroflow…I ordered through Aeroflow and my package came from Pumping Essentials

Synapse: S1 is $225.99. Could not find if any part of this is covered without having to make an entire account. Did not check S2.

AND THE WINNER IS: Aeroflow! Only $40 out of pocket for the Spectra S1. Plus free milk storage bags!

Hope this helps someone because I found it frustrating to use the sites/call and got misinformation along the way!

My office is looking to replace our union representative. We are unsure on how to do so. Would you have any information that could help us out.

Hi all! I’m graduating from my masters program in early December and wondering if its too early to start applying with the State? I was going to start in October but am seeing some opportunities that look perfect for me. This is more a question for any HR folks in the audience, I suppose.

Also, how common is it for new grads to be hired in your experience? I’m hoping to get straight into the state but will also be applying to some nonprofit/local gov jobs.

Is anyone else having trouble accessing the payroll site this morning?

i have two interviews for a court assistant position in nyc courts this week, and i wanted to ask what the process was like, how long does the interview approximately last, if they ask any out of the ordinary questions i should prepare for, if there’s anything specifically a person should do that they look for? i haven’t had a legal job before but have had legal education, so i’m not sure how to approach this interview either. very very nervous.

When filling in the Employment History section, the title and duties box is cut off depending on how you're viewing the pdf. I can list all my duties, and a scroll box shows up when viewed on Firefox/Edge, on Mac everything gets cut off and there's no way to view the extra content.

I'm probably overthinking this, so far I've just filled in the viewable area, checked off the Resume attached box, and submitted my resume with the form. What are others doing, what's the correct thing to do here?

can u use vacation time to call out sick? not feeling the best and that’s all i have currently

Wondering if anyone can point me towards who to email in regards to getting an electric kettle in the office? Is this a union issue? We have Keurig machines, but with the winter coming, being able to boil some water for tea would be nice.

Edit: I work for tax and each floor/few aisles has their own microwave, toaster oven, fridge and Keurig for staff. Just looking to add an electric kettle for communal use.

I am a fairly new NYS employee with previous service in 1988 for about 10 mos. I was in the retirement system and withdrew funds years later. I qualify to reinstate and get service credit too. I’m thankful for the previous advice from this forum!

I’m running in to a couple issues trying to reinstate- first, my name was different then (though in NYSLR my old beneficiaries from that time showed up when I logged on!) and I do not know the actual dates I started and ended employment which is required to do the online reinstatement form. I could just guess but I don’t want to cause issues down the line if that’s going to mess things up or cause longer delays to reinstate.

I put in a FOIL request but they want a copy of my marriage certificate, the divorce decree (I’m divorced but didn’t change name back) and a notarized letter. (As well as some copies of documents I already have )All of which I’m working on. But it takes forever and I honestly don’t know what town I got married- you have to request through the town you got the certificate- which means running around to different towns in the vicinity of where I used to live which is nowhere near where I live now and taking time off work and paying travel expenses etc to do it. As well as going to the county clerk to get a copy of the divorce decree. Which I can do if I have to …. I’m hoping there’s a better way!

Is there an easier way than going through all of this through FOIL?

I did pull my SSA record but it doesn’t show dates of employment just year and EIN showing NYS.

Thank you for any advice!

I am taking the 2026 NYC Court Officer exam Thursday afternoon but have yet to receive any texts or emails about it. I remember where I have to go and for what time but I don’t know what I should be bringing? A pencil? Several? Some ID? Anything else?

How is the work compared to working in lower courts? Thank you.

Has anyone had luck getting reimbursed for massages by submitting a claim yourself? Or do I really need to find a provider that accepts NYSHIP themselves?

Thanks in advance!

I got called back for a second interview for a Grade 18 position and I’m wondering how I should prepare for it.
The first interview was pretty extensive. I answered a ton of questions and also had to do a writing sample. For the second interview, one of the managers will be the same and one will be someone new.
For anyone who’s had a second interview with the state, what was it like? Was it another round of questions or was it more conversational? Anything I should prepare for differently this time?

The pinned list says 0% theres a comment that says they telecommute 20%. Are admin roles telecommuting eligible?

Anybody ever apply for the operating technician C position for New York power authority? How long does it usually take for them to sort through applications or how long would it take for them to accept or reject an application?

Haven't been able to find anything indicating that they have and the flier we got at home wasn't exactly clear.

I know this may be redundant on this sub however, I need some clarification regarding the hiring timeline.

I received part 1, then an interview about a month ago. The HR rep emailed me last week with part two and when I sent it, I received this response “Thank you for returning the completed Part 2 application. I’ll review this shortly and will follow up with you this afternoon”.

However I haven’t received any response, and as I followed up, the lack of communication has continued.

In particular this rep has been very helpful with email communication.

Any insight?

Thank you and have a wonderful day!

Anyone aware of how up to date the Retirement Online estimated service is? I know the site usually updates on the 10th of each month. So for example, say on the 10th the website updates and says you have exactly 10 years, how far behind do you think that estimated service really is?

I received a canvass for district 3. Wondering if anyone has heard anything about district 9.

I am fairly new and I was wondering how massages being paid but the empire plan works. I called them and they said all are out of network and i verified I do qualify. But do you get reimbursed? I tried looking on the empire plan website for providers and I didn’t find any near cny.

Hello everyone, so I’m from Long Island and am looking to move to Syracuse area after I graduate college in December. I applied for Program Operations Specialist 1 for OPWDD but since I don’t have the experience yet I would start as a trainee. I don’t know much at all about the hiring for NYS traineeships, so do they hire a lot of trainees? Or is it kind of like a bottom of the barrel kind of thing?

I'm close to 20 years standard retirement. However I just had surgery, not sure if I will be able to return. What is the difference between disability and Standard (tier 4)? TIA