Examining workers' compensation

I’ve been working in communications many years. Few people know that I once held a job handling workers' compensation claims. You learn a lot about the workplace when you see the reports. Sometimes you hear some amazing stories about injuries and workplace conditions.

I am not an attorney, but I do know that all states have workers’ compensation laws. Most were enacted during the 1920s. These statutes are designed to ensure that employees who are injured or disabled on the job are provided with lost wages, as well as medical and other benefits. These laws also provide benefits for dependents of those workers who are killed because of work-related accidents or illnesses.

For instance, the state of Pennsylvania has established the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. The agency is charged with protecting employees’ rights and making sure that employers are in compliance with the law. However, even though statutes are in place to protect employees, circumstances arise that prompt employees to seek legal counsel. For such employees, there are Philadelphia workers' compensation lawyers.

Unfortunately, there are times when employees die as a result of work-related accidents or illnesses. Families of the victims may elect to contact a Philadelphia workers' compensation attorney to consider their options.

The claims process can be complex, and employees (or their families) may be unsure about their rights under the law. In those cases, those affected may ask seek advice from Philadelphia workers' compensation attorneys.

Most of us know friends or family members who have filed workers’ comp claims. The claims are not processed overnight, and employees often want to know what to expect. An injured worker may wonder if the employer is acting in his best interests.

Claims are serious business. Employees who are injured on the job rely on their incomes to care of their families. Any employee with serious concerns has the right to call a Philadelphia workers' compensation lawyer.

It pays to know your rights under the law. Call experts in the field to make sure that you are receiving the protection you deserve.

Skyrocketing bank fees

U.S. House Democrats are urging the Federal Reserve to issue rules requiring banks to obtain approval from customers before allowing them to overdraw from their bank accounts using debit cards and automatic teller machines, a step that could include a hefty fee.

Reuters reports that the proposals would apply only to electronic fund transfers using debit cards and automatic teller machines.

The Federal Reserve is considering new rules on possibly requiring banks to offer customers an opt-in to overdraft programs or whether an opt-out mechanism is sufficient.

Overdraft fees is the next area lawmakers want to address. This comes after Congress passed a comprehensive credit card bill. Consumers had lodged complaints of hidden fees and unexpected changes to their credit card terms and billing practices.

Meanwhile, USA Today reports that banks are finding ways to boost fees, with checking accounts being the latest target. Click here for details.

Making the case for personal checks

Maybe I'm a little old-fashioned, but I still carry a checkbook. My young adult daughter, Elizabeth, holds a different view when it comes to checks. She doesn't believe she needs them. Even though I handle many of my banking transactions electronically, I still keep personal checks on hand. Elizabeth has never ordered checks. From time to time, she has come to regret this.


Occasionally, my daughter will need to pay a bill and the company doesn't have an electronic pay feature. Usually, she'll come to me with cash and ask me to write out a check. Recently, my daughter started a new job. She wanted direct deposit for her paychecks, but she didn't have a personal check that she could void. The employer also wouldn't accept starter checks. So my daughter is stuck with picking up her checks on payday and running to the bank.

Without a doubt, Americans are using paper less and less in their financial transactions. Many predict that someday we'll be a paperless society, but I'm not sure if will ever be the case.

Some of us still have a bit of "old school" in us. We like to whip out a check now and then. We're not ready to be totally dependent on plastic.

If I'm going to have checks, I want a little personalization -- something that expresses "me". I like anything that has to do with water, so checks with tropical fish are perfect.

Slumping economy impacts vacations

According to a survey by CareerBuilder.com, 35 percent of workers say they haven't gone on or aren't planning to take a vacation this year. Of those, 71 percent said they just can't afford a vacation during the recession. As a result, more people are electing to stay close to home during their time off.

Meanwhile, small business owners say that vacations and holidays are luxuries they can hardly afford. That's according to a recent survey of 750 small-business owners by credit card issuer Discover Financial Services. As these entrepreneurs continue to hunt for new clients and survive the ailing economy, they are scheduling less down time.

Is the recession impacting your leisure time?


Sources: Houston Chronicle, USA Today


Tags: Vacations, Recession, Business, Media by Sistrunk

Vacation remedies for a workaholic

I am a self-professed workaholic, and I'm way overdue for some R & R. Recently, I stumbled across some images on the Web of Telluride, Colo. It didn't take me long to learn more about this mountain community from the Telluride Tourism Board.

The mountains themselves are breathtaking, especially to someone like me, who grew up in America's central plains. When I read about Telluride's rich history and culture, I began to consider the region as a perfect vacation getaway.

If I decide to opt for a long weekend, I'd love to experience Telluride Jazz Festival, which will be held June 5-7. The event is billed as a "celebration of the art, soul, history, and future of an all-American art form." A hot-air balloon event is also taking place that weekend.

