Paul Brinkmann: How Universal and Publix handled Irma.

Universal Orlando theme park paid its employees for shifts lost to Hurricane Irma, while Publix said it didn’t provide such pay but awarded “unlimited opportunities” for employees to work overtime before and after the storm.

Publix also said it sped up holiday bonuses for employees to deal with the storm’s impact, and gave them the option of receiving pay for unused vacation time.

“Being a Florida-based company for more than 87 years, we are very aware of the impacts storms have on our associates, customers and communities. We believe our experience with and planning for storms and our sizable investment in our generators allowed us to work diligently to meet the needs of our communities,” a statement from Publix said.

The Sentinel asked several large local employers how they dealt with employees that lost time because of the storm. Disney World previously said they agreed to pay union members for lost shifts when it was closed two days. Darden Restaurants and SeaWorld didn’t respond to the inquiry.

Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said the company’s policy has been, for years, to pay employees for shifts that were scheduled but not worked because of a hurricane.

Publix also praised its employees for helping stores to remain open “as long as it was safe to do so while allowing our associates the time needed to prepare themselves and their families for Irma” and for reopening quickly after the storm. The Lakeland-based grocery chain said it has generators in almost all of its stores.

“We’ve also been closely working with our partners at United Way to help our associates navigate the resources available in their communities to assist with their needs,” the Publix statement said.

Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys on Sept. 10 as a Category 4 storm, and again at Marco Island as a Category 3 storm, marching directly north up the peninsula. According to the National Weather Service, Irma was only just at hurricane strength when it reached Orlando.

E&Y hiring

A Big Four accounting firm says it’s planning a significant expansion in Orlando, and a move into the city’s tallest building, the SunTrust Center.

Ernst & Young said it signed a lease for 7,763 square feet of space spanning the 28th floor.

The firm said it plans to create more than 150 new jobs over the next five years, in tax advisory and compliance, risk assurance and management and digital innovation.

“Clients are increasingly

turning to us for insights on how to utilize technology, design new business models and drive innovative solutions,” said Jennifer Williams, who became managing partner for the Orlando office in July.

“Our investment in talented people and new technologies gives us the resources we need to be more adaptable and respond to the dynamic environment across the state.”

EY’s announcement said job growth in Orlando makes the market ripe for its own growth, and that its office in Central Florida also connects with clients around the state.

Social-media fraud

Central Florida figures prominently in AARP’s recent warn- ings about fraud. The nation’s largest association of retired people warned in a news release Friday that fraudsters are increasingly using social media to lure in retired people and seniors.

A map that AARP uses to track reports of fraud showed a dozen recent examples in Central Florida, from people posing as government agents threatening arrests if payments aren’t made, to companies that fail to disclose recurring subscription payments after the purchase of a product.

On social media, AARP said there’s a coupon scam featuring too-good-to-be-true deals on hot items. The real goal is to charge your credit card for phony goods or products you never receive, or to collect your personal information for identity theft. There’s also a “genealogy scam” that offers to reveal your family heritage, but is really just collecting credit card information, Social Security numbers and other personal information. AARP warns people not to post any personal identification numbers or data over social media, such as an address, date of birth, or Social Security number. Got a news tip? pbrinkmann@ orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5660; Twitter, @PaulBrinkmann