Podcast
The Comp Effect
Hosted by Todd Thams · EN
The Comp Effect podcast brings you real-world stories, actionable tips, business-friendly advise, and information to help businesses. We'll show you how focusing on your workers' compensation line of business leads to a safer work environment, more productive staff, lower expenses, and crushes your competition.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
What is a Max Debit Mod
Aug 5, 202100:07:54Tap to summarizeHave you ever heard of the max debit mod rule? In this short episode of Comp Talk, Todd breaks down what the rule is and how it actually helped an account he was working on.
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What is Consent to Rate
Jul 29, 202100:06:44Tap to summarizeHave you heard the term - Consent to Rate? Do you know what it is? In this episode of Comp Talk, Todd talks about what it is to consent to rate and why you may or may not want to do it.
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Managing Work Comp Claims at Chick-fil-A
Jul 12, 202100:55:39Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Comp Effect podcast, host Todd Thams interviews Steve Figliuolo aka "Figs" who is the Senior Risk Manager and in charge of work comp claims at Chick-fil-A Corporate Support Center. He shares his industry experience, his thoughts on managing claims, and how to pay what is owed and defend what isn't.Episode Highlights: Steve shares his background. (3:06) Steve mentions one of the first things that attracted him to Chick-fil-A. (7:35) Steve mentions his career in sales and marketing with an investigative company. (13:40) Steve shares his experience working in insurance fraud. (18:51) Steve mentions what’s most interesting about his job at Chick-fil-A. (28:06) Steve mentions how he views their nurse triage line. (33:40) Steve shares what the results have been in the last four years by changing their model from the bureaucratic system to nurse triage. (36:14) How has Steve been able to influence work comp claims? (40:12) Steve explains their onboarding process for new employees. (49:34) Key Quotes: “It's an interesting industry, because I don't know many people that really have ever directly said, I want to be involved in workers comp. And so, I think I'm one of the majority that sort of fell into this career path.” “Advocacy is probably the big buzzword in the industry right now...claim advocacy. But, we just view it as defending our reputation, and if we owe something, then we want to step up, and we want to pay for it. We want our team members to have a pleasant experience.” “I would encourage anyone out there...talk to your peers, talk to other people in the industry and see what works for them and see what doesn't work for them, and why. You never know what could be successful in your program.” Resources Mentioned: Steve Figliuolo LinkedIn Chick-fil-A Corporate Support Center Reach out to Todd Thams Direct Work Comp Thams Agency
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Should You Have a Work Comp Deductible?
Jul 8, 202100:07:22Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Comp Talk, Todd Thams talks about worker's compensation deductibles, what they are, and whether you should have one or not.
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Case Law on Mandatory Vaccinations
Jul 1, 202100:07:56Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Comp Talk, Todd Thams shares a case from Texas where a judge upheld a business's right to require Covid-19 vaccinations. Employees who chose to not get vaccinated can be rightfully terminated.
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The Bermuda Triangle of Insurance Explained
Jun 28, 202100:53:58Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Comp Effect podcast, host Todd Thams interviews Don Phin, Certified eSpeaker, Strategist, and Coach. Don stops by to explain how work comp, FMLA, and ADA interact. He also explains how focusing on work comp claims actually increases revenue.Episode Highlights: Don shares his professional background. (1:49) Don explains what most business owners and brokers don’t really know. (5:31) Don chats about margin replacement revenue ratio. (12:45) Don gives examples of customer experience and customer value. (18:44) Don explains why one of the biggest mistakes that people make is not starting the clock on the FMLA. (21:23) Don talks more in depth about ADA. (27:42) Don mentions the website, Job Accommodation Network. (30:45) Don shares one of the mistakes that people don’t often talk about. (41:04) Don mentions he’s currently reading the book entitled, BE 2.0 by Jim Collins. (48:39) Don mentions that he’s been spending more money on liquor. (49:55) Key Quotes: “What I learned dealing with those CEOs is they get the logical aspect of cost, but, they're not emotionally engaged by cost. They’re emotionally engaged by revenue. I do not want to work for a CEO who is more emotionally engaged about costs, than they are about revenue… That's the wrong CEO to work for.” - Don Phin “So many people come in and really try to magnify the pain of that modifier, and I get all that. But, after a while, people are tired of that drumbeat. Everybody tries to put them into pain.” - Don Phin “The first thing you want to make sure is that we have a good process in place for people to ask for leave… any kind of leave. So, the handbooks will have FMLA, ADA, workers comp, pregnancy, whatever else it is. But, there should be an umbrella policy that says no matter what the leave is, here's how you begin this process.” - Don Phin Resources Mentioned: Don Phin LinkedIn Don Phin Website Reach out to Todd Thams Direct Work Comp Thams Agency
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Late Reporting Increases Costs
Jun 24, 202100:10:27Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Comp Talk, Todd Thams talks about the increased costs associated with late reporting and references an NCCI Research Brief. Claims reporting in weeks 2 and 3 have increased costs by 20-70%!
