News (All)

Winter Weather Policies for Employers

Posted: December 11th, 2019

Slippery commutes, delayed deliveries, school closings, and a host of HR complications: a child’s winter wonderland can be an employer’s nightmare if you’re not prepared. With temperatures dropping and the risk of snowstorms looming, employers should take the opportunity to brush up on the employment laws relating to winter weather closures. Whether you plan to keep your office open, close early, or shut down on the next snowy day, read on for answers to some common issues employers face during winter storms.

Non-Exempt Employees

Your non-exempt employees should be paid only for hours they have worked; the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require employers to compensate non-exempt employees who cannot work due to inclement weather. This applies whether the employee decides to stay home or if the employer closes; in both cases, the employee must be paid only for the hours worked. Note, non-exempt employees must be paid for work completed remotely even if the employer did not give permission for the non-exempt employee to do so, so it’s critical to communicate your expectations ahead of time.

An exception to this rule is “Call-In Pay.”  CRR-NY 142-2.3 states, “An employee who by request or permission of the employer reports for work on any day shall be paid for at least four hours, or the number of hours in the regularly scheduled shift, whichever is less, at the basic minimum hourly wage.” This would mean that an employee who is called into work and is sent home less than 4 hours after his/her arrival must be compensated for at least 4 hours at the basic minimum hourly wage.

There is also an exception for “on call” time; for example, if your office has lost power due to a storm and your employees are required wait and see if the power comes back on, non-exempt employees must be paid for the time spent waiting, regardless of their ability to be productive during that period.

Exempt Employees

Exempt employees must be paid their full salary if the office closes due to inclement weather for less than a week. Additionally, if the office closes early, exempt employees must be paid for the full day. If the office is open, however, and the exempt employee chooses to stay home due to snowy conditions, the employee must use paid time off. (Are you sure that your exempt employees are classified correctly? Read this article on the 2019 changes to overtime exempt salary threshold.)

Both exempt and non-exempt employees may be able to perform their jobs from home in cases of office closures, but employers may need to rely on self-reporting to monitor how much time was worked. To minimize issues that may arise, it’s important to share your expectations with your staff in advance of a storm. Do you expect them to work from home if the office is closed? Should they refrain from working at home? How should they track their time? These questions are best answered before the office closure.

Employers should be proactive about their inclement weather policy, put it in writing, and remind employees of the policy as storms approach. Communicate with your staff about how your leadership team determines and communicates office closures and whether employees are expected to work from home. If you have any questions regarding your inclement weather policy, please contact us.

CMM Represents East End Accounting Firm MFB as it Joins Top 40 Firm Friedman LLP

Posted: December 11th, 2019

CMM congratulates our clients and friends at Markowitz, Fenelon & Bank, LLP (MFB), the accounting firm recognized for its personal approach to clients on Long Island’s East End, as the firm joins New York accounting and advisory firm Friedman LLP as of January 1, 2020. CMM’s Joe Campolo, with assistance from Senior Associate Vincent Costa, represented MFB during the negotiation process.

From offices in Riverhead and Bridgehampton, MFB has provided tax, audit, accounting, and advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, family offices, closely held businesses, and nonprofit and government entities for over 60 years. With this union, top-40 accounting and advisory firm Friedman will operate 13 locations with a roster of partners and staff of approximately 600. The integration of MFB’s expertise will strengthen Friedman’s core capabilities across practice areas and expand the firm’s presence on Long Island. Inside Public Accounting recently recognized Friedman among the top ten fastest growing accounting firms in the U.S. based on organic growth.

“By joining Friedman, we will be able to offer a broader and more sophisticated range of services, including dedicated practice groups with specialized expertise in areas like international tax, cybersecurity and digital currency, among others,” said MFB Partner Tom Terry.

CMM has become the premier choice for partners of professional service firms exploring upstream mergers, spinoffs, and new opportunities, handling such matters with the utmost confidentiality and professionalism. Learn more here.

CMM Academy Concludes Successful Year of Programming with “Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done”

Posted: December 10th, 2019

This fall, CMM hosted a series focused on how to turn your goals into reality. Known for being a leader with both a vision and a plan, CMM Managing Partner Joe Campolo shared his lessons on how to turn plans into action. Attendees learned about setting goals and most importantly, getting to know themselves and being real. He stressed the importance of not only being a doer in your own life, but to also seek out the doers in business and synergize your goals. Discipline is a habit, and you must consciously work it into your daily routine. Attendees learned actionable strategies to put to work right away, while they networked over breakfast and made valuable new connections. 

“What really stood out to me was the importance of follow through and discipline,” said one attendee. “I really appreciated Joe’s football metaphor; that kind of real-world example really made an impact for me. I’m definitely going to use the lessons today in my personal and professional life.” 

