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Another seal and stripe completed by our ASPCrew in Florida!.  PaveWithASP for all of your parking lot maintenance needs by calling 1-833-PAVE-ASP

Another seal and stripe completed by our ASPCrew in Florida!. PaveWithASP for all of your parking lot maintenance needs by calling 1-833-PAVE-ASP

  • Posted: Sep 23, 2021
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Another seal and stripe completed by our ASPCrew in Florida!. PaveWithASP for all of your parking lot maintenance needs by calling 1-833-PAVE-ASP

   

Thankful for another day of making a difference in our customers’ parking lots! Another seal and stripe completed by our #ASPCrew in Fort Myers, Florida! Choose to #PaveWithASP for all of your parking lot maintenance needs by calling 1-833-PAVE-ASP or head to www.PaveWithASP.com!

Asphalt Repair Fort Lauderdale

If you’re looking to improve the appearance and safety of your asphalt pavement, it could be time to consider asphalt maintenance and repairs with Atlantic Southern Paving. Asphalt repair in Fort Lauderdale is a common service that helps to restore the integrity of asphalt surfaces across residential and commercial applications.

Atlantic Southern Paving and Sealcoating is proud to be regarded among the top paving companies in Florida and beyond. Continue reading to learn more about asphalt repairs and what sets our asphalt paving company apart from our competitors.

There are a number of different asphalt repair techniques available, many of which can both enrich the structural integrity of asphalt surfaces as well as their overall aesthetics. And when it comes time to schedule asphalt repair in Fort Lauderdale, why not depend on the experts on our team?

 

Types of Asphalt Repair in Fort Lauderdale

Asphalt Sealcoating 

Asphalt sealcoating is an important element that is recommended by most asphalt paving contractors. The sealcoating is applied on the asphalt surface, creating a protective layer that keeps out harmful elements, like water, oil, and gas.

Sealcoating also protects the asphalt from UV rays, another element known to weaken asphalt surfaces. Better still, a fresh coat of sealcoating can make the pavement look like new again, increasing its appearance while adding to its overall longevity.

 

Crack Sealing 

Asphalt crack sealing is an important application, especially for commercial asphalt settings. A crack in asphalt allows elements like water to get in, loosening up the binding and materials that the asphalt layers are made of.

Over time, this depletion will reduce the integrity of the asphalt, creating worse problems, like potholes. Crack sealing asphalt keeps the elements from entering the pavement and can be done prior to asphalt sealcoating for strong, great-looking results.

 

Asphalt Overlays 

Asphalt overlays are a great investment for businesses that have aging asphalt pavement that is still structurally strong. What asphalt overlays entail is pretty straightforward. A new layer of asphalt is applied directly over an existing asphalt surface.

In the event that the structural state of the asphalt is no longer strong, asphalt milling is recommended. Asphalt milling is done by removing the problematic layers prior to asphalt paving. Speak with a paving contractor directly if you are unsure if asphalt milling is necessary for your property.

Our up-to-date equipment, professional expertise, and commitment to excellent results have given us a reliable reputation as one of the top paving companies in Florida. Please contact our team to get a free paving estimate or to speak with an asphalt technician in more detail.

If you’re looking for the top asphalt paving contractors in Fort Lauderdale to help with asphalt repair and maintenance, keep us in mind. Atlantic Southern Paving and Sealcoating has decades of experience providing commercial asphalt services of all kinds.

 

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What are the advantages of using drones to document structural condition?

What are the advantages of using drones to document structural condition?

  • Posted: Sep 23, 2021
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What are the advantages of using drones to document structural condition?

