By Judge Audrey Headrick, Chattanooga “Synergy” means “an advantageous pooling together of resources or efforts,” according to Merriam-Webster. Synergy fits perfectly with Administrative Professionals’ Day, which is on April 26. “Administrative professional” is an umbrella term that encompasses many jobs. In fact, our country has recognized and celebrated Administrative Professionals’ Day since 1942. Through the … Continue reading Synergy: When Magic Happens
Tag: Carpe diem
Coal Miner’s Grandson
By Judge Robert Durham, Cookeville I was recently thinking about how critical workers’ compensation benefits are for some families, particularly those whose primary breadwinner has died in a work accident. And then I realized something that I’d never thought about, even though I’ve dealt in worker’s compensation for thirty years now: my own family was … Continue reading Coal Miner’s Grandson
How Things Have Changed
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray I came to work for the Workers’ Compensation Division is Kingsport in 2008. I was hired as a workers’ compensation specialist 4, mediating cases before they could go to court. As time passed, the workers’ compensation specialist 4 job expanded from handling my own cases and mediations, to signing off … Continue reading How Things Have Changed
We’ll Miss You, Judge Seymour
By Jane Salem, staff attorney, Nashville It just had to feel “right.” So says Judge Deana Seymour about her process when finalizing an order after an evidentiary hearing. After applying the facts to the law and before signing it, she always did a gut check. That doesn’t mean she always got it right; but often, … Continue reading We’ll Miss You, Judge Seymour
Musings on Mentoring
By Jane Salem, staff attorney, Nashville It's May. I get sentimental this time of year at graduations. Some people cry at weddings, but I prefer graduations. I'm just very inspired by young people walking across a stage and celebrating hard work and success. Especially now, when schooling became a whole lot more complicated by a … Continue reading Musings on Mentoring
How About Something Happier?
By Judge Dale Tipps, Murfreesboro A professor in the School of Management at Middle Tennessee State University recently asked me to speak to a couple of her Human Resources classes about workers’ compensation. I put together a presentation on the development of work comp, how it works in Tennessee, and how human resources departments can … Continue reading How About Something Happier?
Workers’ Comp in Song
By Judge Thomas Wyatt, Nashville It’s not surprising that the subject of working has captured the creative impulses of the poet and songwriter. After all, most of humanity spends a good percentage of our waking hours making a living. And despite all the griping about our jobs and watching the clock for the arrival of … Continue reading Workers’ Comp in Song
Finding the Silver Linings
By Judge Audrey Headrick, Chattanooga Cambridge Dictionary defines “silver lining” as “an advantage that comes from a difficult or unpleasant situation.” Since March 2020, it’s not always been easy to see any positives that resulted from the pandemic. The pandemic is still with us, and the end doesn’t seem to be in sight. When reading … Continue reading Finding the Silver Linings
Holiday hours
We’ll be closed December 23, 24, 31, 2021, and January 3, 2022. But TNComp never takes a break; you may still file documents at any time. Happy holidays.
A Staff Attorney’s Favorite Things
By Jane Salem, staff attorney, Nashville It’s hard not to like Oprah Winfrey. She’s the fourth most admired woman in America and of course, a Tennessean. For decades now, she has annually created a list called “Oprah’s favorite things” recommending holiday gifts. She stole the name from The Sound of Music. So I think it’s … Continue reading A Staff Attorney’s Favorite Things
Anything Can Happen
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray I’ve always liked golf, although I hardly ever play. When I became an attorney, I really tried to get into golf, thinking it would be a thing that an attorney would do with friends on a Friday afternoon. But I was wrong, at least for me. My grandparents on my … Continue reading Anything Can Happen
A Thank-You to the Court
By Delaney Williams, intern, Gray Legal internships are the single most intimidating aspect of law school, in my opinion. They are presented in the media as these cutthroat and future-deciding experiences that will make or break your career. You barely make it a month into your first year before you're being instructed on how to … Continue reading A Thank-You to the Court
In Re Butter
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray I’ve met people who were astounded when I told them I’m a judge. Just the other day, my wife and I were eating lunch with a few other couples, including the daughter of a famous professional football player. She actually did a doubletake and said “No” twice when I told … Continue reading In Re Butter
Lessons Learned from the Past Year
By the Tennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims Who knew we’d be at this for more than a year in March 2020, when we were all sent home? No one. The pandemic has been the most unusual and solemn life event for us all. Now that there’s an end in sight, with many of us … Continue reading Lessons Learned from the Past Year
Leap day can be dangerous
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray One of Tennessee’s most talented actresses was Dinah Shore. Born in Winchester, Tennessee, in 1916 and a Vanderbilt graduate, she went on to fame as a singer and radio, TV and film actress. She was also a huge supporter of the LPGA and was named an honorary member of the … Continue reading Leap day can be dangerous
The Balancing Act
By Judge Audrey Headrick, Chattanooga I don’t know about you, but I struggle daily with balancing work and family life. When I feel like I’m being an awesome mom, I feel guilty that I’m not working hard enough at my job, and vice versa. On those rare occasions when I feel like I am doing … Continue reading The Balancing Act
Honoring 100 Years of Workers’ Compensation in Tennessee
On June 12, the Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation hosted a formal event to commemorate the law's 100 years and to honor an individual who has had a significant impact on the law. Theresa Montgomery, the chief state photographer in Nashville, captured the highlights below. To see all of her wonderful photos of this event, … Continue reading Honoring 100 Years of Workers’ Compensation in Tennessee
Put Me in, Coach–I’m ready to play (Oh, Wait, I Can’t)
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray Well, we’re in summer now, and what time is it? Baseball time. By the way, I’m a Braves fan; isn’t everybody? There’s just something about baseball as the perfect way to get folks together on a hot summer evening. Speaking of baseball, playing it in college remains one of my … Continue reading Put Me in, Coach–I’m ready to play (Oh, Wait, I Can’t)
Hitting the 1,000-Order Benchmark
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville On April 18, Judge Dale Tipps issued an expedited hearing order in Howard v. NHC Healthcare/Pulaski LLC. That order became the 1,000th expedited or compensation hearing order released by the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. A thousand orders ago, we formed a vision of what the Court would look … Continue reading Hitting the 1,000-Order Benchmark
The Loveable, Stubborn Mule
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray When I was a little boy, we had a friend who owned a farm. We visited often because the farm was on our way to church. One day, the farmer asked my brother if he wanted to ride his mule. My brother agreed, so the farmer brought out the mule. … Continue reading The Loveable, Stubborn Mule
From the Bench 