What Kind of Moron Does That???

People in my organization have been strongly suggesting that we start a podcast to discuss whatever is hot in workers’ compensation. Apparently, podcasts are the latest thing, and we, according to the marketing department, should always be doing the latest thing. We have acceded to their knowledge on the subject and are in the process…

WCI is Full Speed Ahead for December

This is a difficult time for companies trying to navigate the conference scene these days. Several conferences have been canceled or converted to virtual events in response to rising Covid counts around the country. People and companies have been reluctant to commit financial resources in the event a planned event does not come off. This…

On Death, Remembrance, and How We Spend Our Dash

Last week was certainly one to remember. My brother passed away a little over a week ago, on Friday, August 13th. Then, this past Friday, August 20th, two good friends both passed after valiant fights with different diseases. The differences of how the three lived, and more importantly how they died, is stark. It is…

A Workplace Violence Webinar You Couldn't Beat With a Stick

There is another Hot Seat Webinar coming up this Thursday, entitled Beating Workplace Violence in the Era of Covid. It is sponsored by Safety National. Co-host Judge David Langham and I will welcome guests Valerie Horton Rakes and Dr. Geralyn Datz. Horton Rakes is the Risk Manager for the City of Tampa Department of Human Resources-Risk…

Workers' Comp is a Detour, Not a Destination

I’ve been doing interviews the past couple of weeks as part of the “vetting” process for the upcoming Comp Laude Awards program, which will be held in November. I’ve done this before, as well as serving on the nominating committee and working as a final judge. It can be an inspirational endeavor. Comp Laude, founded by…

Who Assesses the Third-Party Assessor?

There is little doubt that cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly important topic, not just for the workers’ compensation industry but for organizations of all sizes and stripes. High-profile incidents where critical data has been either exposed or encrypted for ransom have rightfully brought a finer focus to the topic for many. The workers’ compensation industry…

Covid the Bureaucracy Buster

We’ve all heard of Conan the Barbarian. He was the fictional sword and sorcery hero who originated in pulp magazines in 1932 and has since been adapted to books, comics, and films. He is best known in the form of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who originally portrayed him on the big screen in 1982. It was a breakthrough movie for Schwarzenegger, as…