Photos of the Rochester Business Journal 2026 ‘Best Places to Work’, at The Albany NY Hilton, taken by Raj Somwaru of Best Frame Forward
In an industry that has historically simultaneously suffered from excessive harassment by law enforcement and a lack of enforcement against illegal operators, as well as from government overreach and legislators who ignored obvious warning signs of impending devastation, it is absolutely critical that the drivers who perform the work that keeps the city moving are given some sense of stability – not only from the inherent promise of a career that pays the bills when they get licensed by the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC), but also the security of knowing that they (and their families) will be protected in the event of an emergency or a tragedy.
It hasn’t been easy to maintain any sense of long-term optimism in recent years, but thankfully, NYC’s current administration has demonstrated a willingness to ensure the safety, health and financial stability of their TLC-regulated drivers. Supporting these efforts are pillars of the industry, like The New York Black Car Fund (BCF), which allows drivers to rest a little easier knowing they have workers’ compensation in the event of an accident that prevents them from doing their job.
Although the BCF was founded to provide this very specific benefit, the organization has added a long list of additional benefits to improve the health and ease the anxieties of their covered drivers in recent years. In less than four years, the BCF has added the following for their covered drivers: Accident Disability Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance, a $100,000 Accidental Death Benefit, Critical Illness Insurance and their Hearing Care Program. The past year alone, they added a Health Navigation Service, Hospital Indemnity Insurance and a Life Line Screening Benefit. All of this was in addition to the vision, dental, telemedicine, and Mental Health and Wellness Program (provided by their partner, the Independent Drivers Guild) they established years ago.
Since education is a crucial part of staying safe on city streets and avoiding costly citations (it’s also a requirement for maintaining a TLC license), the BCF pays drivers to attend their classes. In fact, in April they increased the amount they pay to attend their defensive driving classes, from $300 to $400. This allows drivers to get the education they need without losing money they could be earning working.
I urge every driver who may be unaware of the many features and benefits that they are entitled to by visiting the BCF website at https://www.nybcf.org/.
The Black Car Fund: One of the Best Places to Work in New York
As an admirer of the BCF’s efforts to make life better for their covered drivers, I would like to congratulate them for being recognized, in April, as one of the “2026 Best Companies to Work for in New York” by the NY State Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Best Companies Group, BridgeTower Media, and the Rochester Business Journal. This research-based program evaluates participating organizations through a detailed review of their workplace policies, practices, benefits, and programs, along with confidential employee surveys that capture staff perspectives and experiences.
“At The Black Car Fund, our mission starts with people – the drivers and families we serve, and the team that makes that work possible every day,” said BCF executive director, Ira Goldstein. “We’ve built a workplace where employees feel supported, valued, and connected to something bigger than themselves. From industry-leading benefits and professional growth opportunities, to a culture that celebrates diversity, community engagement, and collaboration, we are constantly investing in our people because they are the reason we succeed. With employees representing more than 20 national heritages and a shared commitment to serving New York’s for-hire vehicle industry, The Black Car Fund has become not only an important and unique organization, but one of the most rewarding places to work in New York.”
More than 80% of the BCF’s staff answered the anonymous survey that led to them receiving the honor… an astonishing percentage, and more confirmation that the organization is doing good things. The following are actual quotes from employees at the company, answering the question, “What makes this organization a place where people want to work?”
“The Fund’s focus on creating positive experiences for its customers, competitive employee benefits, emphasis on professional development and commitment to inclusivity makes it a place where people want to work.”
“I like the open-door policy. Any questions, comments or concerns one may have, the door is always open for us to voice it.”
“The organization as a whole [shows] they appreciate and value their employees, regardless of the department.”
“The BCF is the best employer I have ever had! They recognize each of us as individuals and make it a point to know each one of us, personally. The culture of diversity that they encourage makes it a great place to work.”
“I love the fact that we value our injured workers and strive to do what’s best for them. This is a company that truly cares for their employees and the people they serve.”
In a world where instability and chaos have become the accepted norm, maintaining a sense of optimism can be a challenge. As the Great Recession, disruptions from multi-billion-dollar tech upstarts and Covid have proven, our industry can be directly and painfully susceptible to outside forces – which is why it is essential that organizations like The Black Car Fund exist as a backstop to help shield our industry’s drivers from financial devastation.
