Designing effective mental health accommodations can reduce employers' disability claims and lead to shorter claim durations. Get details in this podcast episode with Kerri Wizner, MPH, CPH, head of epidemiology, Alight MD Guidelines, and Keemia Vaghef, PhD, director of value engineering, Alight Leave Solutions.

What are the human and operational costs of not recognizing the comorbidities associated with mental illness in the claims management process? Ian Bridgeman, executive director of the Claim Lab, and Fred Schott, a consultant with the Council for Disability Income Awareness, offer insights into data that might surprise you.

In addition to gaining knowledge, 2024 DMEC Annual Conference attendees exchanged ideas and shared suggestions for supporting employees and complying with hundreds of leave laws! Hear DMEC subject matter experts Bryon Bass, CLMS, DMEC CEO; Kristin Jones, CLMS, DMEC director of education programs; and Jess Dudley, CLMS, DMEC education manager share top takeaways!

While artificial intelligence represents a great opportunity for employer efficiencies, there are potential pitfalls including liability risks. Listen in for insights from Bryon Bass, CLMS, CEO, DMEC, and Joe Lynett, a principal with JacksonLewis, P.C.

Does the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) bridge the gap between existing federal laws as intended? Listen in for insights from Carol Miaskoff, legal counsel for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Marjory Robertson, AVP and senior counsel for Sun Life.

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

A word of warning to employers that decide not to participate in voluntary paid family and medical leaves: Your responsibility does not end there. Hear about the administrative work required regardless of employer participation, get insights into lessons learned from New Hampshire, and the latest data in this DMEC podcast episode! Our guest is Gina Rutledge, director of paid family and medical leave product management and strategic planning with MetLife, who led work on the Granite State’s PFML program. Listen in for the latest details and data!

"It's ok to not be ok," says Amberley Snyder, award-winning rodeo rider and inspirational speaker, in this episode. "It might be a bad day but it's not a bad life." This is one of three things Snyder hopes attendees will take from her keynote presentation during the 2024 DMEC Annual Conference Aug. 5-8 in Nashville. Listen in for helpful perspectives that will help employers gain a better understanding for how they can help employees with disabilities and so much more!

There is a new mental health baseline in the workplace, many of which have up to four generations of employees. How can employers protect the mental health and wellness of employees? Listen in for details 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.

There are more than 40 paid state leave (PSL) laws in the U.S. and two to three dozen requirements employers must comply with, explains Josh Seidman, partner with Seyfarth Shaw and co-lead of the leaves of absence management and accommodations team, in this podcast episode. Listen in for guidance and details!