Recognizing that every absence has a psychosocial element is increasingly important for employers, explains Ian Bridgman, executive director of the Claim Lab, and Fred Schott, consultant with the Council for Disability Income Awareness. It can help employees stay at work and return to work as soon as possible and reduce the risk of employees with mental illness developing physical disabilities. Listen in for insights about why it’s essential to emphasize the human element in absence and disability management.Resources:DMEC @Work magazine article: Data Proves Correlation Between Depression and Anxiety and DisabilityDMEC Mental Health Resources & ToolsReasonable Accommodation Process Resources & Tools

In addition to complying with hundreds of leave laws, employers must support employees more holistically to attract and retain top talent. But how? Hear insights from the 2024 DMEC Annual Conference from Bryon Bass, CLMS, DMEC CEO; Kristin Jones, CLMS, DMEC director of education programs; and Jess Dudley, CLMS, DMEC education manager! Listen in and register for the 2024 Virtual Annual Conference on Sept. 18 for five of the top-rated sessions and a pre-recorded panel about lessons learned from the Colorado and Connecticut paid family leave implementation: https://dmec.org/conferences-and-events/annual-conference/virtual-event/

Using artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool, not a replacement, for humans will be increasingly important for employer success, explains Bryon Bass, CLMS, CEO, DMEC, and Joe Lynett, a principal with JacksonLewis P.C. in this episode. Listen in for examples of AI-related employer risks, including the four-fifths rule. Additional resources:Additional resources:Boon or Bane: Wading Into AI Waters and Defining Risk in IDAM CirclesIntegration Technology 101: Master the Basics for a Better Leave Experience

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) was created to bridge the gap between federal laws, as Carol Miaskoff, legal counsel for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, explains in this episode. Listen in to hear Miaskoff talk with Marjory Robertson, AVP and senior counsel for Sun Life, about top employer challenges. The two also offer guidance from the PWFA rule to support employees and ensure employer compliance!Resources:How Employers Could Get into Trouble Under the PWFADMEC Annual Conference Aug. 5-8 in NashvilleSection of the EEOC regulations for the PWFA that specify unnecessary delays

Industry benchmarks helped Jenny Haykin, integrated leaves and accommodations program manager for Puget Sound Energy, identify "excessive leave utilization" and reduce short-term disability by 45%! Listen in to learn how she did it. DMEC resources referenced in the episode:DMEC AbsenceExemplar™ Benchmarking DashboardsStrategies for Managing Excessive Use of Leave2024 DMEC Annual Conference

Two years after implementation, data shows that the Granite State's Voluntary Paid Family and Medical Leave Law (the first in the country) is increasingly popular with employees! What does this mean for employers? Listen in for hot-off-the-presses data and insights from Gina Rutledge, director of paid family and medical leave product management and strategic planning with MetLife.Resources mentioned during the episode:2024 DMEC Annual ConferenceNavigating PFML Options, a DMEC @Work magazine column that we have unlocked for podcast listenersState and Local Leave Laws ResourceMetLife 2024 Employee Benefit Trends StudyDiving Deeper - Navigating Delaware's PFML Regulations for Employers webinar archiveShift from Mandated PFML Programs-What You Need to Know webinar archive

"It needs to be ok to ask for an exception" in life, says Amberley Snyder, an award-winning rodeo rider, inspirational speaker, and social media influencer, who talks about how employers can support employees with disabilities in the workplace. Listen in for a sneak peek into Snyder's keynote presentation at the 2024 DMEC Annual Conference Aug. 5-8 in Nashville, Tenn. And get ready for helpful insights, specific guidance, and lots of laughter! Resources:2024 DMEC Annual ConferenceAmberley SnyderWalk, Ride, Rodeo: A Netflix movie based on Amberley Snyder's life

With mental health on track to become the No. 1 driver of short-term disability claims, employers seek new ways to support several generations of employees in the workplace. Listen in to this episode for guidance and perspectives from David Setzkorn, MBA, CPCU, senior vice president of workforce absence and disability practice leader for Sedgwick, and Mark Debus, LCSW, clinical manager of behavioral health services for Sedgwick. Resources:The Evolution of Mental Health and Shifting DemographicsDMEC Mental Health Resources & ToolsThe Evolution of Mental Health Parity: Webinar recordingEmployers Are Investing in Employee Mental Health: A DMEC Podcast Playlist

