Self-Insurance Podcast with Kaya Stanley

Michael Adreani is a partner at Roxborough, Pomerance, Nye & Adreani, where he advises employers on employment and labor law and disputes involving workers’ compensation carriers.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What arbitration agreements do and why employers use them to limit class-action exposure
• Why an individual arbitration can still cost an employer six figures
• When Michael recommends compelling arbitration and when he prefers court
• How the 2024 PAGA reforms affect the arbitration decision
• What the pending Leeper case could mean for representative PAGA claims
• Why restaurant employers should have arbitration agreements reviewed regularly
• Which documentation and payroll records can help reduce employment-law risk

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Guest Overview

01:33 What Is Arbitration & Why It Matters

02:12 Class Actions, Runaway Juries & Cost of Arbitration

04:23 When to Compel Arbitration vs. Go to Court

08:28 PAGA Reform & The Leeper Case

11:57 Who Pays for Arbitration & Employer Pressure

12:49 Best Practices & Key Takeaways

Resources: https://www.crmbc.com/

Topic requests: [email protected]

Please visit CRMBC for our latest news.
Follow us on LinkedIn for content highlights.
See the latest videos on YouTube to see us in action.
And connect with CEO Kaya Stanley on LinkedIn.

Randy Bugg is Senior Vice President at Pacific Claims Management, CRMBC’s third-party claims administrator. He has 34 years of experience in workers’ compensation claims and works with self-insured employers to improve claim outcomes and control costs.

In this episode, Randy joins Kaya Stanley to discuss early claims settlement, why some workers’ comp claims drag on, how open claims can become more expensive over time, and what restaurant operators can do early to help the claims team evaluate a file.

You’ll hear about:

•  What early claims settlement means in workers’ comp 
•  How early resolution can help employers control claim costs 
•  Why some claims settle quickly while others stay open 
•  How return-to-work plans can affect claim outcomes 
•  What CNR settlements are and why they matter 
•  How medical inflation is increasing workers’ comp claim expenses 
•  What restaurant operators should document early 
•  Why video, witnesses, and communication with the TPA can make a difference 

Resources: https://www.crmbc.com/

Topic requests: [email protected]

Please visit CRMBC for our latest news.
Follow us on LinkedIn for content highlights.
See the latest videos on YouTube to see us in action.
And connect with CEO Kaya Stanley on LinkedIn.

Harsha Vashisht is the co-founder and CTO of Dyssonance AI and a former engineering leader at Google and Uber Eats.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
How AI can reduce customer support load, using a real Uber Eats example
How AI agents can monitor reviews and competitors to surface patterns
How restaurant operators can use AI to improve service, reviews, and local marketing
A simple prompting method to get better answers fast
Why operators should be careful with POS data, customer data, and internal policies

Read the companion article: https://www.crmbc.com/ai-for-restaurant-operators-start-with-a-problem/

Resources: https://www.crmbc.com/

Topic requests: [email protected]

Please visit CRMBC for our latest news.
Follow us on LinkedIn for content highlights.
See the latest videos on YouTube to see us in action.
And connect with CEO Kaya Stanley on LinkedIn.

Benjamin Burch is a data scientist and associate vice president at Midwest Employers Casualty, where he leads a team building machine learning models and AI solutions for insurance.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
How AI can support workers’ comp claims decisions without replacing people
Why does the Midwest frame AI as assisted intelligence?
How AI helps claims teams review unstructured data, large files, and claim notes
Where human judgment still matters in treatment, compensation, and negotiation
Why governance, security, and private AI tools matter when claim data is involved
How restaurant operators can think about AI in practical, problem-first terms

Resources: https://www.crmbc.com/

Topic requests: [email protected]

Please visit CRMBC for our latest news.
Follow us on LinkedIn for content highlights.
See the latest videos on YouTube to see us in action.
And connect with CEO Kaya Stanley on LinkedIn.

Michael Adreani is an attorney and partner at Roxborough, Pomerance, Nye & Adreani, where he advises businesses on employment, labor, insurance, and workers’ compensation issues.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
 What PAGA is and why it matters for California restaurant operators
 What changed under the 2024 PAGA reforms
 Why early evaluation conferences are not always working as expected
 What operators can do now to reduce risk

Resources: https://www.crmbc.com/

Topic requests: [email protected]

Chapters
 00:18 Introduction
 02:01 What Is PAGA?
 03:10 PAGA Abuses
 08:02 2024 Reforms
 10:22 Reality of the Reforms
 12:58 Impact on Employers
 14:46 How Restaurant Operators Can Protect Themselves

Please visit CRMBC for our latest news.
Follow us on LinkedIn for content highlights.
See the latest videos on YouTube to see us in action.
And connect with CEO Kaya Stanley on LinkedIn.

In this episode of the Self-Insurance Podcast, CRMBC CEO Kaya Stanley speaks with Dr. Fernando Branco, Chief Medical Officer at Midwest Employers Casualty, about medical inflation and why workers’ comp claims can be especially exposed to rising medical costs.

Dr. Branco explains what is driving medical cost pressure, why workers’ comp can get hit harder than other parts of the healthcare system, and what restaurant operators can do to reduce risk early.

