Where were you?

Fourteen years ago I know exactly where I was. I was sitting in my car at the intersection of Dartmouth and University Blvd. waiting for the light to change. I was on my way to work driving much of the same route I drive to this day. Our offices then were at Colorado and Exposition in the Galleria Towers.

I was listening to NPR's Morning Edition on the radio when the announcer said that a plane had hit one of the towers of the World Trade Center in New York. At first I didn't think much of it; facts were still sketchy and the first reports weren't clear as to what had actually happened. First assumptions were that it was a tragic accident. 17 minutes later a second plane crashing into the World Trade Center's south tower made it horribly clear that this was no accident. Upon arriving at work Pinnacol employees crammed into our wellness center because that was where the only television was. Eyes were glued to the screen, there wasn't a lot of talking, and already tears were beginning to flow.

It wasn't long before management made the decision to close for the day and send people home so they could be with their families. There was also the additional impetus of no one knowing if other attacks were imminent. One of the clearer images from that day was walking outside and hearing an eerie silence - planes were already being grounded and the skies above Denver were as quiet as they have ever been in my lifetime.

Driving in to work this morning I have to admit it took the radio announcer to remind me what today was. I knew it was Friday but hadn't consciously thought about the date. So much has happened in the 5,000 days since 9-11-2001 and the world is a much different place. The ripple effects from 9-11 still impact us today; the recent image of a young refugee boy lying face down in the sand just the latest indication of the waves that still crash around us on a world-wide level. Eyes continue to be glued to screens (though more and more of those screens are not televisions), and the tears continue to flow.

Attending a Job Fair? Some tips...

Yesterday Alyson, who is interning with us in Human Resources, and I attended a job fair at the Community College of Aurora. CCA has a beautiful campus and the weather was nice enough that the event took place outdoors. I've attended a lot of job fairs and usually everyone is packed into a crowded meeting room so talking to candidates outside was definitely more relaxed and informal. As you'll hear from Alyson, this was her first time attending a job fair so I asked her to share some of her impressions and recommendations:

"I have never attended a job fair before as an applicant or as a recruiter but yesterday I got to participate in my first job fair on the recruiting side, and I have to say that this experience really opened my eyes to something completely unknown to me. I was in a sorority my first go around in college, and we had to participate in the recruiting process. Sorority recruiting, to my surprise, is very similar to a job fair. It is all about getting out there, promoting your brand and culture, and getting acquainted with potential applicants.
I never realized what benefits you could gain from attending a job fair but there are many including: getting to speak with company representatives in a less formal setting, you know that these companies are hiring, you can hand a resume straight to a recruiter instead of hoping they see yours in the stack of 40+ resumes they receive every day, and there is a better chance recruiters will remember you."

"If you have not attended a job fair, you should, and if you have, keep going to them! It is a great way to network, and let’s face it, in today’s job market it’s all about networking. So here are a few tips and observations to remember if you plan on attending a job fair:
1. Look the part. You should dress like you are going to an interview, because well, you kind of are. The company is checking you out as much as you are checking out them, and while it may be somewhat of an informal setting, you are still trying to get a job.
2. Pre-register (if possible) for the job fair and ask for a list of companies that will be attending. Once you get the list you should research the companies that may be of interest to you. It will impress the recruiter if you know about the company beforehand.
3. Bring your resume, and make sure that you have plenty of copies. How often do you have the opportunity to talk to 20+ companies in the same place at the same time? Make sure your resume is updated and has correct contact information.
4. Ask questions! This is your chance to find out what you can about the company. If they are not currently hiring for your field or the type of position you are looking for inquire about other opportunities. Do not dismiss the company entirely. This is a chance to get your foot in the door, at the very least, or you could make such a great impression that when they are looking for someone they already have you in mind.
5. Don’t be rude or negative. If a recruiter stops to talk to you there is a reason why. If you have to get signatures from the recruiters for class credit, to enter a prize drawing, or for another reason, do not just ask for the signature and leave. That is rude. At least ask about the company and if it is not of interest then just let them know that while you appreciate their time you are looking for something different and ask for the signature. Do not talk negatively about your college, job, or anything else. (For example: yesterday I overheard someone ask the police department recruiters why are cops bad? The police recruiter’s response was great and he explained if the candidate wanted to make a change they should consider becoming a Police Officer.)
6. Shake hands. And say thank you before you leave a company's booth. It is professional, polite, and speaks of your character."

