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  • Lawley Employee Takes Home ACSR of the Year at the Big I NY Annual Business Meeting in Buffalo, NY

    Lawley Employee Takes Home ACSR of the Year at the Big I NY Annual Business Meeting in Buffalo, NY

    During the second week of May 2018, the Big I NY held their Annual Business Meeting at the Westin in Buffalo, NY.  Those in attendance had the opportunity to connect with peers and company representatives, honor award recipients, and learn more about Big I New York’s progress and goals.

    Many insurance professionals were honored for work in the industry. Lawley’s own Monica Skibickyj was awarded the 2018 ACSR of the Year.  The award acknowledges the crucial value that customer service representatives bring to the independent agency system and the customers they serve.

    The Independent Insurance Agents Association of WNY (IIAAWNY) was also awarded Big I NY’s 2018 Local Association of the Year. This award recognizes outstanding effort and accomplishment in the areas of enhancing the image of independent agents, outstanding local association meetings, legislative advocacy, and public relations.

    Both Ashley Engl and Mark O’Brien from Lawley have served on the board of IIAAWNY since 2015. Engl is the current Treasurer and O’Brien is a Director.

    Pictured Left to Right: Lisa Lounsbury- President and CEO at Big I New York, Louis Atti- Chairman of Big I NY Board of Directors, Doreen DeCarlo- IIAAWNY Director, Tamara Storch – IIAAWNY President, Ashley Engl – IIAAWNY Treasurer, Rob Glenn – IIAAWNY Director, Richard MacDonald – Past Chair of the Big I NY Board of Directors

  • CHIPRA Notice Requirements

    CHIPRA Notice Requirements

    The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) permits states to offer eligible low-income children and their families a premium assistance subsidy to help pay for employer-sponsored group health coverage.

    CHIPRA imposes an annual notice requirement on employers that maintain group health plans in states that provide premium assistance subsidies under a Medicaid plan or a Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP). An employer is subject to this annual notice requirement if its group health plan covers participants who reside in a state that provides a premium assistance subsidy, regardless of the employer’s location.

    The Department of Labor (DOL) has a model notice that employers may use for this disclosure. The model notice is updated periodically to reflect changes in the states that offer premium assistance subsidies.

    Employers that fail to send the required notice may be subject to penalties of $114 per day (adjusted annually for inflation).

    chip notice requirement

    An employer that maintains a group health plan in a state that provides premium assistance subsidies under a state Medicaid plan or CHIP plan is required to make certain disclosures. Specifically, the employer is required to notify each employee of potential opportunities currently available in the state in which the employee resides for premium assistance under Medicaid and CHIP for health coverage of the employee or the employee’s dependents. These notices are often referred to as “CHIP notices.”

    An employer is subject to the CHIP notice requirement if its group health plan covers participants who reside in a state that provides a premium assistance subsidy, regardless of the employer’s location or principal place of business. The CHIP notice must inform each employee, regardless of enrollment status, of potential opportunities for premium assistance in the state in which the employee resides. Employers are not required to provide the CHIP notice to employees who reside in states that do not offer a premium assistance subsidy.

    Employers that fail to send the required notices may be subject to penalties of $114 per day (adjusted annually for inflation).

    DOL Model CHIP NOTICE

    The DOL maintains a model notice that employers may use for meeting their CHIP notice obligations. Employers could also choose to prepare their own notices, or modify the model notice. For example, an employer may want to provide more comprehensive information regarding states where it has a larger workforce or leave out information about states where no employees reside. Employers should be sure to include at least the minimum relevant state contact information for any employee residing in a state with premium assistance.

    DEADLINES FOR PROVIDING THE NOTICE

    If an employer’s group health plan covers residents in a state that provides a premium subsidy, the employer must send an annual notice about the available assistance to all employees residing in that state. The notice must be provided, free of charge, on an annual basis.

    DELIVERY OF THE NOTICE

    The CHIPRA notice does not have to be provided in a separate mailing. Plans may combine the annual notice with other plan materials, such as open enrollment packets or summary plan descriptions, if:

    • The materials are provided to all employees entitled to receive the CHIPRA notice; and
    • The CHIPRA notice is a separate document so that employees can appreciate its significance.

