We just came across a survey that was conducted of 1,000 people last year that disclosed what the top ten irritants tend to be for people in the workplace. It turns out that the primary irritant for people on the job is other people on the job. Beyond that, it broke down in the following manner…
In Misguided Subrogation Conversation, Outcomes Are What Matters
An item crossed the Cluttered Desk last week that provided a terrific example of the oft misguided focus that we see in the workers’ compensation industry. It is a distraction that can waste our time, cost us money, and, worst of all, further harm already injured workers. It started with a court challenge and then…
Epic Axe Throwing and Other Dubious Conference Activities
I’m just back from the 74th Annual Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference produced by the Workers’ Compensation Institute. Held every year in Orlando, FL, it is without a doubt the biggest conference of the year. How big is it? Almost nine thousand people flock to the Orlando World Center Marriott, a 2,100-room hotel with a mammoth conference…
At WCI? Don’t Forget the Kids' Chance Volunteer Reception
It is that time of year again, where the great throng of workers’ compensation professionals converge on Orlando for days of meetings, sessions, and just a bit more than their fair share of fun. This is the 74thAnnual Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference, produced by the Workers’ Compensation Institute. Thousands of people from “coast to coast”…
Well, A Grilled Cheese Sandwich Seemed Reasonable At The Time
It’s nice when co-workers who make an error involving one of their brethren try to mend their ways with an offering of some sort. If someone accidentally drinks their fellow employees last soda from the break room refrigerator, they could immediately offer a replacement, or perhaps two. If they accidentally break a co-worker’s favorite mug,…
The Problem with Scumbags is Their Consistency
There is one gigantic problem with scumbags. Well, there are two problems, but one of them is blatantly obvious. The fact that a person is a scumbag is indeed a problem that is usually easily recognized. The lesser recognized problem is that they are so darn consistent with their scumbaggery. In the world of workers’…
At SAWCA, Honoring the Waffle Life
Last week I attended the annual conference of the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators (SAWCA) in Savannah, GA. I was once again honored to moderate the closing panel of the conference, “Things That Make Bob Go, Hmmmmm…” I have been doing these panels for 4 years now. I truly appreciate SAWCA extending this opportunity…
When Good Animals Go Bad In the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon
We are tempted to say that it is just déjà vu all over again. But in reality, it is really just the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon all over again. Baader-Meinhof is the phenomenon where you come across some unique piece of information that might have been previously unknown to you; and then, almost inexplicably, you encounter the…
Ode to Employer Ignorance (Or the Perils of an Inbred Hiring Strategy)
An interesting thing happened when I was walking into the gym the other day. It was a reminder of the constant peril that employers face regarding the less than stellar behavior of their employees. That peril is multiplied when combined with the improper hiring and training of front-line supervisors. Now, I know what you are…
Who Will Establish "Excellence in Recovery" Best Practices for Workers' Compensation Claims Handling?
Earlier this week we discussed the concept of “caseload caps” for adjusters and claims handlers who manage workers’ compensation injury cases. It was a topic that produced a decent amount of comment activity, both within this blog, on LinkedIn and elsewhere. Many people appeared more prepared to endorse the idea than originally anticipated. Some added…