43. Supervisor

Toward the end of 80’s, California was hit hard with the recession. End of the cold war shut down defense industries. Lay-off followed it. Those who lost the good paying jobs overnight filed workers’ compensation claims. While the unemployment ended in 6 months or so, workers’ compensation benefits did not have the limits. It also provided medical care. Workers’ compensation attorneys and medical facilities got busy and made tons of money.

 

State Fund, where I worked, increased the staff. District office staff of 20-30 adjusters increased to 40-50 adjusters. I quickly went thru the promotions to ‘WCIR I, II, III.’ In early 90’s, I became a supervisor, assistant claims manager. 

 

Before my supervisory promotion, I applied for the rehabilitation consultant position, which provided rehabilitation programs to the injured workers. I did not get the promotion. Instead, they picked a white guy who had less experience. The upper management doubted my ability to handle the outside field work. 

 

In few months, they had another opening. During the interview, I volunteered to discuss my disability and my ability to handle the job. I got the job and I never had any problem with the field work while I had the position for 1 ½ years. 

 

Management and field position came with the company car. State Fund installed hand control and wheelchair carrier box on the new company car for me. In next 20 years, they traded cars three times and provided necessary modification. President Bush signed ADA and it was the new law. Company complied to the new requirement. 

 

With the enactment of ADA, state agencies were required to have Disability Advisory Committee. The committee was to promote and improve the disability awareness within the agency. I joined it as a committee member at the beginning, and served as the chairperson for next 10 years. 

 

One of the rewarding experiences as the committee chair was to give scholarship for the disable student. I received this scholarship in my first year with CSUN. My scholarship came from a radio station and a disabled female employee of the station presented the check to me. The day I received it, I vowed to myself that I would come back with the scholarship and pay it back. State Fund approved my proposal and I was able to sponsor this scholarship for several years. 

 

The company utilized outside educational courses thru Insurance Education Association to train the staff. I attended a course there. I found out, once I completed 5 courses, I was able to teach the certificate program. I took the rest of the courses on my own. Then, I became an instructor for IEA. I taught workers’ compensation courses there for next 20 years.

 

Most of the students taking the courses were insurance professionals. Some had more experience than I, and some were managers. The certificate would bring pay increase and add more on their resumes. Some students would challenge me and ask me tricky questions. I learned that I had to recognize and connect with them early on. Once I brought them on my side, they would contribute to the class. Their experiences and insights enriched the class.

 

I found out Americans did not care about the job title. They did not mind even if their employee became their new boss. Marlin was a supervisor, assistant claims manager, when I first joined State Fund. She kept the same job for 30 years and retired. 

 

Linda, who used to be a claims manager, had a baby and took a leave of absence for a year. She returned to work as WCIR III, my level at the time. Soon, I became a supervisor and she stayed at the same level. Later, she went to work for Margaret who used to be her employee.

 

I became assistant claims manager in 7 years. I thought I would make the manager in no time. It took me 16 years to become a manager.