    The notice must be provided in writing in a manner calculated to be understood by the average employee. It may be provided by first-class mail or electronically if the DOL’s electronic disclosure requirements are satisfied.

  • Attention Restaurant Owners: Dishing out the Latest Food Safety Tips

    Attention Restaurant Owners: Dishing out the Latest Food Safety Tips

    When customers enter a restaurant or food establishment, they expect an attentive wait staff, friendly service, tasty food, enjoyable atmosphere and, most importantly, a clean environment. The health inspector has a major influence on your business’s good standing, but in today’s digital environment, you must also be mindful of what customers write on social media sites. The best approach to maintaining your good reputation and keeping customers coming back is to practice proper restaurant food safety. Here are some basic food safety tips to follow:

    Avoid Cross Contamination:

    Raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs are often sources of dangerous bacteria, such as salmonella and other contaminants. Keep raw items away from other foods at all costs. Also, it is important that meat and eggs are never rinsed in a sink that is used for vegetable prep. This practice can lead to a contaminated sink with the dangerous potential to harm customers. If you have a designated sink for rinsing meat, it is still important to wash, rinse, and sanitize when finished rinsing. Color-coded cutting boards, knives, and other products can also help prevent cross-contamination.

    Maintain Proper Temperature:

    The “Danger Zone” for food temperature is defined as any temperature between 41 and 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Food that resides in this temperature zone can grow harmful bacteria, such as salmonella, which can lead to illness. Keeping food out of the zone is imperative for proper food safety. Never thaw or marinate outside of the refrigerator. When thawing frozen meat or fish, use clean, cold running water, or leave on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator to prevent juice from dripping onto other ingredients. During the thawing process, it is important that the product remains in its original, watertight packaging. When marinating, items should be stored in a sealed container.

    Prevent Allergic Reactions:

    For people who suffer from food allergies, going out to eat can be a life-threatening experience. The eight most common food allergies, often referred to as The Big 8, include milk, fish, soybeans, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, shellfish, and wheat. Avoid crossing these common allergens with other foods by using food allergy safety products, especially if you are labeling a specific dish “allergy free.”

    Implement Pest Control:

    Not only do pests stir up fear in guests, but they can also spread harmful diseases to the food. Keep your food establishment free of creepy crawlies by contracting with a reputable exterminating company. The company should be experienced with business/restaurant environments and will therefore have a better understanding of sources of infestation and proper extermination/mitigation techniques. It is recommended that such services are performed on a monthly basis to be proactive.

    Ensure Proper Training:

    The staff is the heart of any restaurant, and it takes a well-trained staff for a kitchen to operate smoothly. The same applies to food safety. Employees should possess all applicable food handling permits. Such licenses and permits vary from state to state and, in some cases, municipality to municipality.

    Therefore, it’s important to research all applicable guidelines for your jurisdiction. In addition, management or senior level employees should go over these food safety tips with the employees, as well as conduct new and existing employee training. It is also suggested that mock health inspections with emphasis on food safety guidelines be conducted monthly. Identify areas where safety and health violations exist within your operations, as well as gauge and make sure this knowledge is being applied in the kitchen.

    Ensure Proper Sanitation:

    While it may seem common sense to wipe down tables, chairs, and all food prep surfaces, the following three-step process must be applied to ensure proper sanitation:

    1. Clear the area of debris or leftover food
    2. Clean the surface with hot soapy water
    3. Rinse the surface with water and a clean cloth. This prepares the surface for sanitation with a sanitizing wipe or other professional sanitizer

    Remember, no matter how good the food, service, or atmosphere, without food safety, your reputation can take a severe hit or you could even be shut down. Don’t let improper food safety practices into your kitchen. You’ve got plenty on your plate already, so if you have a claim, we’ll be with you every step of the way to make things as easy as possible for you.

  • Lawley Rochester: Fundraising for the Seneca Waterways Council, Boy Scouts of America

    Lawley Rochester: Fundraising for the Seneca Waterways Council, Boy Scouts of America

    Is that a bird? A plane? No! It’s some of the employees from Lawley’s Rochester branch rappelling down the side of the Kodak building in downtown Rochester, NY to help raise money for the Seneca Waterways Council with the Boy Scouts of America.