1- Collect 1000s of high-res images from different vantage points
2- Create panoramas that show structures in full context of surroundings
3- Easily photograph areas that were previously difficult, expensive or inconvenient to reach
4- Tag images with date and GPS location
5- Provide evidence of structural condition OVER TIME
And the best part?
With SRI’s proprietary image management software, Catalogger, clients can easily store, search, access and share drone survey images like these from a recent South Florida project.
Catalogger’s simple, intuitive interface and cloud-based storage make it the perfect tool for structural condition analyses and collaboration.
Learn more about Catalogger and our work with drones @ https://www.sriconsultants.net/services/drone-survey
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The Mystery of the Missing Minutes: How Community Association Document Retention Protects Against Liability

The Mystery of the Missing Minutes: How Community Association Document Retention Protects Against Liability

  • Posted: Sep 23, 2021
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The Mystery of the Missing Minutes: How Community Association Document Retention Protects Against Liability

Who Voted for What and When…Where Did the Minutes go?

Here is a cautionary tale: Your board of directors voted for a big capital improvement project along with a special assessment. Like a well-governed association, they memorialized the motion and the vote from the meeting in the minutes. With that project, the association needs to make a special assessment because the reserves were not funded well. A few owners are not happy about the special assessment and retained a lawyer to strike it down.

Years go by before it makes it to court and in discovery, the plaintiffs request the minutes as proof that the board did their fiduciary duty when making the decision. Except, after all this time has passed, the association has changed management companies and the minutes are nowhere to be found. Nobody remembers anything: some old board members have moved on; the management companies did not keep your minutes or did not turn them over to the new management company.

Now all the association can do is pay the attorneys (a big waste of money) and start all over again. This is how, without a community association document retention policy in place, a simple capital improvement project which may have cost $50,000.00 is overshadowed by a massive and unnecessary loss of resources for your community association.

HOA Document Retention

Safeguarding Your Documents Protects You from Liability

Boards may change over time, but the safekeeping of all records does not. When a new board is elected, it is the obligation of the outgoing board to return or hand over all community records — most important of all the minutes of all their meetings. If a new management company is hired, they must obtain all the documentation and records from the previous management company. Unfortunately, it’s often a futile task, and you might as well be looking for your documents in the Bermuda Triangle.

Most state laws require that community associations keep records for five to seven years (depending on the state). If there are no statutes regarding document retention, common sense tells you that they should be retained and accessible.

A simple test to know if your community is protected

If you are a board member or an owner, ask your management company to produce records of minutes from a meeting five years ago. Ask them for the budgets for the last three years. This should not be a difficult request. This is a simple test that can be conducted by diligent board members to ensure your record-keeping obligations are being met. If they cannot find the last three years’ budgets, you have a very big problem.

Community associations are required to retain a large number of records, many more than any individual director is accustomed to in their personal lives. So naturally, the task falls on the management company. Failure can have various negative effects, particularly, as in the example above, when the association gets sued.

Improper Documentation can Lead to an Inability to Collect on Delinquencies

Here’s another example: What if a board has decided to put Mister Delinquent into collections for non-payment of assessments for the past three years (don’t be surprised, some boards will wait before moving on an issue like this). Your collection agency asks for the budgets and minutes of budget meetings to verify the debt and they are nowhere to be found. I think you can guess how this pans out. Without the budget minutes and other documents required to put a budget into play, from a legal point of view, there is no debt to collect.

Condo Association Document Retention

In the midst of chaos, You need a source of truth

Let’s face the facts and understand that community associations are volatile environments and quite dynamic. Boards of Directors change, emotions run high, management companies are dismissed frequently, as are attorneys, vendors, and whoever else gets an opportunity to work for an association. Sometimes by accident (and sometimes by design) disgruntled board members, dismissed employees (managers), or untrained office staff may feel that the round file (garbage can) is for everything that is over a year old.

The minutes are the history of all board actions and decisions and losing them is like losing your medical records…It’s unhealthy for your community’s future. Yet many associations continue to work the same way they did in 1961 and everything is committed to paper. In essence, your so-called paper trail has fallen into a deep dark abyss never to be found again.

These days you can have virtual meetings so why not digitize the minutes and keep them safe? It costs very little to set up a cloud drive for the community to store valuable documents. Association servers or cloud-based document retention services should be filled with documents and files to protect the community from liability. Time marches on and technology continues to advance: don’t let your association be left behind.

