From Bob's Cluttered Desk

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) has announced a compelling lineup of speakers and panels for its 2025 Issues & Research Conference, scheduled for March 6-7 in Phoenix, Arizona. The conference will feature prominent healthcare policy experts addressing critical challenges facing the workers’ compensation industry. Many of us look forward to this annual event, as…

This is a post that once again must come with a warning. It is not that I wish or desire to offend people. Instead, it seems that we must occasionally discuss topics that offend people. So please don’t blame me. Blame the topic. You’ve been warned. If you are easily offended, please stop reading. Now.…

I was at the gym the other day when one of my business partners phoned me. He asked if I had a couple of minutes to talk, and I told him that I could since I was just “on the treadmill” at the gym. He was delighted to hear that and delivered effusive praise for…

Most people at this point are familiar with the phrase “jumping the shark.” Those of us old enough to remember its origins know that it developed from an episode of the 1970’s show “Happy Days,” that consisted of the persistently cool Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli jumping a shark on water skis. The stunt came late in…

All of the fervor around artificial intelligence of late has been largely focused on how fast the technology is advancing. Indeed, as a personal consumer of significant AI services today, I can tell you that even in the last 12 months the advances have been incredible. However, an article came across my Cluttered Desk earlier…

Well, the year 2025 has dawned upon us. I actually wanted a fancier way to say that, something more formal to ring in the new year. However, my feeble mind struggled with the task, so I asked one of my AI assistants to provide me with a cleverer way to phrase that opening line. It…

In a tragic incident this week, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down while entering a hotel for an investor’s conference in New York City. While (as of this writing) the suspect has not yet been apprehended and the motive remains unknown, undoubtedly, many in this country, myself included, reached an immediate conclusion. Disgruntled policyholder.  Or…

In the bustling world of workers’ compensation, where policies and procedures often overshadow the human element, it’s easy to forget the real lives impacted by workplace injuries. Enter Kids’ Chance Awareness Week, a beacon of hope and a reminder that behind every claim number lies a family, and often, children whose futures hang in the…

The AI revolution is speeding ahead at a breakneck speed, only surpassed by humans’ fear that we are putting ourselves on the brink of destruction by developing this technology. It may be a legitimate concern if mankind doesn’t employ safeguards. Fortunately, I have a foolproof plan to protect humanity from its shortsighted foibles.  I’ll get…

There is nothing like an excellent outdoor team-building experience to bolster morale and improve performance. Unless, of course, your team abandons one member of your crew on a mountain and leaves them to die. That could potentially negate the very positive effects intended by the exercise. Last August, co-workers left a Colorado man alone atop Mount…