    The Rochester Branch participated in a fundraising event benefiting the Seneca Waterways Council, Boy Scouts of America on Friday 5/18. The idea for Lawley’s involvement began with an email to one of Lawley Rochester’s Branch Partners, Phil Andolina. It was an invite from one of his clients challenging Phil and his wife Melinda to “Go over the Edge.” Ultimately, Phil could not participate in the event, but seized the opportunity to invite other employees at the Rochester branch to participate if they would like. A handful of employees jumped on the chance and Leaping Lawleys was born! Five employees went over the edge of the Kodak building for this great cause – Kathy Swears, Matt Crawford, Hope D’Alessandro, Paul Dreher, and Lisa Schneider. The Leaping Lawleys were able to raise over $5,300.

    Lawley’s time slot began at 10am and everyone was able to have the once in a lifetime experience of rappelling down the building. The Boy Scouts live streamed the event on their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/21StoriesForScouts/, for those who are curious and want to take a peak.

    A BIG shout out to everyone that donated to this great cause and ESPECIALLY to Phil and the folks at Lawley for helping the team meet their goal and supporting the Leap!

  • 9 Vital Homeowner Maintenance Tips

    9 Vital Homeowner Maintenance Tips

    Below are home maintenance tips that will keep your family safe, as well as save you money and stress:

    1. Caulk where needed: Caulk is cheap and can help keep moisture out of crevices to avoid water damage and mold. Caulk can help weatherize your home in order to keep cold air out in the winter and keep cool air in during the summer. Go through your house and look for any spots where the caulk could use an update, or a crevice that could use some new caulking.
    2. Clean the clothes dryer lint trap & exhaust duct: A common cause of dryer fires is failure to do a thorough cleaning. Because a lint trap is not a foolproof method for catching all the fuzzy stuff from clothes, lint can gradually build up and catch fire in the heating element or exhaust duct. Between 2010-2014, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 15,970 home fires involving clothes dyers or washing machines each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. These fires resulted in annual losses estimated at 13 deaths, 440 injuries and $238 million in property damage.
    3. Inspect & repair the roof: Check your roof early for signs of wear or damage. Look for missing, damaged and aging shingles. If age or an unresolved maintenance issues are to blame for your leaking roof, insurance likely wont pay to repair the leak or the resulting damage.
    4. Test and clean the sump pump & pit: Sump pumps are often found in basements and are the last line of defense against floods, condensation build-up and water from drains. Water damage due to sewage and drain backups generally require additional insurance coverage beyond a standard policy.
    5. Inspect & clean chimneys yearly: Unclean chimneys are a leading cause of structure fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. From 2009-2013, chimneys resulted in $25 million in direct property damage each year. Improper cleaning can also lead to other serious issues including potential for carbon monoxide, fumes and possibly soot to enter home living spaces.
    6. Clean & maintain gutters and downspouts: Clogged gutters can cause water to flow down the sides of the home and pool around its foundation, often leading to some major issues like uneven floors, cracks in walls and interior water damage. This type of claim, also known as seepage, is a maintenance issue and often is not covered under your home insurance policy.
    7. Check for termites every couple of years: To prevent termites, get your home inspected by a professional periodically. Once the termites spread, they can cause some major structural damage, and that can cost thousands of dollars to treat and fix. Catch them early, and you can limit the damage.
    8. Regularly maintain pipes & plumbing: Homeowners’ insurance does not cover pipe degradation due to old age or poor care. Look closely for cracks and leaks and have any necessary repairs made immediately. Also, know the location of the main water shut-off valve in your home. A damaged hose or burst pipe can send water racing into your home. Being able to locate and shut off the main water supply quickly will save stress, money and time.
    9. Inspect your deck: There’s been an increase in the number of decks that have collapsed, fallen apart or otherwise failed, according to the North American Deck and Railing Association. In most cases, simple upkeep could have prevented these incidents, which tend to happen when decks are packed with people.