Community Association Document Retention

The solution? A Community Association Document Retention Policy

So now that a potential problem has been identified, what are the possible solutions?  First and foremost, as mentioned above, the board of directors must establish a record-keeping policy and protocol which involves voting on it and memorializing this in the minutes. Don’t lose those minutes and approve them at the next meeting. Said policy should identify all the records that an association must keep and for how long.

Figuring where to start when writing your community association document retention policy should be easy since most states, already require retention of certain documents. In addition to the documents required by the state, be sure to include any documents that support and protect the interests of the community association’s business. Because, make no mistake, helping to prevent future costly lawsuits and legal defense funds is certainly in the community’s best interest.

Community Association document retention isn’t just for minutes. Whether your state requires it or not, it behooves your board to hold on to certain items that may be needed in a future lawsuit. Those include:

  • governing documents
  • insurance policies
  • vendor contracts
  • accounting ledgers
  • audit reports
  • reserve/engineering studies
  • warranties
  • proof of meeting notices
  • all meeting minutes (public and private)
  • collection policies & payment plan agreements
  • proof of mailings
  • any other processes that can be documented or may be disputed in the future
Document Retention 4

Lock it Down… For the Future

Sloppy or lackadaisical record keeping can have disastrous effects on community associations. It is the responsibility of BOTH the boards of directors and the management companies to ensure that the community is protected from liability. The best way to do that is to lock down everything and store your important documents in the cloud.

If you have been planning to move your records to the cloud “someday” consider today that day. This is a project worth getting to work on right away because bad things can happen in the wink of an eye. Your first, and sometimes only defense against problems in the future, is documenting everything today.

If you want to learn more about community association governance please contact us for a free no obligation collections analysis and we will be glad to speak to you about all other matters that you may have questions about.

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 “2022 Legal Update” educational webinar with Michael Bender from Kaye Bender Rembaum

 “2022 Legal Update” educational webinar with Michael Bender from Kaye Bender Rembaum

  • Posted: Sep 23, 2021
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 “2022 Legal Update” educational webinar with Michael Bender from Kaye Bender Rembaum to discuss recent legislation.

The webinar covered:

  • Senate Bill 602: Business Organizations (3:33)
  • Senate Bill 56: Assessment Notices (8:04)
  • Senate Bill 630: Community Associations (22:57)
  • Senate Bill 1966: Department of Business and Professional Regulation (1:28.29)
  • and More!

Click here to watch the recorded webinar or Watch it below now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYek0k9Per0

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Why Is Your Community Association Still Using a Lawyer for HOA Collections?

Why Is Your Community Association Still Using a Lawyer for HOA Collections?

  • Posted: Sep 21, 2021
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Why Is Your Community Association Still Using a Lawyer for HOA Collections?

Axela Technologies / Bob Gourley

Condos and HOAs Still Paying Outrageous Legal Fees for Collections

If your condominium or homeowners’ association is facing a purely legal issue – a lawsuit, construction defect, governing documents updates, and such, having an experienced and qualified community association attorney is mandatory. But should you contact your lawyer for HOA collections?

Community associations are creatures of statute and attorneys are important to maintain proper governance. These experienced legal professionals deliver the expertise and legal finesse the community association will need to stay compliant with state statutes and their own bylaws. This avoids missteps and potential future lawsuits brought on by inappropriate actions.

Since attorney fees are generally significant, condominium associations and HOA boards should be judicious when engaging an attorney as it will cost the association a good bit of money. With that in mind, there are times when the cost and risk of using an attorney are wisely avoided.

Legal Fees 1

Don’t Just Skip Ahead to Foreclosure

When home and unit owners in condominiums and HOAs fall behind in their common fees and assessments, it can feel like very few options are available to collect on those missed payments. Communities generally turn to the usual suspects — an endless string of reminders and warning letters requesting payment, or referring the delinquent owner to a lawyer for HOA collections. But those are actually steps 1 and 3 (the warning and the foreclosure) of the full collections process. Step 2 is your opportunity to recover those debts without expending any additional energy or paying outrageous fees to an attorney on retainer: a collections solution, rather than legal enforcement.

