The Keynote at this week’s DMEC Annual Conference in San Francisco provided an interesting presentation about generational shifts and differences happening in the workplace today. The speaker, best selling author Lindsey Pollak, a seemingly disgruntled Gen-X’r (not really) and “nationally recognized Millennial workplace expert”, gave the audience an informative and entertaining look at the generational…
I’m At A Disability Conference, Where Are My Workers' Comp Peeps?
There is far more to Disability Management than just the embracing of workers' compensation and it's injury related issues. That does not mean, however, that the workers' compensation community should not fully embrace the concept of Disability Management. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be happening. I am attending the annual conference of the Disability…
The Feds Are Looking to Act on Disability and RTW: Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is conducting a “Policy Collaborative” called “Establishing Work and Full Participation as Accountable Health Outcomes Online Dialogue”. That is a fancy shmancy policy wonky way of saying, “We're looking for ways to keep injured people working and contributing instead of languishing on disability, and…
Headed to DMEC San Francisco
I am traveling to San Francisco next week to attend the annual conference of the Disability Management Employer Coalition. It will be the first time I have attended this particular event. The conference runs August 2 – 5, 2015 at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis Hotel. Founded in 1992, the Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC)…
For This We Shall Not Stand: Living Is Major Contributor to Death
We live in difficult times. Economic stagnation, changing societal standards, nuclear proliferation, increasing obesity and disease, political upheaval, Justin Bieber, racial strife, and the unexplainable popularity of the Kardashians, just to name a few. But these things are minor compared to the really big issue of the day; trying to keep abreast of the latest…
Ignorant Confessions of Sleep Apnea Man
I must admit, there are elements of medical care in the United States that just plumb confound me. One of those elements is the requirement of a prescription for the most mundane of items, particularly when you think about where we could be focusing our efforts. Please indulge me a moment while I ‘splain the…
Florida Gulf Coast, We’re Roasting Les McCurdy
If you live on the west coast of Florida, there is a better than average chance you've heard of Les McCurdy. For over twenty-five years, his operation, McCurdy's Comedy Club, has brought top name talent to Sarasota. Les has great connections in the industry. Larry the Cable Guy gives Les credit for helping start his…
Online and Hacked in the Haughty Naughty
Oh, my, there must be no joy in Muddville this evening. At the very least some sleepless nights must be occurring somewhere out there in the hinterlands. It is only natural, after all, when the extra marital affair website you’ve subscribed to gets hacked, and everything about your perverted sexual life is about to be…
New Mexico Exemption Ruling Highlights Dichotomy of Comp
I find the world of workers’ compensation quite fascinating at times. It is a world that seemingly never changes, yet is always in flux. It is a legalistic, actuarily driven universe awash in human drama, where there is seemingly no end to conflict or the suspense of competition. A great example of this occurred last…
Getting Testy Over Unauthorized Painting
An employment lawsuit reported today in the CompNewsNetwork caught my eye for reasons you will soon appreciate. The lawsuit was filed by a Mingo County, West Virginia mine worker who claims that his foreman painted his genitals white after he complained of exposure to excessive amounts of coal dust while working. And the lawsuit claims…