    When you own a home, it’s important to understand the main purpose of homeowners’ insurance – to protect you from major risks like fires, hail, explosions, theft and wind storms. What it doesn’t cover is flooding, earthquakes or everyday wear and tear — or poor maintenance.

    It’s crucial for homeowners to learn about proper home maintenance. Not only can regular upkeep on the house help homeowners avoid paying for major repairs out of their own pocket, it can also help deter insurance claims that could bring a spike in premiums.

    Above are nine home maintenance tips that could save you money, future headaches and keep your homes safe.

  • The BREAKDOWN of Equipment Breakdown Coverage

    The BREAKDOWN of Equipment Breakdown Coverage

    Lawley can help you manage unexpected equipment breakdown on your home

    Sudden and accidental breakdowns of your home’s internal systems can disrupt the peace and relaxation you enjoy at home. During the hottest month of the year, imagine coming home from vacation to discover that you have no working air conditioning due to an electrical short that damaged the compressor. However, you can obtain equipment breakdown insurance to help you recover from such an accident.

    Helping to Manage Breakdowns
    Equipment breakdown coverage helps you manage unexpected, sudden and accidental mechanical or electrical breakdowns (wear and tear is not covered) and cover the cost of diagnosing and repairing insured equipment and more:

    • Additional living expense – Make yourself at home when you are displaced with a daily accommodation stipend to cover expenses while you are unable to enjoy your home due to a covered loss
    • Go green – Replace covered equipment that cannot be repaired with comparable equipment that is better for the environment

    Covering a Variety of Equipment
    In addition to heating and cooling systems, you can receive coverage for systems supporting your homes internal environment, including equipment that generates, transmits or utilizes energy: computer equipment, home theater and audio system equipment, wine cooling units, swimming pool equipment, refrigerators and other appliances.

    Covering Other Structures
    Coverage can extend to the equipment used in another structure on your premises, such as a pool house or outbuilding.

    Choosing the Right Protection for You
    Because every home is unique, you should choose from different coverage levels and different deductible amounts for the coverage that’s right for you and your home. At Lawley, our Personal Insurance team can go over the options with you to make sure you get what’s best for you and your family.

  • Do I Need Insurance For My Food Truck?

    Do I Need Insurance For My Food Truck?

    There’s no doubt about it, food trucks are the craze. Who remembers being 16 years old and working a summer job? During lunch, you would make your way over to a food truck for a bologna and cheese or, if you were feeling adventurous, a burrito. These days, you can make your way down to a food truck event and enjoy everything from sushi and Indian curries to vegan delights and Texas Style BBQ. There is no doubt the food truck has come a long way and offers even the most discriminating foodie a variety of gourmet delights.

    As this business segment continues to grow, so will the need for the insurance industry to adapt and offer these modern entrepreneurs advice and protection for their business. Food truck owners and operators have many unique concerns when looking for insurance protection. Since the food truck industry is really a niche all to its own, food truck owners will find themselves best served by aligning with an independent insurance broker like Lawley, that understands and specializes in their business. As with any insurance coverage you can always cut corners to save a few bucks, however the results of doing that can be catastrophic to a small food truck business. Simply put, without the right coverage you may find yourself out of the business pretty fast.

    We want to have a good understanding of your operation so we can help provide the right coverage. Here are few things that may be scrutinized about your food truck operation when determining both your eligibility and pricing for insurance coverage.

    Experience
    In the words of the late great Jimi Hendrix, “are you experienced?” Experience matters a lot to insurance companies. Any company that understands the food truck business also understands this business has a lot of new startup operations and many have been in business less than three years. This does not mean if you’re starting a new operation you won’t be able to find adequate coverage, but it will matter what your prior experience has been. If your background has been several years working in the restaurant or catering industry, then you’re off to a good start but be ready to share your background in detail. If you’re not coming from the food service industry, we will need to understand your career change, business plan, and available resources in much greater detail. If you’re an experienced operator, then a review of your prior loss history, if any, will be conducted.

    Mobility
    It’s a pretty simple theory, but the more you’re on the road the more chance you have for an accident. It’s expected your truck will be on the move but exposure for a truck moving three times a week will differ greatly from one moving three times a day. We will want to have a good understanding of your operation from your preparation practices to hours and locations.