Alyson's observations and tips are important if you are trying to differentiate yourself from all the

other candidates who attend job fairs. Meeting with companies in a job fair environment  is usually less stressful than when you are invited in for a 'real' interview and its a great way to practice your elevator speech and the way in which your portray yourself during that key first impression. Some other hints that I've picked up over the years:

• Job fairs are no place to be shy. Make the effort to make eye contact with company representatives as you walk by their booth and don't be bashful about saying hello and introducing yourself. Have a sentence or two prepared about yourself - what you are studying, when you'll be graduating/on the job market, and some key skills you think you have that might benefit the company you are speaking to. I only had one candidate do this yesterday and they left a favorable impression. 
• The biggest mistake I see candidates make at job fairs is when they are going by a booth for a company they don't recognize they drop their eyes and simply walk on by. If you want a great ice-breaker with a recruiter there's not much better than "Hi, I'm not that familiar with your company. What do you do?" And you never know, the company you've never heard of may have your dream job. 99% of the folks Alyson and I talked with yesterday knew nothing about Pinnacol but for those who stopped and chatted they were amazed at the variety of career paths our company offers. 
• If you chat with a company representative and its a company you really are interested in, ask them for their business card or contact information. Quite candidly, if you have tried at all to sell yourself this will be a good test of how you've done. If they gladly hand you their business card they are likely really interested in you as well. Really want to set yourself apart? The day after the event call or e-mail the company representative and thank them for taking a moment to speak with you and to reinforce your interest in their company. At the very least most recruiters will respond by digging through the stack of resumes they received and giving yours a second look. This extra step may also be the touch point that actually gets you the coveted interview. 
• Alyson's point of looking the part - dressing like you are serious about exploring job opportunities - is also correct. At yesterday's event the few students who dressed up were the ones setting themselves apart. Granted this was a campus job fair, it was outdoors (it was hot), and many students stopped by between busy class schedules, but those with the forethought to dress up were again those leaving the most favorable impressions. 

I'd like to thank Barbara Lindsay and her staff at the Community College of Aurora for arranging the job fair and for letting us participate. If Alyson and I were fortunate enough to speak with you yesterday thank you for stopping by!

Celebrating Colorado's Healthiest Places to Work!

It’s no secret that the best companies tend to attract the best employees and increasingly employees are expecting their employers to be health conscious and to offer amenities tied to a healthy lifestyle. Businesses too are realizing the benefits of being committed  to worksite wellness - studies show that employers who foster a culture of health and safety at work have healthier, happier employees—and healthier bottom lines, too. By creating a work environment that promotes safety, physical activity, healthy habits, and overall wellbeing, companies can benefit from higher employee satisfaction, increased loyalty, improved productivity, and lower health care costs.

Health Links, a nonprofit initiative spearheaded by health and safety experts at the Center for Health, Work and Environment within the Colorado School of Public Health has partnered with the Governor’s Council for Active and Healthy Lifestyles on two new awards in 2015: The Governor’s Award for School Health and Wellness and the Governor’s Award for Worksite Wellness. Health Links’ mission is to simplify how worksite health and safety get done. By doing so, they are helping build healthy, vibrant businesses and a stronger local economy. The Governor’s Council

for Active and Healthy Lifestyles, founded in 1975, is a bipartisan Council  made up of governor-appointed members and volunteers, who promote active and healthy lifestyles statewide. The Council is dedicated to making Colorado the healthiest state in the nation.

Last week Pinnacol was recognized as the top employer Champion of Wellness. We were in good company – USAA and Skyridge Medical Center were among the other finalists and kudos to them for their remarkable efforts. Three of our staff happily accepted the award. For more information on what Pinnacol is doing regarding Health and Wellness please click here.

Lorie, Logan, and Paige accept the award on Pinnacol's behalf

If you work for a company that might be interested, Health Links offers a Healthy Business Certification. They also offer a host of free resources to employers looking to start or expand their Health & Wellness programs.

New positions - Utilization Review - now open with Pinnacol

Pinnacol has had Nurse Case Managers on staff for years to help manage the medical aspects of injured workers claims. Traditionally these position have required licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN). We have created some new Utilization Review positions that are open to other types of Nurses including Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) and Nurse Practitioners (NP). We are also open to considering paraprofessionals with direct experience in utilization review.

These Utilization Review positions will evaluate medical treatment requests received from treating medical providers and provide a timely decision to authorize or deny payment pursuant to Colorado workers’ compensation rules. Knowledge of the Colorado workers’ compensation system and knowledge of the Colorado medical community is needed for these positions. 

