For the last 5 years I have enjoyed the tremendous honor of serving as president of my homeowners' association. And by tremendous honor, I mean I am the only one stupid enough to take on and maintain that wholly detestable and thankless position. I have served with mostly the same people on the HOA board…
I Don't Even Know How to Title This Workplace Death by Masturbation Story
Normally when a sordid story crosses the Cluttered Desk, especially one that is work related as part of its foundation, I do not hesitate to wade in and opine about the facts of the saga. Rarely one to be concerned with potential offense, I delve in and harangue away to my heart's content. Yet once…
When a High Profile Workplace Death Lands Strangely Near Home
The entire nation mourned last week when Captain Jeff Kuss, a member of the elite flight demonstration squadron The Blue Angels, was killed while conducting a practice flight for an air show in Tennessee. It was a national tragedy, a loss of a dedicated pilot representing the very best our country has to offer. I,…
With Conference Pay to Play, RIMS Integrity May Not Stay
An email that came out last week is causing a bit of buzz and consternation within the workers' comp “speaking community”. It was sent by Stuart Ruff, Vice President Events and Education for RIMS, the international “Risk Management Society” that produces the largest annual risk-centric conference in the country. The email, published yesterday by friend…
Is it Me, or is the World Getting Weirder?
It is 2016. The presumptive choices for President of the United States this year appear to be Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The president-elect of the Philippines is urging residents to shoot and kill suspected drug dealers. Vladimir Putin can't seem to keep his shirt on, while his fighter jets won't get off our Navy's…
Salesman, Know Thy Customers' Needs Well
It was an unusual question given the topic of the conference. It was a good query, nonetheless, and it resonated with me for a variety of reasons. Usually at workers' compensation conferences and forums, the discussion centers around claims, underwriting, medical, fraud, red flags and the like. At this particular session, which was a live…
The Conversation: Vendor Vamping and Scandalous Scrappy Scooter Scommentary
It was a comment I never saw coming. A comment that, as difficult as it may seem, left me speechless for a number of minutes. Given the context in which the feedback existed it was truly an unexpected surprise. More importantly, it highlighted one of our industry's biggest challenges as we struggle to reform our…
Meeting My Bestest Friend Mitch
Last July I penned an article called “It's Not Easy Being Me”, where, among other things, I confessed that I am terrible at remembering names and faces, even occasionally forgetting that I have met people at prior conferences. This remains an issue for me. It is awkward when you tell a person that it is…
The Conversation: "I Am So Thankful I Didn't Get That Scooter"
One of the more compelling contributions to the recent 2016 Workers' Compensation Summit in Dallas (The “National Conversation”) came from someone likely unaccustomed to the environment of the intense two days of meetings. I included her on the list of 40 invited participants for two distinct reasons. First and foremost, she has demonstrated the ability…
Anti-Diarrheal Makes Crappy Recreational Drug
This story came to me from West Virginia a couple weeks ago, but as you may know we've been too immersed in talking about a conversation for workers' comp to get to any truly serious stories. The “conversation” will be back on the table later this week, but for this particular Monday, we are shifting…