The conversation covers:

•  Why medical inflation matters in workers’ comp 
•  How early intervention can help keep claims from becoming harder to manage 
•  Why strong TPA support and nurse case management matter 
•  How comorbidities and other risk factors can affect recovery 
•  Why restaurant operators should review medical bills carefully before accepting them as final 

His practical takeaway for operators is clear: act early, stay close to the claim, and do not treat every medical bill as final.

Please visit CRMBC for our latest news.
Follow us on LinkedIn for content highlights.
See the latest videos on YouTube to see us in action.
And connect with CEO Kaya Stanley on LinkedIn.

In this episode, Kaya Stanley interviews Tim Leech, Director of Risk Consulting at Alliant Insurance Services. Tim shares insights from his 34 years of experience in the insurance industry, focusing on loss-sensitive programs and effective risk management strategies. 

Learn about reducing the cost of risk, engaging management in safety programs, and the latest industry trends. 

Whether you are a restaurant operator, broker, or industry expert, this episode offers practical advice to improve your risk prevention efforts.

00:00 Introduction to the Self-Insurance Podcast

00:21 Meet Tim Leech, Director of Risk Consulting

01:50 Understanding Loss Sensitive Programs

02:20 Reducing the Cost of Risk

06:05 Characteristics of a Successful Program

07:14 Engaging Management in Safety Programs

11:48 Measuring Success in Risk Prevention

17:51 Current Trends in Risk Management

19:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Please visit CRMBC for our latest news.
Follow us on LinkedIn for content highlights.
See the latest videos on YouTube to see us in action.
And connect with CEO Kaya Stanley on LinkedIn.

In this episode of the Self-Insurance Podcast by CRMBC, host Kaya Stanley interviews Mike Geosano, President of O.S.T.S. Consulting, about the new Cal/OSHA indoor heat illness prevention regulations for restaurants. Mike shares his safety consulting background and explains the regulation's specifics, including temperature triggers, hazard assessments, control measures, and required employee training. He also discusses the potential penalties for non-compliance and provides valuable resources for restaurant owners to ensure a safe work environment.

00:00 Introduction to Workplace Safety
00:14 Welcome to the Self-Insurance Podcast
00:36 Meet Mike Geosano
01:27 Unique Hazards in Restaurants
01:45 CalOSHA's New Indoor Heat Regulation
02:53 Specific Requirements for Restaurant Owners
05:20 Assessment and Control Measures
09:18 Employee Training Requirements
11:13 Penalties for Non-Compliance
13:39 Resources and Final Thoughts

Please visit CRMBC for our latest news.
Follow us on LinkedIn for content highlights.
See the latest videos on YouTube to see us in action.
And connect with CEO Kaya Stanley on LinkedIn.

In this episode of the Self Insurance Podcast by CRMBC, Heather Bischoff from Upskill Consulting joins us to explore the critical aspects of human resources management in small businesses. 

Heather, who transitioned from case management to HR, highlights the importance of fractional HR and its role in preventing workers' compensation claims. She addresses common HR misconceptions, the complexities of employment law, and the financial benefits of investing in HR, even for smaller businesses. 

Heather shares success stories, stresses the significance of proactive HR approaches, and discusses the implications of timely claim reporting to avoid litigation. Gain valuable insights to enhance your HR practices and maintain a compliant, efficient business environment.

00:00 Introduction to the Self-Insurance Podcast

00:22 Meet Heather Bishop of Upskill Consulting

01:00 The Role of HR in Business Operations

01:23 Challenges Faced by Restaurant Owners

02:10 Understanding Fractional HR

03:47 Common HR Misconceptions

05:31 The True Cost of HR

07:45 When to Hire HR for Small Businesses

08:31 The Importance of HR Compliance

10:29 Success Stories in HR Management

11:44 Workers Compensation and HR

14:41 Final Thoughts and Advice for Business Owners

Please visit CRMBC for our latest news.
Follow us on LinkedIn for content highlights.
See the latest videos on YouTube to see us in action.
And connect with CEO Kaya Stanley on LinkedIn.

In this episode of the Self Insurance Podcast, Gene Immendorf, President of Immendorf Investigations, shares insights into the world of private investigation in the context of workers' compensation self-insurance in California. 

Following in his father's footsteps, Gene has nearly four decades of experience in surveillance and sub rosa investigations. He explains the importance of thorough pre-surveillance background checks and the advancements in technology that have transformed the field. 

Gene discusses the necessity of verbal communication with employers and adjusters for effective investigations and highlights common red flags in claims. He shares anecdotes from his career, illustrating the challenges and surprises faced in the industry. Listen to learn more about how private investigators manage workers' compensation claims.

00:00 Introduction to the Self-Insurance Podcast

00:21 Meet Gene Immendorf: A Legacy in Private Investigation

01:36 The World of Workers' Comp and Sub Rosa Investigations

04:29 Technological Advances in Surveillance

07:20 Challenges and Red Flags in Claims

10:42 The Importance of Communication in Investigations

13:47 Shocking Cases and Real-Life Stories

15:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Please visit CRMBC for our latest news.
Follow us on LinkedIn for content highlights.
See the latest videos on YouTube to see us in action.
And connect with CEO Kaya Stanley on LinkedIn.