From Bob's Cluttered Desk

I’ll admit it. I have a good sense of humor. People tell me I am funny. I’ve always taken it as a compliment. Until now. Turns out it just means I am a crazy bastard. Science has proven that now. Some stupid study just published in the British Journal of Psychiatry has determined that comedians…

I am traveling this week to Louisiana, where I will be the Keynote Speaker Thursday at the 14th Annual Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference. While any conference that has both the word “Educational” in the title and me on the agenda seems to have conflicting objectives, it appears the organizers have done a good job…

There is an article out today that tells us “high flyers”, or corporate “overachievers”, are at a greater risk of isolation and depression from internet addiction than their slack-a-day couldn't give a rat's ass counterparts. New studies apparently have determined that “Over-achievers are at risk of becoming addicted to the internet because of the pressure…

First off, this is not an article celebrating the recent legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado. That would be titled “Fire Up the Fatties”. Admittedly, calling people “Fatties” is offensive, even when the author using that term is a doughboy himself. However, that title was more likely to get your attention and draw you in…

I have appeared on several national “Bloggers Panels” in the last couple years with fellow blogger David Depaolo. I first met David over a decade ago as a friendly competitor, but in recent years, through our blogging activity, have come to know him better and think of him today as simply a friend. We have…

Sometimes I wonder why people even try. Years ago I was dealing with a vendor I was forced to use as part of a companywide contract. They were awful. They showed up late, did an inadequate job and weren’t friendly to me or my staff. Complaints to my superiors did not help, as the decision…

Resolutions are for pansies. Every New Year people seem to make their annual resolutions designed to improve their personal health and well being. Most of us are lucky to get just a few days out of them before their battered and broken remnants are hauled away in the first week of the New Year’s trash.…

In 2011 I wrote what was to be my holiday message send off for that particular season. Last year I chose to republish that message, partly because I was woefully behind in my scheduled Christmas gift acquisition plan, but mostly because I could not think of anything better to say than I had the year…

Life would be a lot easier if we could keep idiots out of the workplace. The hiring and selection process for any employer is one of the most critical functions they must perform. After all, as a business, we are only as good as the biggest idiot we employ, so it stands to reason that…

Underlying rumblings in the workers’ compensation industry have for years lamented a perceived reduction in both the training of and investment in claims handling professionals. To my knowledge, this feeling, or observation by many has been anecdotal and osmotic by nature, gleaned from casual and professional observations over the years. As far as I know,…