    Your Truck
    We will need to know the condition of, cost of, and special equipment associated with your truck or trailer. Will you be using propane? Do you have a proper ANSUL (fire suppression) system? What other items are permanently attached to your truck?

    Operations
    We will need to know as much as possible about your day-to-day operations to determine whether or not certain coverages are needed. Some questions you may be asked include:

    • Are you operating just as a food truck or are you also catering?
    • Will you be serving alcohol or are you interested in expanding to offer it? You may need liquor liability.
    • Are you accepting cash? Are you protected in the event of a robbery?
    • If you suffer a loss, how long will you be able to last with the loss of your business income? How soon would you be able to be up and running again?
    • Will you have a home office or other location for a business office or commissary to prepare food? What are your exposures at these locations?
    • Will you have staff or bring on extra help as needed, and will that require workers’ compensation insurance?
    • What other requirements or limits will a certain event holder or venue require? Will there be an umbrella, workers’ comp or additional insured requirement that will need to be addressed?
    • How much could you afford to financially deal with a food contamination or spoilage issue?

    Check with us at Lawley to see what services we can offer to you. From quick turn arounds on certificates to exploring all of your needs in detail, we are here for you. Contact us today!

  • Casey Machine Wins Two Wellness Awards as a Member of the Healthy Manufacturers of New York State Insurance Consortium (HMNYS)

    Casey Machine Wins Two Wellness Awards as a Member of the Healthy Manufacturers of New York State Insurance Consortium (HMNYS)

    Lawley is proud to support and congratulate Casey Machine as they accept two corporate wellness awards as part of their participation in a 2017 wellness competition created by the Healthy Manufacturers of New York State Insurance Consortium (HMNYS).

    HMNYS is an insurance purchasing Consortium (a group of allied companies) exclusively established to align manufacturers with 101 or more full time equivalent employees. Their main goal is to provide the best employee benefits for the companies in our group at the most competitive cost while reducing medical claims long term.

    The HMNYS Wellness Committee developed the following annual competitive event aimed at getting covered employees, and their eligible dependents to better utilize the NO COST preventative care services provided by Univera Healthcare.

    The competitive event ran from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. At the end of the wellness event, the HMNYS Company with the highest percentage of participation for one or both of the two categories below were deemed Wellness Winner(s). The categories were as follows:

    • Category 1: Employees with Univera Healthcare coverage through participating HMNYS companies that receive their annual physical with their primary care physician or OBGYN.
    • Category 2: Covered dependents of employees with Univera Healthcare coverage through participating HMNYS companies that receive their annual physical or well child visit with their primary care physician or OBGYN.

    Univera Healthcare was responsible for tracking and reporting the participation rate for all competing companies each month. Companies were responsible for developing their own incentive plans to help generate increased participation among their respective employees and covered dependents. Companies were also responsible for submitting, to the HMNYS Wellness Committee, wellness-related suggestions for how their prize money would be spent at the end of the year. A final year-end report was provided to determine our Wellness Winning organization(s). This report showed that Casey Machine had won in BOTH categories. This means that they were awarded:

    • Category 1: $750
    • Category 2: $750

    Again, we congratulate all participants for encouraging their employees to become healthier by using preventative care. Other companies enrolled in HMNYS and in the competition include:

    • Ascension Industries Inc.
    • Harper International Corporation
    • Polymer Conversions, Inc.
    • Seal & Design Inc
    • Quorum Group LLC
    • Taylor Devices
    • Zehnder Rittling

    The HMNYS is always looking at taking on new, qualified members. Contact us for more information.

  • Is An Injury Preventing You From Working? Long-Term Disability Can Help

    Is An Injury Preventing You From Working? Long-Term Disability Can Help

    Disability insurance is coverage that provides you with income protection should you lose time on the job due to an injury or illness. With disability coverage, you receive partial replacement of lost income.

    For working-age individuals, disability refers to a medical condition that reduces your ability to perform your job duties.

    What Is Long-term Disability Insurance (LTD)?

