The Kansas Court of Appeals issued a decision last week that could have significant repercussions for the state. Just as importantly, it may also provide a glaring example of why we need to rethink workers’ compensation, strip it to its core and build anew to create a system that proffers a true culture of recovery.…
Ordering Participation Ribbons for the Next Hot Seat Webinar
It seems hard to believe that we are already approaching our fourth Hot Seat Webinar. As many of you know, the Hot Seat was the brainchild of Florida Deputy Chief Judge David Langham and WorkersCompensation.com, and was designed to take on important topics for the workers’ comp industry with frank and open discussion. Our next…
Building a Better Recovering Worker – The Advocate, The Adversary and The Addled
I am in Washington State this morning for the second time in just over 2 weeks. Earlier this month I spoke to the Washington Self-Insurance Association. Today I am speaking at a Vocational Conference produced by the Washington Department of Labor & Industry. My topic for this presentation is called “The Cost of Anti-Engagement.” I…
Score One for Honey
I received a letter a couple of weeks ago from a person I will not identify. The reason for the anonymity should be relatively apparent when I explain the purpose of the communication. The individual contacting me was accused of a number of felony crimes several years ago. At the time of their arrest, the…
Having Your Properly Decorated Cake and Eating It Too
This post features adult related topics presented with the usual level of decorum and political correctness you have become accustomed to from my Cluttered Desk (in other words, none). If you are easily offended by wayward words and adult oriented topics, please do not proceed. You’ve been warned. A week ago a story went viral…
2018 Best Blog Contest Produces Interesting Results
We announced the winners of our third annual Workers’ Comp Best Blogs Contest yesterday. I was very pleased and humbled to again have this blog included on the list. I want to thank the judges as well as all the people who nominated my “Cluttered Desk” for their support. Judging criteria for this program includes…
Judging a Book by Its Cover: A Mea Culpa on Face Piercing
We shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but to some degree we all do. I certainly have done so, and probably will continue to. It is, in many ways, human nature. I suppose it is important to recognize that our predispositions and assumptions are not always correct, and that we should acknowledge that fact…
For Old Curmudgeons, Robotic Barista May Be the Start of Something Beautiful
I admit, I am a conservative guy. While I prefer the term “traditional thinker,” some people would call me an old curmudgeon. Sometimes the conflicts between my traditional thinking and current trends manifest themselves in bewildered thought. And for some reason that bewildered thought sometimes arises at just about any local coffee shop. Allow me…
In Washington State and Elsewhere, Bad Guys Deserve a Different Regulatory Agency
I spoke in Washington State last week, providing the Keynote at the 47th Annual Conference of the Washington Self Insurance Association (WSIA). My presentation was followed by Joel Sacks, Director of Washington’s Department of Labor and Industry. Sacks reviewed his agency’s progress toward five goals that were established 6 years ago at the beginning of…
From the Archives: I am in a Protected Class – I Have a Problem with My Brain
Bob is on vacation this week. This post is from the Cluttered Desk archives, and was originally published on May 8, 2012. _______________________________________________ This is quite possibly the first ever, multi-media, interactive thought induction blog post – not just for the industry, but anywhere. In order for you to experience my thoughts as I describe…