If I hold off until the first weekend in July -- the Independence Day weekend -- I could be on hand for the Red, White & Blues Concert. I'm always up for a good blues event.

Telluride is hosting 20 weekend festivals this summer, and there's something for everyone. I could even make this a family affair. Telluride has a special going right now. If I buy three plane tickets, the fourth person flies free. The 4th Flies Free offer is good for anyone purchasing three tickets if they fly into Montrose Regional Airport.

When I take my next vacation, it might be a long weekend. I might take a whole week off. Either way, if I'm in Telluride, I'll have plenty of things to enjoy.

Writing tip of the week

Letting too many people comment on the style and substance of a document you have written is a surefire way to slow down progress. It also hampers communication.

The reason is simple. People who review the document feel compelled to change a word, add a phrase or leave some other imprint, even if the copy is well written. Unfortunately, some people equate wordiness with effective writing. Some even insist on imposing out-of-date grammar and writing styles. And let's be honest. Some people simply cannot write.

If you've ever faced this problem, there is a solution: Restrict comments on style to only one or two colleagues who are skilled enough to make such comments. From the others, insist that they read only for substance and accuracy. Always make the case for simple and concise writing, and stick to your guns.

Under the weather? Google wants to know.

Are you stuffy, sneezy, or in pain? Do you go online to figure out what ails you? If so, Google wants to know.

The Internet giant has a new post on its blog -- Understanding health-related searches. The new post reads, in part:

Today we've started a temporary experiment that some people might find interesting: we're researching how Google users search the Internet when they or someone they know is feeling sick.

Understanding how people search when they're feeling sick is an important problem to solve, as it can help improve projects like Google Flu Trends, which uses aggregated search data to detect influenza epidemics. Statistics gathered in this experiment may also help Google deliver more relevant search results in the future.

Google recently announced several new efforts to enhance its search features. To read the health post in its entirety, click here.

Tags: Google, Internet, Health, Media by Sistrunk

Offbeat news

Gun Teacher Accidentally Shot Student

(United Press International)

Police said a Michigan concealed weapons teacher accidentally shot a student in the face during a demonstration.

Snake Head in Food Rattles Diner at Restaurant
(Associated Press)

A diner at a T.G.I. Friday's in upstate New York says he got a little something extra with his broccoli: a severed snake head.

Postman Bitten by Snake in a Box

(United Press International)

A British letter carrier got an unpleasant surprise when a venomous snake lurking in a post box bit him on the hand.

Man Steals 'Prisoner' T-Shirt from Jail

(Associated Press)

A 20-year-old man was locked up once again after being charged with stealing his prisoner T-shirt from a previous stint at the Fresno County Jail.

Tags: Strange News, Media by Sistrunk

Political humor

Comedian Jay Leno recently delivered these gems on his show:

The White House says as of now, it is not contained. It could continue to get worse. And they were just talking about Joe Biden.

A vacancy on the Supreme Court. This is something we haven't seen in awhile. Let's just hope the President is better at picking a justice than the justices were at picking a president.

As you may have heard, the White House has a brand-new puppy. I believe his name is Arlen Specter.

Source: U.S. News & World Report


Tags: Political Humor, Humor, Politics, Media by Sistrunk

White House steps up Web presence

The White House took a major leap into the Web 2.0 world on today, launching pages on social networks MySpace and Facebook and sending its first "tweets" on Twitter.

Content from President Obama's website WhiteHouse.gov is being fed in real time to White House profile pages on MySpace and Facebook and members of the communities can sign up as Facebook "fans" or MySpace "friends."

The White House had more than 31,000 fans on Facebook and more than 4,000 friends on MySpace within a few hours of the pages going online while more than 8,500 people had signed up as "followers" of the White House on Twitter.

"Technology has profoundly impacted how -- and where -- we all consume information and communicate with one another," the White House said in a blog post on WhiteHouse.gov titled "WhiteHouse 2.0."

The White House invited feedback from users and both the MySpace and Facebook pages were deluged with comments.

Tags: Barack Obama, Social Media, Technology, Politics, Media by Sistrunk

Intergenerational project honors preservationist

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joins two other organizations in sponsoring a photo, essay, and poetry contest "that best expresses the Sense of Wonder that you feel for the sea, the night sky, forests, birds, wildlife, and all that is beautiful to your eyes." Generations United and Rachel Carson Inc. are co-sponsors. The contest honors Rachel Carson, the late preservationist and ecologist.

In her book The Sense of Wonder (written in the 1950s and published in a magazine in 1956), Carson used lyrical passages about the beauty of nature. She enjoyed helping children develop a sense of wonder and love of nature.

Prize: Publication on the websites of EPA Aging Initiative, Generations United, and Rachel Carson Council, Inc.

Eligibility: Entries must be joint projects involving a young person under 18 and someone aged 50 or older.

Deadline: June 10, 2009.