    LTD is a type of disability insurance coverage that pays employees a set percentage of their regular income after a specified waiting period. For example, if a worker is covered under short-term disability (STD) insurance as well, the LTD insurance would kick in once the STD policy is exhausted, typically after three to six months.

    LTD insurance protects workers in the event they become disabled for a prolonged period prior to retirement. LTD policies are often offered through employers as part of a standard benefits package.

    The length of LTD plans varies; some may be limited to a period between two and 10 years, while other plans continue paying out until age 65.

    Why Is Disability Insurance So Important?

    The risk of disability is greater than most employees realize. When you become disabled and lose time at work, your source of income is eliminated. In addition to lost income, you are most likely experiencing an increase in medical expenses to deal with your disabling injury or illness.

    What Is Supplemental Disability Insurance?

    Traditional medical insurance doesn’t cover every expense related to an injury or illness. Bills and expenses can continue to add up, especially if you have to stop working and lose your income.

    Long-term disability plans may be limited to a period between two and 10 years, while other plans continue paying out until age 65.

    In addition, the policy offered by your employer may not be enough to cover your financial needs in the event of a disability. Supplemental insurance is additional coverage that can help you pay whatever expenses may not be covered by your medical plan or employer’s disability policy.

    If you decide that the coverage offered through your employer-sponsored group plan does not adequately fill your personal needs, you should contact us at Lawley to inquire about individual disability insurance coverage.

  • Lawley’s Fred Holender Takes Part in Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C., Visits with Lawmakers

    Lawley’s Fred Holender Takes Part in Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C., Visits with Lawmakers

    WASHINGTON — Fred Holender of Amherst joined with hundreds of his fellow agents from across the country as part of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents’ 2018 Federal Legislative Summit. Holender also serves as President of the Professional Insurance Agents of New York.

    Participants spent two days, April 24 – 25, visiting with their U.S. Representatives and Senators on Capitol Hill, personally advocating on behalf of Professional Insurance Agents, their clients and the American free enterprise system.

    “Legislative victories on our issues are made possible by the continued commitment and involvement by PIA members. It’s part of our year-round coordinated program of grassroots advocacy,” said Fred Holender of Lawley.

    PIA members advocated for members of Congress and their staffs to defend state regulation of insurance, abolish, or scale back, the Federal Insurance Office (FIO), provide a long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, protect a strong and stable crop insurance program as part of the 2018 Farm Bill, and reinstate fair and just compensation in healthcare. The FLS was capped off with a Congressional reception on Capitol Hill with several U.S. Representatives in attendance.

    “Many of the issues of critical importance to local insurance agents and their customers are in play in Congress this year. That’s why it is so important they we connect with our elected representatives on Capitol Hill, up close and personal,” Fred Holender said.

    During the FLS, PIA’s executive committee, led by PIA National President Tim Russell (CT) presented its Legislator of the Year Award to Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), in recognition of his leadership on PIA’s legislative priorities, including supporting the Access to Independent Health Insurance Advisors Act (H.R. 4575), the Middle-Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act (H.R. 173), and the federal crop insurance program.

    ABOUT PIA
    Founded in 1931, PIA is a national trade association that represents member insurance agents and their employees who sell and service all kinds of insurance, but specialize in coverage of automobiles, homes and businesses. PIA members are Local Agents Serving Main Street America SM. PIA’s web address is www.pia.org

    ABOUT LAWLEY
    Lawley is a privately-owned, independent regional insurance firm specializing in property, casualty and personal insurance, employee benefits, and risk management consulting. Lawley is ranked among the 100 Largest Insurance Brokers in the U.S., according to Business Insurance magazine. For over 60 years, Lawley’s team of more than 400 associates have developed customized property, casualty, surety and benefits insurance programs for businesses and municipalities of all sizes along with personalized protection for individuals and their families.

    Headquartered in Buffalo, NY, Lawley has branch offices across New York in Amherst, Batavia, Dunkirk, Mahopac, Plainview, Purchase and Rochester along with Darien, Connecticut and Florham Park, New Jersey. To find out more, visit lawleyinsurance.com.

    ABOUT FRED HOLENDER
    Read Fred’s bio by clicking here.