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…
In Workers' Comp Benchmarking Study – Fail to Train, Feel the Pain
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,…
The Story of a Staple and a Screw
I want you to watch this very quick video, before we discuss the story of a staple and a screw. The man in the video you just saw is named Christopher Onesti. He retired from his job as a policeman for the New Jersey Transit Authority at the age of 29. State authorities ruled he…
Learning About Life and Disability from a Blind and Toothless Cat
I’ve learned a lot from a cat named Coal. Coal was surrendered to the Humane Society of Sarasota at the age of 9 by a family who could no longer afford to care for him. He had been at the shelter for several months, and adopting him out was proving difficult. In addition to being…
Workers' Comp Forms Management and Innovation by Understanding Needs
Recently I wrote about “Innovation Through Communication”, and how proper communication was an essential ingredient for innovation within the workers' compensation industry. Another important ingredient, which is an offshoot of effective communication, is understanding the needs that your target audiences have, and what solution would best solve those needs. I had an interesting conversation a…
Fighting the LinkedIn Selfie
What the heck – We’ve recently published articles on how to be an effective vendor at workers’ compensation conferences, and how not to be a drunken, lecherous moron at these same events. I might as well extend my wit and common sense wisdom to improving your LinkedIn profile. Now that we have prevented you from…
2013 LexisNexis Award Means Blog Price to Double Again
LexisNexis has issued their “Top Workers' Compensation Blogs” award for 2013, and for the third year in a row, this blog is honored to be among them. It was one of 4 listed in the National Blogs category, along with Roberto Ceniceros , Thomas A. Robinson, JD, and Lynch Ryan's Workers Comp Insider. As in…
Giving Kids' a Chance
If ever there was a worthwhile charitable cause for the workers' compensation industry, Kids' Chance is it. The charity, comprised of 28 independent state organizations and a relatively new national entity placing them under a common umbrella, exists to provide scholarships and educational assistance to children of workers who have been killed or injured on…
Could Paying Alcoholics With Booze Solve Our Opioid Problem?
Amsterdam, that progressive city known for solving prostitution, drug abuse and other social perversions by making virtually everything open and legal, has once again surged to the forefront in addressing problems of alcoholics. Their innovative solution? Hiring alcoholics to clean their streets, and paying them largely with booze. Let's all drink to that. Each member…
Working Yourself to Death
It was recently reported that a British coroner determined that the death of a young Bank of America Merrill Lynch intern was caused by fatigue from extreme working conditions. 21-year-old Moritz Erhardt was found in the shower of his London flat in August. He died of an epileptic seizure that may have been triggered by…