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Yvonne and Rafael take time to reflect on Season 5, their accomplishments, and the time they spent with guests.

They also discuss new features of Deconstructing Comp, including the launch of the Work Comp Changemaker Awards, a new website, a monthly newsletter, a YouTube channel, and so much more!

Grab your headphones, your favorite beverage, and let's go have a chat!

¡Muchas Gracias! Thank you for listening. We would appreciate you sharing our podcast with your friends on social media. Find Yvonne and Rafael on Linked In or follow us on Twitter @deconstructcomp

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In this episode, Yvonne and Rafael talk with Darrell Mathis, Director of Workers’ Compensation for the City of Chicago, and explore his work to modernize and manage one of the nation's largest municipal programs.

Darrell shares his 33-year journey from the private sector to public service, offering candid insights into program reform, transparency, and talking about “paying what we owe.”

He discusses how Chicago has transformed litigation strategy, reduced claim backlogs, and improved fairness for injured employees, all while supporting first responders facing unimaginable risks.

City of Chicago is self-insured and works with a TPA to administer claims. With over 33,000 employees and 3,600 open claims, Darrell’s team is setting a new benchmark for municipal excellence in workers’ compensation. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of leadership, accountability, service mindset, and compassion in public-sector risk management.

Darrell also opens up about his own health journey and how dedicating himself to the City of Chicago and the work he loves became a key part of his recovery.

Key Takeaways

• How municipal code changes, litigation reform, and payment integrity reshaped Chicago’s comp program.
• Why “paying what we owe” builds trust and accelerates resolution.
• The real challenges of managing 3,600 open claims and a $700M reserve.
• Strategies to motivate and retain adjusters in a high-pressure environment.
• Chicago’s commitment to care for catastrophically injured police and firefighters.
• Darrell’s vision to make Chicago the global gold standard for workers’ compensation programs.

Darrell mentioned some folks who help him keep the lights on at the City of Chicago Workers' Compensation program:

• Donald “Taylor” Chittick – Asst. Director
• Tiffany Williams – RTW Project Manager
• Kathleen Heenan – Workers’ Compensation Liaison
• Tomeka Long – Workers’ Compensation Liaison
• Ashley Chen – Admin

Darrell mentions his devotion to faith and service. He is an ordained Deacon at the Progressive Baptist Church. His Pastor is Dr. Charlie E. Dates. As an officer of the Church, he is involved with many aspects of the ministry. Black Boy Lit is an initiative of Progressive Baptist Church and Salem Baptist Church. Dr. Dates is the Pastor of both churches.

Additionally, he and his wife chair a capital campaign for the church, called DREAM.

¡Muchas Gracias! Thank you for listening. We would appreciate you sharing our podcast with your friends on social media. Find Yvonne and Rafael on Linked In or follow us on Twitter @deconstructcomp

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In this episode, co-hosts Yvonne Guibert and Rafael Gonzalez talk with expert defense attorney and educator Jeff Adelson in a candid conversation about two often-overlooked forces in workers’ compensation: ethics and empathy. Together, they explore how small shifts in behavior, perspective, and communication can create better outcomes for injured workers and claims professionals alike.

From managing ethical gray zones to acknowledging the human side of every claim, Jeff brings decades of insight, humor, and heart to the conversation. This episode challenges us to rethink the role of compassion in claims management and reminds us that doing the right thing and doing good business are not mutually exclusive.

💡 Highlights for Newer Professionals in Workers’ Comp

✔️ Know the Rules on Represented Parties
Jeff shares an important story about being asked to communicate directly with a represented worker. This is a legal and ethical no-go: always respect representation boundaries; communicating without counsel is prohibited and can jeopardize a case.

✔️ Doing the Right Thing Isn’t Always Easy
In a pivotal moment, Jeff explains how his firm gave up a significant contract rather than compromise its ethics. It's a lesson for anyone new to the industry: ethics must come before convenience or profit.

✔️ Ethical Issues Aren’t Always Black and White
The episode touches on how clerical issues or unclear situations, like a temporarily inactive attorney, require careful, thoughtful handling. Consulting with ethics counsel and taking the high road is always a sound strategy.

📘 Terms to Know (Episode Reference)

Ethics (in Workers’ Compensation)
The moral principles that guide behavior and decision-making within the workers’ comp system, including how injured employees are treated, how claims are handled, and the integrity of legal, medical, and administrative actions.

Empathy
The ability to understand and share the feelings of another. In claims management, empathy can foster trust, improve communication, and lead to better outcomes by acknowledging the human side of the injury.

Moral Hazard
A situation in which one party is more likely to take risks or act unethically because they do not bear the full consequences of their actions — often discussed in the context of fraudulent claims or system abuse.

Conflict of Interest
A situation where a person or entity involved in the claims process (e.g., provider, attorney, or claims adjuster) has competing interests that could improperly influence decisions or outcomes.

Good Faith Handling
The expectation that claims administrators and insurers will act fairly, honestly, and in the best interest of all parties — especially the injured worker — throughout the claims process.

Compassion Fatigue
Emotional exhaustion can affect professionals who regularly deal with others’ trauma or suffering. Often experienced by adjusters, nurse case managers, or clinicians, it may lead to detachment or burnout.

¡Muchas Gracias! Thank you for listening. We would appreciate you sharing our podcast with your friends on social media. Find Yvonne and Rafael on Linked In or follow us on Twitter @deconstructcomp