A community association foreclosure should always be a last resort. It’s like fishing with a shotgun–sometimes it’ll get the job done, but it’s more costly, less efficient, and you don’t gain as much as you could with other collection methods. Wise associations seek a non-attorney remedy.

When you retain an attorney for collections, the end game of the attorney is foreclosure on the property. This isn’t collections, but rather “a security interest enforcement” action. In the Supreme Court case, Obduskey v. McCarthy & Holthus LLP, 139 S. Ct. 1029 (2019), the court ruled that in states that use non-judicial foreclosures, law firms are subject only to the requirements and prohibitions of one narrow section (1692f(6)) of the FDCPA.  In essence, the United States Supreme Court is advising community associations that attorneys foreclosing in non-judicial states are by no means a “collections entity.” More to the point, it’s expensive and can take years before the association sees a dime of what they’re owed, leaving communities in a lurch for funds.

Legal Fees 2

So you Foreclosed… Now What?

Let’s say you followed the legal process to its desired conclusion of foreclosure. The previous owner (as in many cases) becomes overwhelmed with the costs of legal fees and they lose their property.

The best result for a community association lien foreclosure on a property is getting an encumbered title. That means that the association takes the title, but the title is encumbered by the mortgage, which is still attached. The first mortgage can still be foreclosed upon and it will be eventually, at which time the community will lose access to that title.

…But what happens after the community takes the title? How do you monetize an association lien/foreclosure? Perhaps an investor will pick it up and now your community becomes a plaything of real estate investors. Or perhaps the association will rehabilitate the property and rent it out to recover delinquent fees and costs. Does the community association really want to get into the business of managing rentals? That’s a lot of work and liability to take on!

It’s a shame on many levels.

Legal Fees 3

The Burden of Legal Fees on Homeowners

Take a look at this example of fees charged to one delinquent homeowner:

attny fees

This is a real-world example. A condominium unit owner had fallen behind in their common fees in the amount of $1,830.00. The Board of Directors referred the matter to their attorney. As you can see, the legal fees mounted quickly, and by the time of this invoice, the association has already laid out $17,193.68 in legal fees due to the attorney. Even worse, these fees were going to be assessed to the delinquent unit owner by the association.

The total owed by the homeowner was now nearly 10 times what was owed to the association! This is completely unfair and unnecessary.

The final insult to the community is that this case is yet to be concluded and the delinquent unit owner may never be able to afford to pay for this issue, leaving the owner homeless, and the community on the hook for the legal fees. It does not have to be this way.

Legal Fees 4

The Argument for Ethical Collections

We wish we could say that is the only example of homeowner debt spiraling out of control, but it isn’t. In the community association management industry, it’s heartbreakingly common to hear of homeowners who ultimately lose their homes through foreclosure. Enormous legal fees amassed during long, drawn-out legal processes take away any chance of paying back what they owe. It can ruin lives and is why we at Axela always insist that foreclosure be viewed as a last resort.

A specialized collections process is a far simpler, cost-effective, and humane solution to attempt before considering going through a lawyer for HOA collections. From coast to coast, we hear similar stories where a collection process would have allowed the owner to remain in their home, and just as important, the association wouldn’t have had to pay an attorney only to have to “write off” the loss when no collection event occurred.

Some associations engage collection agencies that offer to buy the association’s debt, but those are also ripe for abuse of the homeowners. Collection agencies that perform at no cost or risk to the association like Axela Technologies are a preferred collection remedy because they are an effective solution that follows the collection regulations set forth in the community’s governing documents and costs the association nothing. Collection fees, which are quite modest compared to attorney fees, are passed through to the delinquent homeowner. This benefits the association as well as the delinquent homeowner because of the huge discrepancy between collection fees and legal fees charged by an attorney.

Legal Fees 5

Choose a Merit-Based Collections Agency

Axela Technologies offers a far better solution. Instead of burying the homeowner in tremendous legal fees, we work with them to figure out how best to pay off their indebtedness to their association and return them to good-paying status. Instead of charging by the hour for our work, as attorneys do, our fees are set at the onset (hard set fees with no hidden or junk fees) and passed through to the delinquent homeowner. We work diligently to explain the benefit of keeping the equity in their home and provide a solution to their problem. There is no need to put the association or the homeowner at risk of losing additional money.

