A 29-year-old California woman was working as a janitor for the Sequoia Union High School District in California when she claimed an injury in 2009. That injury prevented her from working, and left her unable to walk without crutches. While it is always a terrible thing to see someone injured in such a manner, we…
The Working Heroes of Sandy Hook
The tragic shooting in Connecticut last week was an abomination beyond compare; an incident that has shaken this country to its core and which leaves many of us hoping that there is indeed a hell, where the sick and twisted perpetrator will burn for all eternity. The images coming from that scene will forever be…
Naked Teacher of the Year Learns Valuable Lesson in Test of New Tenure Law
It’s as if I haven’t yet poked enough fun at public education. This morning I read a story just crying for further discussion and analysis, so with my apologies to those so inclined to defend lunacy in our schools, I bring you this topic. A fifth grade teacher from New Jersey has been fired after…
Health Management Employee Murdered by Client with Violent Criminal Past
There was a tragic story coming out of Dade City, Florida earlier this week. A 25-year old woman, Stephanie Ross, who was working as a service coordinator for Integra Health Management, was chased down a street and stabbed multiple times by the client she was sent to assist. She was pronounced dead on arrival at…
Sometimes Life Doesn't Provide Reasonable Accommodation
For today’s musings I have donned my best pair of protective underwear. I am talking first rate defensive undies; top tier asbestos lined Kevlar with integrated steel cup and skid mark resistant technology. There is a reason I take such protective measures. I need to be prepared. I am about to thoroughly enrage some disability…
Will Employers Pay for our Technology Addictions?
It is 6:00 AM, and as I sit here with my cup of coffee, warming in the soft, loving glow of my iPad, I am forced to ponder a thought, that, for many techies, would be pure heresy. Am I addicted to technology? It started innocently enough. Years ago I used to describe it to…
Establishing Race Based Performance Criteria for Employees
I am instituting a new performance measurement and accountability system for my company, largely based on the color of my employee's skin. I will expect 90 percent skill proficiency from Asian employees, 88 percent from whites, 81 percent from Hispanics, and 74 percent from African Americans. Of course, since we can apparently expect lessened proficiency…
The Maxcis Warm and Fuzzy Letter for Recovering Workers
I spoke in Michigan in October on the subject of “Breaking the Cycle of Entitlement: How Do We Get Better?” The focus of the presentation to the Michigan Self Insurers Association was centered on improving the claims handling mindset of the industry; to move from one of “Process and Close” to that of “Recover and…
He Must Have Been Packing a Really Big Weapon
There is a renewed legal debate going on in Alabama about allowing employees to have a gun at their workplace, despite any restrictions on such items by their employers. While the debate there rages between the right to bear arms and the rights of property owners, a simple assault case in Maine shows us that…
You Are a Thought Leader When Dilbert Says You Are
I am not comfortable with much of the new “corporate speak” that is invading our business vernacular. I do not like the phrase “thought leader”, and am tired of hearing about “paradigm shifts”. Sometime over the last decade managers became “leaders”. I was probably in the bathroom and missed that moment. “Visionary” is vastly overused…