If you are interested in exploring these new Utilization Review opportunities we'd love to hear from you! Please express your interest by applying through our company website.

August is flying by...

We had celebrated our company centennial back in July but since August is flying by I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that it actually is in the month of August (August 1st to be precise) that our company first came into being as the State Compensation Insurance Fund when the Colorado Workmen's Compensation Act went into effect (It wasn't changed to Workers' from Workmen's until 1986!). An appropriation of $50,000 from the State allowed the new Fund to get up and running and it was mandated to charge 5% less than private companies offering workmen's compensation insurance and to return dividends to policyholders after 10% had been set aside to build up a reserve fund. The Fund would fall under the umbrella of the State Industrial Commission. The Fund's first manager was Winfield W. Greene who also sat on the Industrial Commission.

The new law provided that after August 1st, 1915 every employer with four or more employees was required to pay injured workers compensation unless they elected before that time not to do so. If they elected not to do so the old remedy of being sued in court would be in force. The Act provided 3 ways by which employers could pay compensation:

1. Employers could insure their risk with the newly created State Fund
2. Employers could insure their risk with a private insurance company
3. If financially able, employers could carry their own risk and be self-insured

These three provisions remain today. 

At a meeting in Colorado Springs several of the largest mining employers in Colorado unanimously agreed to patronize the new State Fund. It was estimated that the metal mining industry alone would see the new Fund covering $5,000,000 in payrolls with the Fund receiving $125,000 in premiums. $5,000,000 in 1915 dollars would equate in today's dollars to approximately $506,000,000.

Not surprisingly, there had been opposition to the new Act and one of the most active opponents of the compensation law had been the Denver School Board, at least in terms of applying the law to school districts. On August 12, 1915 the Denver Times reported that the Denver School District and all other taxing units in the state would be required to comply with the provisions of the new law.

The law provided injured workers one half of their weekly wages up to a maximum of $8 per week with compensation beginning in the fourth week after the injury. Before that time there was coverage for medical care.

There were lofty expectations of the newly passed Colorado Workmen's Compensation Act:

• It would be a boon to the working men of the State by relieving hundreds, if not thousands, of injury cases which had gone uncompensated
• It would "bring about a spirit of harmony and cooperation" between employers and employees
• It would relieve the over-burdened court system and relieve employers from the loss of time and expense of long and sometimes bitter trials

How the Act has lived up to those expectations remains a topic of conversation to this day. 

External Communications Specialist opportunity now open!

Kim, who heads up our Communications team, has let me know that they are looking to add an External Communications Specialist who will be responsible for the planning, development and implementation of strategic communications programs that support the acquisition and retention of policyholders. Activities and projects include developing and overseeing Pinnacol’s online presence, assisting with branding and marketing tactics, management of digital properties and online content development and collateral materials, press releases, social media and videos.

Kim is looking for candidates who bring knowledge of marketing, digital and communications practices including both planning and implementation along with the ability to provide communications counsel to management and employees and to manage customer expectations and negotiate as necessary. You'll also need to possess the ability and skill necessary to persuade, influence, and/or convey a viewpoint. Candidates should have superior writing skills (we will likely ask to see samples) and experience with a wide range of communications vehicles, e.g. websites, social media, print. You’ll need to be able to track and manage multiple projects simultaneously, effectively manage the workload and meet deadlines, have the proven ability to research answers, and have strong computer skills (word processing, spreadsheets, graphic design, presentation software) and knowledge of printing processes, audio, and video productions.

A Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or related field strongly preferred although relevant work experience (similar kind of work at a similar level of work as described in the essential duties) may be substituted for the bachelor's degree.  Completion of a degree is encouraged and supported and you should have approximately five to seven years of related experience.

If interested, please apply on-line via our company website!

Best Kept Secrets...

This may be the one of the shortest blogs I ever write...

• Pinnacol Assurance is a workers' compensation insurance company (not auto, health, unemployment or any other type of insurance)
• Workers' compensation insurance takes care of workers who are injured on the job. It provides coverage for medical expenses and some level of lost time wage compensation

Why is this blog titled "Best Kept Secrets"? To  this day many, if not most, candidates I meet with really know nothing about our company. If I am lucky they know we are an insurance company and they earn extra points if they know it's workers' compensation insurance. And if they know what workers' compensation insurance actually does I feel like I've won the lottery. This is not to lay blame on candidates at all, but it constantly drives home to me that Pinnacol remains one of the best kept secrets in Colorado!