In fact, since the Axela Technologies collection solution is 100% merit-based, our interests are perfectly aligned with the association. If we don’t collect from the homeowner, we don’t get paid. We collect 100% of what is owed to the association 19 out of 20 times without the need for the association to move the matter to an attorney for foreclosure.

Even when the matter does go to foreclosure, we stand with the association until the conclusion, which often yields a successful collection event for the association. If a lender forecloses on a unit we will not advise the association to write off the loss. We will follow the ownership of that unit and if the bank sells it with a surplus we will petition the court for the benefit of the association to recover that surplus. We don’t like write-offs and neither should you.

If your association gets sued, or if you need to change the language in your bylaws, you should absolutely be consulting with or employing an attorney. But, if your association is experiencing delinquency at any level, don’t get a lawyer for HOA collections. Skip the high legal fees and partner with Axela Technologies. Get in touch today and learn how Axela Technologies can help. Axela Technologies handles all collections on a merit-based system. Get your free collections analysis today.

 

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TO ARBITRATE OR MEDIATE?  By Eric Glazer, Esq.

TO ARBITRATE OR MEDIATE? By Eric Glazer, Esq.

  • Posted: Sep 21, 2021
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TO ARBITRATE OR MEDIATE?

By Eric Glazer, Esq.

Prior to July 1st, 2021 if a condominium dispute arose, the parties were forced to first arbitrate the matter before the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.  The law has now changed and reads as follows:

(a) Before the institution of court litigation, a party to a dispute, other than an election or recall dispute, shall either petition the division for nonbinding arbitration or initiate presuit mediation.

As you can see, now the plaintiff has a choice to start the matter in arbitration or mediation.  So which one do you choose?

If you decide to go to arbitration, your case will be assigned to an arbitrator in Tallahassee.  The arbitrator will read the briefs, hold hearings and ultimately enter an order.  Someone will win and someone will lose.  The loser will pay the winner’s attorney’s fees.  The loser can then file in court for a trial de novo.  In effect, it’s an appeal of the arbitrator’s order and the case starts all over again.  The winner of the trial de novo gets their attorney’s fees and costs from the loser, including the arbitration fees.

So….the risk in going to arbitration is that if you lose, you may wind up not only paying your lawyer, but the other side’s lawyer too.

The alternative is to mediate the dispute.  I have been certified since 2007 as a Circuit Court mediator.  I truly enjoy mediating cases and helping the parties resolve their disputes.  At mediation, the parties appear with their attorneys.  The mediator explains that today is a good day to settle the case on mutually agreeable terms, rather than leave your fate up to a judge or jury.  If an agreement is reached, it is enforceable in a court of law.  The mediator allows the parties to make opening statements, then separates the parties and goes back and forth trying to achieve a settlement.

There is very little risk in going to mediation.  There is no “winner” or “loser” at mediation, so neither party has to worry about paying the other side’s attorney’s fees.  The parties split the cost of the mediator.

When I act as a mediator, I explain to the parties that neither side will get everything they want today, and that if at the end of the day both parties feel a little miserable, I probably achieved a fair result.

 

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BEG, STEAL OR BORROW – OR FORECLOSURE?

BEG, STEAL OR BORROW – OR FORECLOSURE?

  • Posted: Sep 21, 2021
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BEG, STEAL OR BORROW – OR FORECLOSURE?

Many of the old condo buildings in the State of Florida are facing serious structural repairs that will cost millions of dollars. And – from what I hear from many owners – most of these buildings have no reserve funds that will cover even most of the cost of these structural repairs.

But these repairs have to be done if the building doesn’t want to face the same fate as the Champlain Towers South in Surfside. And you can be sure that building departments will now push the issue of certification requirements.

That begs the question: How are these associations are paying for these very costly repairs?

