I’ll be the first to admit, I generally hate shopping, although I have been feverishly working to convince my wife I am a superior shopper. While some people can linger in stores for hours – often without buying anything, I can generally enter a store, make my targeted acquisition, and be out again in mere…
Florida Workers' Comp; Oh, We're in One Heckuva Tight Spot
Sometimes stories in the news are simply that; stories. You read them, you ponder the significance for those strangers who are affected by the news, and then you move on. Other times, you find yourself directly affected by the news of the day, and it leaves you with a slightly greater awareness as to the…
A Time of Thanks, A Time of Reflection
Tomorrow millions of people will sit down with family and friends, and gorge themselves on turkey, stuffing, potatoes, more stuffing, corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, bread, again with the stuffing, and pumpkin pie (which, if served correctly will have so much whipped cream on it as to render it completely unrecognizable). It will be an…
The LoweBot Robot Shows Technology May Be On a (Crushing) Roll (Over Human Employment)
For the last couple years, I have done a fair amount of speaking around the country discussing looming technological and demographic changes that will dramatically alter the workers’ compensation industry. In relation to the impact that automation and robotics eventually will have on the workforce, one of the examples I have discussed was the testing…
What We Need Is a Car That Slaps You Silly
Having just successfully passed my 56th birthday, I recognize that I am gradually, and quite comfortably, transitioning to the role of easily annoyed old fart. Things that used to irritate me internally are now much more easy to celebrate in public view, as my ability to share that irritation with those around me has improved…
Kids’ Chance Awareness Week is All About Your Awareness
I know, it sounds like a no brainer, but you’d be surprised. Kids’ Chance Awareness Week, which starts this morning and runs through November 18th, is all about awareness. Your awareness; to a cause that is helping kids in need across this country. In case you are not yet aware, Kids’ Chance is an organization…
Sharing Shafety In The Sheep Shearing Shed
We are constantly reminded that workplace accidents can happen anywhere, and people can be injured doing obscure jobs we never even think about. I was reminded of that this morning when a story out of New Zealand crossed my Cluttered Desk. According to Radio New Zealand, WorkSafe, New Zealand’s workplace health and safety regulator, has…
It Isn't About Politics, It Is About Lives
We’ve been talking a great deal about the “National Conversation” on workers’ compensation of late. Various groups are taking up the responsibility of guiding and contributing to the discussion; from the Workers’ Compensation Summit to the IAIABC, SAWCA, private companies, other interested groups and beyond. It is all an effort to identify and correct deficiencies…
How Much Support Will Injured Snowflakes Need?
I was at the CompLaude Awards & Gala last week, listening to the opening speaker, Bill Zachry. Mr. Zachry is the recently retired Group VP of Risk Management for Safeway and Albertsons grocery stores. Still active in the industry, he is currently a board member for the State Fund in California. It was an excellent…
Hobbling My Way to CompLaude
I probably got too close to someone’s Voodoo doll while I was in Salem, Oregon this week. I arrived Tuesday afternoon in preparation of delivering the Keynote presentation at the annual Oregon Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference Wednesday morning. While I felt fine when I arrived, it was while I was returning to my hotel room…