“I’ve attended other presentations and none were as useful as this one,” said another. “I want Joe to come to our company and speak to our sales team about his lessons on follow through.”

Thank you to our series sponsors: Island Tech Services, Markowitz Fenelon & Bank, LLP, HKM Associates, Mitchell York of EOS, Stony Brook Alumni Association, and Hampton Pest Management.

2019 has been a great year for our professional programming, and we’re excited to share what’s in store for 2020! Check out some of the event photos below.

East End Business Community Votes CMM “Best of the Best” in Dan’s Papers Competition

Posted: December 10th, 2019

CMM is thrilled to announce that we have been named one of the 2019 Best Law Firms by Dan’s Papers, the iconic mainstay publication of Long Island’s East End for more than 50 years. Each year Dan’s Papers organizes its “Best of the Best” competition, nominating prestigious businesses that are well known in the community. The votes are anonymous and driven solely by the honest opinions of the business community. As a prior honoree, CMM is grateful to have received this recognition once again. Thank you to the East End business community for the opportunity to serve you.

CMM Swiftly Closes Sale of Stuart Berger Construction Corp. to Mineola-based Cook & Krupa

Posted: December 9th, 2019

Campolo, Middleton & McCormick’s M&A team has succeeded in closing another fast-paced sale.

CMM represented the owner of Stuart Berger Construction Corp. of Lynbrook, a professional, industrial, and specialty construction company, in the sale of the 60-year-old business to Mineola-based Cook & Krupa, a major Long Island general contracting and construction management solutions company. Senior Partner Christine Malafi spearheaded the transaction with critical support from Senior Associate Vincent Costa and Paralegal Patty Brunn.

The team had to buckle down to meet the client’s tight deadline, closing the deal just before Thanksgiving. “Thank you and your team for your diligence and hard work on this deal,” the client said post-closing. “You all did a great job.”

No matter how tight the deadline, CMM’s attorneys are up to the challenge. Learn more about how CMM helps our clients receive the most value for their business here.

Read more about this transaction in Long Island Business News.

Campolo Moderates HIA-LI Legislative Breakfast Featuring Elected Officials

Posted: December 5th, 2019

Event Date: January 17th, 2020

Start 2020 with the right connections! Meet your local and state representatives by joining us on Friday, January 17, 2020 for HIA-LI’s 42nd Annual Meeting & Legislative Breakfast. You’ll learn about Long Island business initiatives and the 2020 economic forecast.

Moderator: Joe Campolo, HIA-LI Board Chair and CMM Managing Partner
Invited Panelists & Dignitaries:
U.S. Congressman Lee Zeldin
New York State Senator John Flanagan
New York Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone
Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter 
Town of Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim

Located at the Radisson Hotel Hauppauge-Long Island
110 Vanderbilt Motor Pkwy, Hauppauge, NY 11788

Ticket Prices
Members: $50
Non-members: $65

Register online or call (631) 543-5355

Eisenbud Appointed Co-Chair of NYSBA Committee Focused on Environment

Posted: December 4th, 2019

Frederick Eisenbud, chairman of CMM’s Environmental & Land Use practice group, was appointed to co-chair the Enforcement and Compliance Subcommittee of the Environmental and Energy Committee of the New York State Bar Association. He will co-chair with fellow recognized environmental law leaders Susan Amron, General Counsel of the NYC Department of Planning, and Matthew Sinkman, Assistant Attorney General of the Environmental Protection Bureau. He continues to serve as an At Large Member of the Committee’s Executive Committee.

CMM Donation Drive for Project Toy

Posted: December 3rd, 2019

CMM is hosting a donation drive for to support Family Service League and their Project Toy initiative! Please join us in collecting donations for this worthy cause.

We are seeking donations of new, unwrapped toys for children (ages infant through teen). For ideas, take a look at their wish list on Amazon. Donations can be dropped off to our headquarters in Ronkonkoma. Donations are due by Monday, December 16.

Drop off your donations here:
4175 Veterans Memorial Highway, 4th Floor, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
Questions? Call us at (631) 738-9100.

CMM Honored by Family Service League; Receives Corporate Leadership Award

Posted: December 2nd, 2019

On November 18, 2019 CMM was thrilled to receive the Corporate Leadership Award at Family Service League’s Great Chefs Gala in recognition of our support of our neighbors in need through our charitable initiative, CMM Cares. Accepting the award on behalf of CMM, Senior Partner Christine Malafi told a personal story of how she was inspired to join FSL’s board when she met a wounded veteran who relies on FSL’s food bank and had shared how much the organization meant to him. We also congratulate NYS Senator Phil Boyle, recipient of the Government Leadership Award, and we thank NYS Senator James Gaughran, who presented the firm with a Proclamation honoring our service to the community and New York State. Read more about the award here, and check out some of the photos from the event below.