Described as one of the most volatile aspects of employment law, paid sick leave laws are increasing (and changing) at a rapid rate. Listen in to this episode with Josh Seidman, partner with Seyfarth Shaw and co-lead of the leaves of absence management and accommodations team to hear about emerging trends and common employer mistakes to avoid!Resources:Hear Josh Seidman share more guidance on paid sick leave laws during the 2024 DMEC Annual Conference in August. Peruse the agenda and register: https://dmec.org/conferences-and-events/annual-conference/Visit the DMEC Paid Sick Leave Law Updates page for news and information provided by the Seyfarth Shaw team: https://dmec.org/resources/paid-sick-leave-updates/

Hear about creative solutions designed by two winners of the 2023 DMEC Emerging Leader Award, how they define leadership, and the mutually beneficial effects of recognizing (and rewarding) this important work! Get insights from Ashleigh Brock, JD, lead compliance coordinator for the city of Memphis, and Keemia Vaghef, PhD, director of analytics consulting, leave solutions at Alight Solutions, in this extended podcast episode!From designing streamlined processes to improve efficiencies to dispelling benchmarking myths for greater success, these award winners set a high bar! Listen in for inspiration! And nominate superstars in your organization before May 30 for this leadership award!Read more about the 2023 award winners in the @Work magazine article Celebrating Leadership in Absence and Disability Management Circles.Learn about the Emerging Leader Award criteria and complete the nomination form to highlight emerging leaders in your organization!: https://dmec.org/about-dmec/leadership-award/

Hear DMEC subject matter experts discuss hot topics from the 2024 DMEC FMLA/ADA Employer Compliance Conference including priorities shared by the DOL and EEOC. Bryon Bass, CLMS, CEO; Jess Dudley, CLMS, CPDM, education manager; and Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP, director of education programs, talk about what resonated most as well as tips to help integrated disability and absence managers create compliant and caring environments. Resources referenced in this episode:2024 DMEC Virtual Compliance ConferenceFMLA/ADA Training for Supervisors and ManagersBuilding a Return-to-Work Program Microcredential CourseDMEC

Creating programs that address an employee’s unique social determinants of health (SDOH) can improve employee health and productivity, say Patty Nunez, MA, CRC, CDMS, CCM, Commissioner, Commission for Case Manager Certification, and director, Claim Supply Management, CNA Insurance, and Vivian Campagna, DNP, RN-BC, CCM, chief industry relations officer with the Commission for Case Manager Certification in this episode of the podcast. The work can also prevent accidents or injuries that prompt leaves of absence. Hear what employers can do to embrace the concept and construct of SDOH to improve employee health, wellness, and safety.Resources:Addressing Social Determinants of Health Improves Absence Management and Return to WorkDMEC resourcesFMLA/ADA Training for Supervisors and Managers

“There’s never been a more compelling business case for investing in mental health than there is now,” says Bryon Bass, CLMS, CEO, DMEC. Hear Bass discuss takeaways from the 2024 DMEC Virtual Mental Health Conference with Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP, DMEC director of education programs, and Jess Dudley, CLMS, CPDM, DMEC education manager, in this podcast episode. The conference, which was sponsored by the Marsh McLennan Agency, highlighted employer case studies, business case tips, and resources galore! Listen in for details! Resources:DMEC Mental Health ResourcesA Four-Part Framework for a Mental Health-Friendly WorkplaceHow to Create Mentally Healthier Work EnvironmentsNow is the Time for Employers to Make Mental Health an Organizational PriorityThe Surgeon General's Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-BeingHear How Employers Are Investing in Employee Mental Health: A DMEC Podcast PlaylistEqualizing Mental and Physical Health in the WorkplaceEmployers Seek Ways to Turn the Tide on Employee Mental Health

