This week I saw the movie “The Santa Clause,” starring Tim Allen, for the first time. Some may find it hard to believe that, although the movie came out almost 27 years ago in 1994, I had never seen it. I’m not sure why. I suppose I’ve been waiting for the book to come out.…
Goodbye, Dad
My father was born on December 20, 1919. This Sunday he would have been 101 years old. I had made travel arrangements and intended to be with him for his birthday over the weekend. Unfortunately, we will not be celebrating that day, and he will not get to see that milestone. My father passed away two days…
Send Me Your Degrading Photographs and Videos
In this day of political angst and division, there is one thing we should all be able to agree on. Language matters. The words we choose can influence people’s perception, attitude and actions. That is the concept behind “Workers’ Recovery;” the idea of rebranding the workers’ compensation industry. The change of one simple word could…
Sorry I Missed Your Giving Tuesday
If ever there was a good example of the phrase “everything in moderation,” Giving Tuesday would be it. For those of you unaware, “Giving Tuesday” is, according to Wikipedia, the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving here in the United States. It follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It is touted as a “global generosity movement unleashing…
Was Grocer Negligent in the Early Days of COVID?
A lawsuit has been filed by the family of a Publix deli worker alleging he died of COVID because the Florida based company prohibited employees from wearing masks during the early days of the pandemic. The suit claims the deceased employee was not allowed to wear a mask because “Publix feared that mask-wearing employees would frighten customers.”…
Grading Workers' Comp on The Pivot or a Curve
The virtual All Committee Conference of the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators (SAWCA) concluded yesterday after two full days of discussions over all things workers’ comp. One of the things discussed in two of the sessions was the concept of “grading” the industry on its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the speakers gave the…
Tell Me I'm Wrong. The Workers' Comp Claim Process Went Virtual Long Before COVID
I was on a panel yesterday as part of the National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network (NWCDN) Annual Conference. We were discussing life now and in the future in the “virtual world.” At one point the topic turned to the challenges of claims management in a virtual environment. My fellow panelists made great comments about having…
Kids' Chance is a Family That Changes Lives
November 9-13 is Kids’ Chance Awareness Week. This article, originally published April 17, 2016, highlights the importance of this terrific organization. To learn more about Kids’ Chance, go to https://www.kidschance.org. _______________________________________ I spent last Friday and Saturday in Little Rock, Arkansas, attending the annual convention of Kids’ Chance, an organization that provides scholarships and secondary…
Slippery Protection for Rioters on the Job
We get a tremendous number of press releases and announcements from a variety of companies; all hoping to catch the eye of an editor and gain some publicity for their cause or product. Many of these releases have nothing to do with the workers’ compensation industry. It just seems we’ve landed on mail lists as…
The NWCDN Conference and the Benefits of a Virtual World
The planning and work have been intense. Multiple stages running simultaneous events. State and regional workers’ compensation updates. Excellent speakers. Even a series of video shorts discussing what industry experts have learned from COVID. The National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network (NWCDN) Annual Conference will in many ways be bigger than ever before, and it won’t have a…