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I literally jump out of bed every morning to check e-mail. I read the Los Angeles Times and have breakfast with my wife. Then I spend the next hour or so in the car.

I try to deal with early morning phone calls from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. depending on the previous day’s e-mails or current news. I also alert my colleagues in government affairs to what they should do during the day.

The first part of my day is spent looking at what the Legislature has done in regards to workers’ benefit bills and reforms.

This time of the year it is quiet but towards the end of the month I have to go to Sacramento to meet with various people.

Of most importance every day is to check if there has been a new bill introduced that deals with workers’ compensation or if bills already filed are being amended. In each session usually 6,000 or 7,000 bills are introduced, so I keep looking to see if the legislature wants to do something for workers’ benefits.

For the first six weeks of the year bills can be introduced and until the middle of March, these bills are made available to the public before being presented to review committees. Once a committee starts reviewing the bill, I find out when items are set to be heard and get to Sacramento to see how they are being addressed.

That is why I try to do as much as possible in the mornings to give people time to make calls, pull information together and get it in for me. I normally never have lunch because I am on conference calls during that part of the day.

This is where I think on my feet. That is because when you are looking at actual words on paper you only have to analyze them to understand what the text means.

I go to grassroots measures by using direct mail, phone calls and other routes to tell legislators they are heading in the wrong direction. I have to ensure a clear position that makes sense to all members who are considering or opposing the measure. Effective communication is crucial to show how much concern the measure is causing us and the business community.

My work day actually depends on what one of 120 California legislative members do on any given day. But at some point they have to decide for themselves. There is only so much advocates can do. The larger point is to show them how an effective system can benefit both workers and legislators.

I read news to make sure nothing is happening in the Supreme Court that affects the Legislature’s response. I have to pay attention to elections, any huge bond measure that can be on the June ballot and other such things.

I usually get home between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. But I keep my cell phone on at all times because someone will want to update me on some hearing or workers in Sacramento will call in the evening to give me fresh information.

Then I wind down by having dinner with my wife. We sit at the dinner table everyday and talk about our day. So even if I am on the road then, I call to talk to her. Christina is a freelance writer and for some of her work she goes to restaurant openings and the theater so we occasionally do that together. And when we call people over we ask them two days in advance what country they want to eat from. That is how much I like to cook.

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Aarthi Sivaraman

*

Mark Webb



Vice President of Government Relations

Employers Direct Insurance Company

In previous life:

Was an opera singer


Source of vitamins:

Jalapenos (loves spicy food)


College minor/trip:

Russian/ Soviet Union in 1977.


Published in:

Fiery Food Magazine article on cooking with spices.


Wedding:

Sterling Castle, Scotland.