I hear employers complain about having to carry workers’ comp all the time. Many of them do not understand the protections that workers’ compensation coverage can provide, and instead simply view it as a “pain in the ass” mandatory expense that they must endure. They really should educate themselves as to what comp can do…
For Texas Subrogation, the Devil is in the (Policy) Details
An interesting decision has emerged from the Texas Supreme Court, and I predict there will be a whole lot of workers’ comp insurance policy revision going on in the Lone Star State as a result. The court ruled Friday that a workers’ compensation insurer was not entitled to claim settlement proceeds from an injured worker…
South Carolina Slavery Case Tells Us Attitudes Still Need to Change
I was sickened last week when I read an article written by our own Liz Carey, telling us about a restaurant manager in South Carolina who pled guilty to enslaving and abusing a mentally challenged employee. While I am certain that everyone who read that story was repulsed by what they learned, for me it…
I Hope They Didn't Spank The Monkey
You’d think the damn ICD-10 billing codes would be able to accommodate this, but no. With a bazillion different codes for every possible injury, illness or malady, you would hope someone somewhere would have seen this coming. But they didn’t. There is not a single, solitary ICD-10 code for Monkey Bite in a Home Depot.…
With Vocational Recovery Project, Washington L&I Returns to Return to Work. The Private Sector Should Pay Attention to Their Results
It was one of the most inspirational presentations I’ve seen in years. They almost sounded surprised at the comments they were making. They were clearly enthusiastic and were describing outcomes of the experiment they were part of, yet they still sounded astonished at what they were conveying. This was clearly something new and unique for…
Does Kansas Pardo Decision Affirm Legislated Disability?
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…