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November 2022
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Member News
Chief Executive Officer's Notes
As I get ready to leave PCOC this coming Friday, I just wanted to thank you for all your help over the last Chris Reardon 
Upcoming Events
CAPMA Monthly Insurance/Safety Tip
First, let’s define what we mean by best outcome. It’s when the injured employee’s discomfort is minimized, recovery is maximized, and the well-being of both the firm and employee suffer as little as possible. In the past, the employer’s focus has often been primarily on minimizing cost and settling the claim as quickly and economically as possible. But in recent years the focus has shifted in a more holistic direction toward the well-being of the employee. In addition to creating a more positive work environment, the employer benefits from reduced litigation costs and a more productive workforce because employees return to being productive members of the firm sooner. The first step in the process is making sure injured employees get help immediately with a quick evaluation of the injury. They also need answers to their questions, and most importantly, compassion. An empathetic representative of the employer, such as a registered nurse, should set the tone by making sure that not only does the injury get promptly attended to but also help the employee manage the paperwork and gain access to additional resources that may be necessary to ensure the employee’s full recovery. It’s important to be prepared to answer questions about job security, how the injured employee will get paid, how long they can expect recovery to take and so on in a caring, compassionate way. Some of the other people with resources, capabilities and responsibilities who may be important in making the claims outcome more positive for everyone include: Nurse Case Managers
Vocational Specialists
Surgery Nurse Services
Physician Advisors
Prescription Drug Management Advisors
Many if not all of these people and the functions they perform may be critical in getting the best outcome in a workers’ comp incident. But it all starts with an empathetic listener to set the stage with the injured worker in a way that is comforting, positive and reflects the goodwill of the employer. For more information or help, contact the Insurance professionals of EPIC’s PCOC Insurance Program.
Legislative Update
We are still on the high of the victory of the veto of AB 2146 (the neonic bill)! Not only was the bill vetoed but the message that the governor’s office sent to the legislature in the veto message was loud and clear: pesticide based topics belong at DPR, not anywhere else. This should set the stage for these conversations moving forward, hopefully. Now, it is up to us to work with DPR to continue to address whatever comes up so the elected officials not feel like they need to step in. On that note, the continuation of AB 2452 (the fume enforcement sunset extension bill) will need to be addressed. Assembly Member Chen, who carried the bill last year, is willing to carry it again for us. The only change at this point is that the program will have a 5 year sunset, otherwise the language of the bill will not change. That means that the counties involved will be Los Angeles, Orange, and Santa Clara. We are going to move forward with this set and discuss with any other counties that have expressed interest in joining in the future. If other counties would like to be added, we can add them in an amendment to the bill. This Fumigation Enforcement Program Extension is a good thing for the industry but if there is another issue that you feel that we should be addressing, please do not hesitate to reach out to PCOC. Thanks for all of your support this year!
Darren Van Steenwyk, M.S., BCE
PCOC Leadership Lens
"May I stress the need for courageous, intelligent, and dedicated Leadership… Leaders not in love with publicity, but in love with justice. Leaders not in love with money, but in love with humanity. Leaders who can subject their particular egos to the greatness of the cause.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I am preparing this PCOC Leadership Lens on November 8th, Election Day, early in the day, so I have no indicator of winners or losers. This is a day when we as a nation get to use our political voice by casting our ballots to elect our future leaders. As I contemplate the day and the results we will learn about soon, I can’t help but hope for leaders that would strive for the values set forth in the MLK quote above. Leaders that truly care about ideas and ideals and that put people and worthy institutions ahead of themselves. As we seek to find great leaders for our nation, we are now engaged in the same search for our association. As you probably know, Chris Reardon has tendered his resignation as Executive Vice President, effective November 18th. Chris is a leader that will be sorely missed. He was incredibly impactful as he helped captain the PCOC ship during the Covid storm over the past few years, and he has been extremely influential as we have worked hard in the regulatory and legislative arenas. Chris, thank you for your leadership. We will all miss you. As you know, every setback comes with opportunity, and to that end we are searching for our next EVP. It is critical that we find the best possible candidate for this position and to help facilitate this the Executive Committee has created a Search Committee, compiled from a great array of great leaders in our Association. Thank you to Dean Wiley, Mike Bullert, Tom Graston, Mike McKenzie, Sylvia Kenmuir, Dave Watkins and Jim Steed for stepping up and taking on this important role. And special thanks to Jim Steed for chairing this committee. With the combined experience, connections, and expertise this committee has, as well as their strong commitment to the betterment of the association, I know we can all trust that no stone will be left unturned in their search for the best possible candidates. As an association, I think it may be prudent to consider the wise words spoken by a great man, known for his intelligence and logic. Spock. No, not Dr. Spock, but Spock from Star Trek. "Change is the Essential Process of All Existence.” None of us knows what tomorrow holds for our association. But I think it is empowering to know that we all get to participate in the creation of its future success. And here’s one thing I know- That success will heavily depend upon great Leadership. It will depend upon you. If you are reading this and would like to take on a bigger Leadership role within PCOC, you have many options. You can speak with your District’s Leadership Team and let them know you’d like to help. You can consider chairing one of the statewide committees. You can work behind the scenes, supporting endeavors that are important to you. You can help with fundraising. You can provide encouragement. There’s a lot you can do. PCOC will always need fantastic leaders, and you can be one of them. By the time you read this, the nation-wide elections will already be decided. As a city, state, and nation, we will know who our elected leaders are. I pray they will be courageous, intelligent and dedicated leaders. We probably won’t yet know who our next EVP for PCOC will be. But I am confident that the right person is out there and that we will find them, and we will move forward stronger than ever, with courage, dedication, and intelligence. If you know of a potentially great candidate, please forward their info to a member of the Search Committee, or to a member of the Executive Committee. I’m looking forward to the future! "Everything Rises and Falls on Leadership.” - John Maxwell If you have Leadership ideas you’d like to share, or a topic you’d like to see explored in a future PCOC Leadership Lens, I’d love to hear from you. All the best! Frequently Requested Information
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