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Employment Law Advice - Post COVID-19
Jun 21, 202100:42:52Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Comp Effect podcast, host Todd Thams interviews Melissa Schilling, shareholder at Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C. Melissa stops by to educate us on what businesses can legally do when bringing employees back to the office. Can you require vaccines? Can you require facemasks? Can you terminate an employee who doesn't get vaccinated? She answers all these questions and more!Episode Highlights: Melissa shares her background. (1:50) What’s Melissa’s favorite area of practice? (3:36) Melissa explains what happens if an employee doesn’t want to get vaccinated. (5:40) Melissa mentions what the Americans with Disabilities Act is all about. (11:53) What approach should employers take when it comes to anxiety? (16:18) Melissa explains why the CDC guidelines can be difficult to enforce. (38:32) Melissa mentions that she likes to read the news. (40:55) Melissa mentions that she’s been spending more money on baby gear. (41:15) Key Quotes: “For the most part, I focus on representing employers, making sure they do the right thing, and if they mess up, or alleged to mess up, then I help defend them in any sort of lawsuit.” - Melissa Schilling “Employers can do little things to incentivize their employees to get vaccinated and come up with a creative idea. Call your attorney, as to what you may be able to do in order to incentivize employees.” - Melissa Schilling “When it comes to business operations and protecting employees, the most conservative approach has always been to follow CDC guidelines.” - Melissa Schilling Resources Mentioned: Melissa Schilling LinkedIn Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C. Reach out to Todd Thams Direct Work Comp Thams Agency
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Provider Fraud Is a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry
Jun 14, 202101:05:20Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Comp Effect podcast, host Todd Thams interviews Sam King, Vice President at EMPLOYERS. Sam is no stranger to working in comp fraud. His entire career has been focused on identifying and preventing all types of work comp fraud. Learn what the MILK acronym means, how fraud occurs, and what to look for.Episode Highlights: Sam shares his background. (1:59) Sam explains why California is not a very conservative state when it comes to workers comp benefits. (10:41) Sam shares one of the schemes they’ve dealt with for years. (19:18) Sam mentions the three types of fraud in workers comp. (22:36) Sam explains what the MILK term is all about. (31:02) How does Sam’s company work to help reduce provider fraud? (39:57) Sam shares one of the biggest fraud cases he’s uncovered. (52:31) Sam mentions he’s currently reading the book entitled, Steel My Soldiers' Hearts by Col. David H. Hackworth. (1:02:04) Sam mentions that he’s been spending more money on food. (1:03:24) Sam gives a piece of advice to the listeners. (1:04:06) Key Quotes: “I think one of the things you can do as an employer is making sure you have good people that are good managers, and they're treating people right. And so, you don't have those retaliation issues.” - Sam King “So, if you got MILK, if you can prove all four elements of MILK, you can prove fraud. And, I'm talking about criminal fraud for insurance.” - Sam King “If you’re a supervisor or manager, think about that. Be a good manager and treat your employees well. Do the right thing. Don't be the jerk that people talk about.” - Sam King Resources Mentioned: Sam King LinkedIn EMPLOYERS Reach out to Todd Thams Direct Work Comp Thams Agency
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Post COVID Audits
Jun 10, 202100:10:14Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Comp Talk, Todd Thams talks about workers' compensation audits post COVID, and what businesses should be doing so they don't overpay or miss out on coverage.
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