I am in Destin, FL this morning, at the Annual Conference of the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators, commonly known as SAWCA. I am scheduled to moderate a panel here Friday entitled “Things That Make Bob Go Hmmmm….”. It will be the second time I have done this for the group. It is quite…
The Uber Super Duper Pooper Scooper May Lack Class (Code)
Today, dog lovers all over this great nation walk their dogs through neighborhood streets, and after they “do their business”, or “deposit a love biscuit”, the dutiful owner takes a moment to pick up the waste and carry it home with them. The telltale swinging plastic bag of poop is a sign that the responsible…
Godspeed David DePaolo; You Were What Was Right in Workers' Comp, and Your Voice Will Be Missed
David DePaolo was an oversized personality packed into a thin and agile frame. He was passionate and robust, yet reflective and compassionate. He was both funny and deadly serious. He was one of a kind. David’s death is a tragic loss for his family, his company, and the industry he served. David DePaolo, founder, president…
Be Careful What You Ask For, As This Snake May Bite Twice
I read an interesting story this morning about a workers’ compensation claim in Virginia. A woman, on her break but still inside the employer premises, was bitten on a toe by a baby Copperhead snake. She was hospitalized and received two doses of anti-venom as a result. She is also receiving therapy following her release…
Taking the National Conversation to State Legislators in Portland
This morning finds me in Portland, Oregon, where I have been invited to speak to NCOIL, the National Conference of Insurance Legislators. I will be providing an update on the 2016 Workers’ Compensation Summit and the “National Conversation” it was designed to spark for the workers’ compensation industry. It is a great opportunity, and with…
Dallas Workers' Comp Summit Issues Final Issue Priority Report
The 2016 Workers’ Compensation Summit today released the final report on its Dallas meetings. The Summit, held in May of this year, has launched an ongoing “National Conversation” intended to identify and resolve weaknesses and problems in the workers' compensation systems across the nation. The report puts the previously released “Imperative Issues” into an order of…
Workers' Comp Agents, Either Stand and Be Heard or Take a Seat and Endure the Ride
There is a big difference between the word “most” and “many”, and when taken from a greater context, it can completely alter the intent of a message. Such is the conundrum I faced when an email that referenced me was quoted in another bloggers forum. It was an email that completely misrepresented not just a…
Deadline Extended – Nominate a Winner for the Comp Laude Awards
The 5th Annual Comp Laude Awards are scheduled for this November, and they are looking for nominations to recognize professionals and injured workers' who have excelled or achieved excellent outcomes in the arena of workers' comp. The original nomination deadline was June 30th, but it has been extended to July 10, 2016. Comp Laude is…
Neighborhood Fireworks, Gun Control and the Failure of Law
Most fireworks are illegal in my state. Anything other than a hand held sparkler is strictly verboten. It is illegal to use “exploding and/or flying fireworks in Florida, which include: shells and mortars, multiple tube devices, Roman candles, rockets and firecrackers.” Someone forgot to tell the idiots in my neighborhood. It happens every year, and…