Nora Burns, founder and chief curiosity officer of The Leadership Experts, shares findings from her Undercover Candidate research, some of which she describes as horrifying! Listen in to hear this dynamic HR executive turned consultant talk about the cost of culture in advance of her keynote presentation at the 2024 DMEC FMLA/ADA Employer Compliance Conference March 25-28. Resources noted:Redefining Culture and Its Costs: Undercover Project Perspectives, a Q&A with Nora Burns 2024 DMEC FMLA/ADA Employer Compliance Conference March 25-28 in Dallas, TexasThe Leadership ExpertsDMEC

Does your organization consider leave as an event or a part of the employment process? Your answer might determine more than you think! Listen in as DMEC education team experts Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP; and Jess Dudley, CLMS, CPDM, discuss how controlling the message of employee absence can be a deciding factor in program's success! The two discuss how employers can develop a return-to-work program that not only outlines policies but encourages grace in employee interactions and helps team members stay at work and return to work when they are able to do so.

Confused about paid family and medical leave (PFML) terminology? Learn about the evolution of PFML and get tips on how employers can set realistic expectations with private-sector employees in states where voluntary PFML is available from Jessica Bolar, senior product manager, PFML and Absence Management with The Standard. While there are two of these “voluntary plans” today, there will be 16 by 2026 and industry experts like Bolar question whether there will be more. As a result, the best approach is for employers to start preparing now. Listen in for details and guidance.Resources:The Eye of the Storm: The Evolution of PFML Trends and Paid Leave Policies

Employers can create mentally healthy workplaces. One key component is talking with employees about potential solutions to help reduce workload or stress instead of acting independently to protect them; actions that could be misconstrued and cause more harm than good. In this episode Paula Allen, global leader and senior vice president of Research and Client Insights for TELUS Health, offers insights and tips to help identify and mitigate mental health risks in the workplace, equip managers with the information and skills they need, and access the right resources when employees need them most. Listen in for details, and read the Q&A with Allen "How to Create Mentally Healthier Work Environments" in @Work magazine for additional context.Resources cited in the podcast:Workplace Strategy Index for Mental Health toolTELUS Mental Health Index2024 DMEC Virtual Mental Health Conference Jan. 23 & 25, 2024DMEC Mental Health ResourcesDMEC Mental Health Podcast Playlist

It is increasingly important for employers to participate in policy conversations about state paid family and medical leave implementation to ensure their voices are heard, says Tracy Marshall, BSN, RN, CCM, CDMS, SHRM-SCP, division director, Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) division, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Listen in for details about FAMLI, the value of more employers engaging in the rule-making process, perspectives shared during an employer roundtable discussion Marshall facilitated during the 2023 DMEC Annual Conference, and more.Resources:FAMLI websiteFAMLI Resources for Employers2024 DMEC FMLA/ADA Employer Compliance ConferenceDMEC Resources

Unanswered questions and confusion about restricted duty (who is eligible, when should it be recommended, and what an employer's responsibilities are) can delay an employee's return to work, says Tracie DeFreitas, a program leader and director of training, services, and outreach for the Job Accommodation Network. Get insights and perspectives in this episode!JAN resources referenced in this episode:Light duty: https://askjan.org/topics/liduty.cfmStay at Work/Return to Work: https://askjan.org/topics/return.cfmPregnancy: https://askjan.org/disabilities/Pregnancy.cfmEmployer-provided Leave and the Americans with Disabilities Act: https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/employer-provided-leave-and-americans-disabilities-actEnforcement Guidance: Workers' Compensation and the ADA: https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/enforcement-guidance-workers-compensation-and-adaRegulations to Implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/08/11/2023-17041/regulations-to-implement-the-pregnant-workers-fairness-actDMEC-Related Resources:Creating More Effective Return-to-Work Pathways podcast episodeDMEC accommodation resourcesDMEC website

Strong absence and disability management processes empower employers and help support employees during emotional times, explains Rachel Shaw, president/principal consultant, Shaw HR Consulting. Data can provide a life vest during emotional discussions when employees seek accommodations for disabilities and performance issues muddy the waters. DMEC resources mentioned during the podcast:At the Crossroads of Performance Management and Disability: Using the Right Tool for the JobDMECommunities, an online member networking and discussion platform DMEC Resources