The smart associations took care of fully funded reserves, but as we have seen, most of these associations are not really “smart!”

But having reserve funds may cause another problem: Big amounts of money are very tempting – and we have seen in the past that board members and CAMs can’t resist the temptation – and the money is gone when needed.

Asking for fully funded reserves require laws that protect these reserve funds and answers any scams and/or embezzlement with harsh punishments, not just a slap on the wrist. And that should go as well for board members who buy nice palm trees with the money that was in the roof reserve fund!

The other option to pay for these repairs are bank loans, an option available to most of these associations if properly done. But don’t forget: Owners will have to pay in the future monthly quite a lot of money to service this loan. Now owners are paying the money they didn’t pay in the reserve funds earlier – but now with lots of interest added. Smart move? Definitely not!

But the only other option to pay for these repairs is to levy a special assessment. That’s the worst of all options because these special assessments can be very huge, in the tens of thousands of dollars. Amounts many families living in these condos don’t have available – and the worst scenario will happen: FORECLOSURE! Families will be losing their homes. Is that the option you want to go?

 

CAMs – a CAM has no part in a board decision regarding the use of the reserve funds.
How about the responsibility of owners to look after their investment? It’s easy to point fingers at usually well-meaning but inexperienced boards.
Rather than pointing fingers left and right, how about encouraging owners to participate in a constructive manner?
And last not least – the people coming to Florida to buy a condo with the proceeds of their home sale should be aware that you get what you pay for. You pay 500 K for a waterfront two bedroom condo built in the 60’s and expect that is all it will cost you?

 

 

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Challenge Accepted: Becker & Coworks International Take on Return-To-Work

Challenge Accepted: Becker & Coworks International Take on Return-To-Work

  • Posted: Sep 21, 2021
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Challenge Accepted: Becker & Coworks International Take on Return-To-Work

The post-pandemic return to work is fraught with challenges – from ensuring the physical and mental well-being of employees and the safety of the actual workplace to attracting and retaining an empowered workforce who successfully maintained productivity without coming into the office for an entire year. Becker Shareholder and employment lawyer Jamie Dokovna invited Becker Managing Shareholder Gary C. Rosen and Coworks International Founder & President Shirley Arline to discuss the future of work and how business leaders can help protect both their people and profitability.

“We all need to recognize that we are embarking upon an experiment, and we have to be openminded about the prospect of adjustments in order to do what’s right for our people and our organization,” said Rosen. “It is critical that whatever any organization does [traditional, hybrid, or remote-only], it needs to be organic and natural to that organization.”

A recent survey¹ showed that 70% of all employees would like companies to normalize working from home and include it as part of a work-week that also featured a few traditional 9-5 in-the-office days. In the same survey, 20% of the responders said they’d be happy never coming back to the office.

“There are still quite a few apprehensions about how to manage [the return to work] in a way that allows employees to feel safe and comfortable,” said Arline. “There are genuine fears among employers and employees about potential exposure; the need for flexibility becomes overriding.”

While the EEOC has declared mandatory vaccination policies permissible (with exemptions being made for religious reasons or chronic health issues)², many companies are uncomfortable with that approach, opting instead to offer incentives – cash prizes for those who prove their vaccination, additional paid time off to get vaccinated – and to promote the value of vaccinations through education and anecdotal evidence provided by COVID-19 survivors or families of those who succumbed to the disease.

“We don’t want to lose good employees,” said Rosen. “We want to be responsive and flexible, but, as a business, we need to have a policy in place that people see implemented uniformly.” Arline continued, “Employers are trying to protect employees from contracting COVID and from other employees who do not want to be vaccinated.”

But safety of the workplace is not the only priority for employers.

“There is a lot of concern about the social and psychological adjustment of employees who have been out for quite a while,” said Arline. “We’ve had a significant increase in requests for EAPs to deal with the mental health impact of the pandemic.”

