July 14, 2021

Guests Discuss How the City Managed to Transition a Portion of its Workforce to Telework and Now Back to the Office

NEW YORK – The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) today announced the release of the third episode of its Inside Citywide podcast. The conversation focuses on the City of New York’s return to office for municipal employees. Guests discuss how the City sustained government operations during the pandemic while having a portion of its workforce working remotely, and how it is now transitioning those employees back to the office. The guests are DCAS Executive Deputy Commissioner Quintin Haynes and Steven H. Banks, the First Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel for the NYC Office of Labor Relations.

The Inside Citywide podcast offers a behind-the-scenes look at New York City government, what it does, and the public servants who make it happen. The podcast is cohosted by Nick Benson, Director of Communications for DCAS, and Belinda French, Diversity & EEO Officer for DCAS.

The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, and BuzzSprout.

Guest Bios

Quintin Haynes

As the Executive Deputy Commissioner at DCAS, Quintin Haynes is responsible for the agency's asset management and business resilience strategies. He oversees the divisions of Real Estate Services, Facilities Management, Construction and Technical Services, Information Technology, and Strategic Operations.

Most recently, Quintin coordinated agency operations and strategic planning as DCAS’s chief of staff. He also formerly led the New York City Mayor's Office of Human Resources, Diversity and EEO.

Prior to moving to New York City, Quintin served as an adviser to former U.S. Secretaries of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Rebecca Blank, and as head of financial operations at the White House during the Obama Administration.

Quintin earned his master of public administration from New York University, where he also instructs a course on management consulting in the public sector as an adjunct professor. He earned his undergraduate degree in public administration at Florida A&M University.

Steven H. Banks

Steven H. Banks is First Deputy Commissioner & General Counsel at the New York City Office of Labor Relations (OLR).

He has worked for OLR since 2009. He oversees the strategic and financial operations of OLR and the units within, including the Executive Division, which is responsible for negotiating collective bargaining agreements with approximately 360,000 public employees; the Legal Division, which represents the City and its agencies in grievance arbitration hearings and other administrative proceedings; the City’s Health Benefits Program, which provides health insurance coverage to more than one million City employees, retirees, and dependents; the City’s Deferred Compensation plan, with over $16 billion in assets under management; the Research Division; the Citywide Employee Assistance Program; and the NYC Management Benefits Fund. He is a graduate of Villanova University and the St. John’s University School of Law.

About the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) provides effective shared services to support the operations of New York City government. Its commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides its work with city agencies on recruiting, hiring, and training employees; providing facilities management for 56 public buildings; acquiring, selling, and leasing city property; purchasing more than $1 billion in supplies and equipment each year; and implementing conservation and safety programs throughout the city's facilities and vehicle fleet. More information about DCAS can be found at nyc.gov/dcas or by following us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and listening to the Inside Citywide podcast.

About the NYC Office of Labor Relations (OLR)

Authorized by Executive Order 38 (February 7, 1967) amended by Executive Order 13 (July 24, 1990), the Office represents the Mayor in the conduct of all labor relations between the City of New York and labor unions representing employees of the City. The Commissioner serves on behalf of the Mayor as the City's liaison with both labor and management in the private sector.

The Commissioner represents the Mayor before the Office of Collective Bargaining in representations and all other matters over which the Office of Collective Bargaining possesses jurisdiction. Additionally, the Commissioner administers the Health Benefits Program, Management Benefits Fund, Employee Assistance Program, Medicare Part B Reimbursement and Pre-Tax Benefits & Citywide Programs including the Deferred Compensation Plan and NYCE IRA.