It has become obvious to me that political correctness, that creeping, insidious thought-cancer that has permeated every fiber of our societal existence, is here to stay. It is equally obvious to me that some of you Neanderthals that read my blog are still struggling with the concept, and this may be limiting your social and…
Governor Kitzhaber, Is Oregon the New North Dakota?
Dear Governor Kitzhaber, I have been very critical in the past of the Peoples Republic of North Dakota (PRND), for the treatment received by a past director of Workforce Safety & Insurance. WSI is North Dakota’s state fund for workers’ compensation insurance, similar to your SAIF Corporation, except it is monopolistic. Unlike your agency it…
McDonald's Workers Fight to Automate Their Jobs
The news out of Illinois this morning tells us that up to 2,000 people, including 325 uniformed employees, descended on McDonalds' Headquarters yesterday in advance of the company's annual shareholder meeting to demand that the company pay their workers' “what they are worth”. I am not privy to the convoluted calculations involved, and have no…
Oh, We ALMOST Had 11 Million!
It was so close. Right there, brazenly displayed at the top of the Drudge Report, the headline; RECORD 10,996,447 ON DISABILITY. That is the number of Americans now officially “disabled” and receiving benefits from Social Security as of the end of April. We only needed 3,553 more to make that very impressive 11,000,000 mark! Frankly,…
Few Were SAIF at the Salem Witch Trials
The resemblance is uncanny. Rapacious accusations of mortal sin, followed by a swift tribunal replete with vague and unsubstantiated evidence. A decisive summation determines the accused is a witch, and they are summarily executed, vanquishing from this noblest earth an evil and repugnant soul; this despite protestations from some professing the innocence of the accused,…
Samsung Says It’s Sorry and Promises to Take Care of Sick Workers
In a somewhat unusual action, Samsung has apologized to those of its workers who have fallen ill while working for the company, and is promising compensation to sufferers of leukemia and other ailments. Samsung CEO Kwon Oh-hyun has issued a “deep apology” to those workers who have become ill as a result of working for…
With the Sacking of the CEO, Is Leadership Safe at SAIF?
Friday the Board of Directors of the Oregon State Fund, SAIF Corporation, fired their CEO John Plotkin after just 3 months on the job. He was terminated in a unanimous vote for “making inappropriate comments” to employees. Plotkin came to SAIF from Colorado’s Pinnacol Assurance, where he had served as Interim CEO and vice-chair of…
How Defending Your Honor Can Kill Your Business
As tempting as it is to respond to negative or false statements people may make about you or your business, there was a story this week telling us that sometimes it may be better to suck it up and take the hit; that the result of fighting and winning the battle may end up causing…
But, But, But, I Liked My Group Health Plan….
I got the letter Monday at my house. Barack Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have determined that my Aetna health insurance plan, the one I was told I could keep if I liked, is not adequate, does not meet their standards, and will not be renewed. Now, this is part of an employer group…
Wrapping Up on RIMS 2014
Well, another big RIMS conference has come and gone, and I thought I would take a few minutes to reflect as we adjust back to the humdrum routine of our daily lives. Denver was a good, albeit cold, host city for the conference this year. Hotels were reasonable and close to the Conference Center, and…