EAPs, employee assistance programs, are work-based intervention options designed to assist employees in resolving personal problems that may be adversely affecting the employee’s performance. EAPs traditionally assist workers with issues like alcohol or substance abuse; however, most now cover a broad range of issues such as child or elder care, relationship challenges, financial or legal problems, wellness matters and traumatic events like workplace violence. Programs are delivered at no cost to employees by stand-alone EAP vendors or providers who are part of comprehensive health insurance plans.³

“At the beginning of the pandemic, we had some employees who experienced acute stress, and I am very thankful that they reached out to our HR department,” said Rosen. “Sometimes small problems, if left unattended, can become larger issues and then migrate to crisis proportion. [Becker] does its best to provide an outlet for people to speak to a psychologist or mental health professional with no stigma attached.”

In addition to physical and mental health concerns, employers are also facing disruptions in recruiting and retention of employees.

“[Recruiting] has become a big challenge for employers,” said Arline. “Candidates are asking about the COVID protocols in place, setting very specific terms under which they will consider employment with an organization. I’ve gotten complaints from employers about the fact that they are losing control of the recruiting process and it’s very much in the hands of the candidates.”

The 2020 lockdown has also changed the rules of retention, since that year provided employees time to reflect on the direction of their career and review their professional goals. Many have made the decision to choose a completely different field – a risk that most would not have considered pre-pandemic – or leave the workforce altogether. Pundits have predicted a ‘turnover tsunami’ for the end of 2021, and all businesses are evaluating how to avoid losing quality employees by striking the right balance between a flexible workday and a guaranteed work product or service.⁴

“There isn’t a playbook for the pandemic,” said Dokovna. “Nobody is ahead of anyone else; we’re all figuring this out in real time.”

To watch the entire discussion, please click here.

 

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Becker Launches Interdisciplinary Sea Level Rise Advisory Team to Serve Florida’s Coastal Residents

Becker Launches Interdisciplinary Sea Level Rise Advisory Team to Serve Florida’s Coastal Residents

  • Posted: Sep 21, 2021
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Becker Launches Interdisciplinary Sea Level Rise Advisory Team to Serve Florida’s Coastal Residents

As one of the first law firms in Florida to address the legal issues stemming from sea level rise, Becker is excited to announce its interdisciplinary Sea Level Rise Advisory Team which includes experienced and knowledgeable lawyers ready to assist our clients in preparing for the future.

Our multifaceted team is comprised of specialists at the forefront of this emerging area of environmental law. This includes attorneys and government relations professionals across our Land Use & Zoning, Government Law & Lobbying, Community Association, Real Estate, and Construction Law & Litigation practices.

Led by Ellyn Bogdanoff, the team provides a comprehensive range of services to address flooding and other impacts of sea level rise. In 2021, for example, Becker’s Government Law & Lobbying Practice was instrumental in helping to secure the passage of Florida’s “Always Ready” legislation which will provide more than $100 million every year to help Florida communities combat the effects of rising sea levels.

Flooding due to sea level rise is and will continue to be a big challenge, not just for those living on South Florida’s waterfront, but across the state. Local governments are realizing the significant impact of flooding and are combatting sea level rise by creating resiliency task forces and taking action to revise land use planning and zoning requirements and make upgrades to their stormwater infrastructure and sewage systems.

But it’s not only local officials that must have a plan to respond to rising seas, landowners, developers, condominium and homeowner associations, and everyone in between, must also be prepared for the impacts posed by sea level rise, and develop strategies to prepare their properties accordingly.

Becker’s Sea Level Rise Advisory Team is prepared to help clients mitigate damages from sea level rise, evaluate options to prepare for the short and long-term, and develop financially feasible adaptation strategies. To learn more, please visit FloridaRisingSea.com.

 

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October Condo & HOA Expos 2021

October Condo & HOA Expos 2021

  • Posted: Sep 18, 2021
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https://sfpma.com/events/list/

Broward Condo & HOA Expo – Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Broward Signature Grand 6900 W State RD 84, Davie, Florida

Broward Condo & HOA Expo – Tuesday, October 5, 2021 Property Management Expo & Seminars Seminars: 9:00 am – 4:45 pm Exhibits: 10:30 am – 3:00 pm Sign up for the networking and educational event of the year! Get face-time with the industry experts, browse the latest products and services and learn how to save thousands on the management and maintenance of your condo or HOA. Registration is FREE for association managers, board members. Don’t delay!

 

 

Orlando Condo & HOA Expo – Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Orange County Convention Center – West Building 9800 International Drive, Orlando, FL

Orlando Condo & HOA Expo – Wednesday, October 6, 2021 Property Management Expo & Seminars Orange County Convention Center-West Bldg Wednesday, October 6, 2021 Seminars 9:00 am – 4:30 pm Exhibits 10:30 am-3:00 pm Sign up for the networking and educational event of the year! Get face-time with the industry experts, browse the latest products and services and learn how to save thousands on the management and maintenance of your condo or HOA. Registration is FREE for association managers, and board members. Don’t delay!

 

 

Naples Condo & HOA Expo – Friday, October 8, 2021

New Hope Event Center 7675 Davis 7675 Davis Blvd, Naples, Florida

Naples Condo & HOA Expo – Friday, October 8, 2021 Condo & HOA Expo & Seminars New Hope Event Center 7675 Davis Blvd. Naples, FL 34104 October 8th, 2021 Seminars 9:00 am – 4:30 pm Exhibits 10:30 am – 3:00 pm Sign up for the networking and educational event of the year! Get face-time with the industry experts, browse the latest products and services and learn how to save thousands of the management and maintenance of your condo or HOA. Registration is FREE for association managers, board members. Don’t delay!

 

 

Miami Beach Condo & HOA Expo – Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Miami Beach Convention Center 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami FL 33131901 Convention Center Drive, Miami, FL

Miami Beach Condo & HOA Expo – Tuesday, October 12, 2021 Property Management Expo & Seminars Miami Beach Convention Center Tuesday, October 12, 2021 Seminars: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm Exhibits: 10:30 am – 3:00 pm Sign up for the networking and educational event of the year! Get face-time with the industry experts, browse the latest products and services and learn how to save thousands of the management and maintenance of your condo or HOA. Registration is FREE for association managers, board members. Don’t delay!

 

 

Palm Beach Condo & HOA Expo – Thursday, October 14, 2021

PALM BEACH COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER 650 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL

Palm Beach Condo & HOA Expo – Thursday, October 14, 2021 Join us Thursday, October 14, 2021! Seminars: 9:00 am – 4:45 pm Exhibits: 10:30 am – 3:00 pm For one day only, the Palm Beach Convention Center will be packed with the latest products and services as well as an array of industry experts. It’s an unparalleled opportunity to make valuable connections and speak directly with local and national experts about the topics that are relevant to you and your property. Get legal insights, financial advice, communication tips, proactive management solutions and much more from some of the region’s top professionals. This one-day event will also give you a sneak peek at the latest design trends gracing today’s most prestigious developments, plus innovations in building and remodeling and the newest energy efficiency options. Register Today

 

 

Tampa Condo & HOA Expo – Thursday, October 28, 2021

Tampa Convention Center 333 S. Franklin Street, Tampa, Florida

Tampa Condo & HOA Expo  – Thursday, October 28, 2021 Condo, HOA and Property Management Expo Tampa Convention Center Thursday, October 28th, 2021 Seminars: 9:00 am – 4:45 pm Exhibits: 10:30 am – 3:00 pm    Sign up for the networking and educational event of the year! Get face-time with industry experts, browse the latest products and services and learn how to save thousands on the management and maintenance of your condo or HOA. It’s the ONLY event to bring everything you need under one convenient roof for a single, information-packed day. Registration is FREE for community association managers, board members, board presidents, active HOA members and industry professionals. Don’t delay… register for this one-of-a-kind event today!  more >

 

 

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Scratch Removal Specialists is dedicated to providing the finest customer service and most cost-effective solutions for your glass restoration needs. 

Scratch Removal Specialists is dedicated to providing the finest customer service and most cost-effective solutions for your glass restoration needs. 

  • Posted: Sep 13, 2021
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