In Part 2 of Take It or Leave It’s deep dive into Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program, host Josh Seidman reconnects with Sarah Brydon to explore the nuanced issues shaping implementation. They break down key topics such as job protection, the program’s unique undue hardship provision, and what employers need to know about employee notice and operational planning. The episode also covers how Maine PFML coordinates with federal and state leave laws, employer-provided benefits, and PTO practices, including strategies for managing wage replacement and accruals. The conversation concludes with insights on private plan options and why paid family and medical leave programs continue to vary significantly across states, offering valuable perspective for employers navigating this evolving landscape. Read the full transcript here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/Take-It-Or-Leave-It-Episode-49.pdf

Host Josh Seidman welcomes Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Claims Administration Division Director, Sarah Brydon, for a timely conversation on the rollout of Maine’s PFML program, which went live and began paying benefits to eligible employees in May 2026. Drawing on her experience helping build the program from the ground up, Sarah walks through key milestones and operational decisions, as well as early lessons learned since the program launched. Josh and Sarah’s discussion – the first of a two-part series – breaks down a number of notable substantive topics, including employee eligibility, amount of leave, covered reasons for use, wage replacement calculations, how PFML benefits are funded, and what employers and employees need to know to navigate the application process. In addition, this episode offers practical insights into Maine PFML claims administration and processing and outlines publicly available resources issued by the Maine Department of Labor. Read the full transcript here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/TIOLI-Episode-48.pdf

In Part Two of this two-part series, Josh Seidman and Dillon Clair shift their focus beyond Virginia to examine the broader national landscape of paid leave and leave of absence legislation in 2026. The discussion highlights activity and developments in states like Hawaii, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, where momentum continues to build through evolving proposals, amendments, and ongoing legislative debate. The episode also explores emerging trends shaping the future of paid leave, including expanding definitions of covered family members, growing political influence on policy outcomes, and a marked increase in legislative activity nationwide. Josh and Dillon close with insights on federal efforts to harmonize the state patchwork of paid leave, offering practical perspective for employers navigating an increasingly complex compliance environment. Read the full transcript: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/Take-It-or-Leave-It-Episode-47-D-Clair-Part-Two.pdf

In the first episode of 2026, Take It Or Leave It host Josh Seidman is joined by Dillon Clair of the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) to unpack the latest developments shaping the paid leave landscape. Together, they explore how Virginia emerged as a focal point this year, enacting both paid family medical leave and paid sick and safe leave laws after years of legislative momentum and prior vetoes. The conversation dives into key provisions of Virginia’s new laws, including timelines, employer compliance considerations, and evolving definitions of “family member”—a critical issue for multi-state employers. Josh and Dillon also preview other states to watch in 2026, offering practical insights to help employers stay proactive amid an increasingly complex and rapidly shifting regulatory environment. Read the full transcript here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/Take-It-or-Leave-It-Episode-46.pdf

AI’s growth continues unabated, with AI agents embedding in workplaces and seeking to make life easier across industries. To explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping leaves of absence and disability administration, host Josh Seidman sits down with Angie Brown, Strategic Sales Director at Ushur. Together, they navigate the evolution of technology in this space and discuss how new solutions can become part of the administrative process for employers, carriers, and TPAs. Their conversation dives into Ushur’s two flagship tools, including agentic AI, and how certain organizations are leveraging these tools to navigate different aspects of leaves of absence – collecting sensitive personal data, communications with employees, medical certifications, return to work, etc. – within their workforce or for their customers. They also explore additional practical applications for this type of software, and take a look ahead to what’s on the horizon for AI-driven leave management. Read the full transcript of this episode here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/TIOLI_Episode45.pdf

For this forward-looking episode, host Josh Seidman continues the conversation with Bryon Bass, CEO of the Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC), focusing on the ethical and regulatory dimensions of AI in the world of leave management and workplace accommodations. Together, they explore the importance of establishing guardrails to ensure AI technologies are used responsibly, transparently, and with employee well-being at the forefront. Josh and Bryon also discuss the potential risks of unchecked automation, key considerations for employers partnering with third-party vendors, and emerging guidance from federal, state, and localgovernment agencies. The episode offers an inside look at the DMEC’s AI Think Tank, its recent findings, and why continued vigilance and collaboration across the industry are essential as AI adoption accelerates. Read the full transcript of the episode here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/TIOLI_Episode44.pdf

In this episode of Take It or Leave It, host Josh Seidman kicks off a two-part series exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and management of leaves of absence and accommodations. He’s joined by Bryon Bass, CEO of the Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC), for a timely and thought-provoking conversation about how AI is already reshaping – and will continue to reshape – the landscape of workplace leaves and accommodations. During this initial discussion, Josh and Bryon unpack the fundamentals – defining what AI really is (and isn’t) in this context and key differences between two interrelated but distinct topics, AI and automation. They then explore how professionals in the field are currently leveraging AI, what challenges remain, and where the technology might take us next. Whether you're an HR professional, leave administrator, or simply curious about how AI is changing the workplace, this episode offers valuable insights and a preview of what’s on the horizon. Read the full transcript of this episode here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/TIOLI_Episode43.pdf

In this episode of Take It or Leave It, host Josh Seidman sits down again with Jim Jantz from Marsh McLennan Agency to explore how lawmakers and employers are expanding their leave requirements and offerings to go beyond the status-quo to provide more benefits that meet the needs of today’s workforce. From state and local statutory developments like paid leave laws that cover pregnancy loss, or educational-related absences, to new federal laws like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Josh and Jim break down how evolving regulations are responding to the changing demands of the workforce. The conversation also highlights how related considerations are fueling momentum around special use leaves – including bereavement, prenatal care, and school-related absences - and what this means for employers and employees alike. Beyond the regulatory developments, Josh and Jim also look at how employers are proactively adjusting their own benefit offerings to better support the holistic needs of their employees – through caregiver leave, flexible schedules, floating holidays, and more. They share practical guidance for employers assessing their current leave and accommodation policies through a lens of increasing inclusivity, including where to start and how to identify meaningful gaps. Read the full transcript of this episode here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/TIOLI_Episode42.pdf

In this episode of Take It or Leave It, host Josh Seidman sits down with Jim Jantz, a leave and disability compliance expert from Marsh McLennan Agency, to explore the critical role managers play in navigating employee leaves and accommodations. From recognizing the signs of a potential FMLA request to understanding when and how to escalate to HR or Legal, Josh and Jim discuss why proper manager training is essential to legal compliance, day-to-day administration, and employee well-being. They also dig into some of the more complex challenges managers face, like handling intermittent FMLA leave, managing the interactive process under the ADA and PWFA, and knowing when leave might be a reasonable accommodation. With practical tips, common pitfalls, and real-world examples, this conversation is packed with guidance to help frontline managers support their teams without putting their organizations at risk. Read the full transcript of this episode here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/TIOLI_Episode41.pdf

In this milestone 40th episode of Take It or Leave It, host Josh Seidman dives into the 2024 SHRM Employee Benefits Survey with special guest Daniel Stunes, researcher and manager of data monetization for SHRM. Together, they unpack key data and trends from SHRM’s comprehensive annual report, which spans everything from paid parental leave and PTO to flexible work policies and emerging benefit categories. From unexpected shifts in unlimited PTO adoption to evolving support for caregiving and loss-related leave, Josh and Daniel explore how employers are reshaping their benefits offerings in response to workforce demands. They also spotlight surprising year-over-year changes and reveal which industries are leading the charge on flexibility and innovation. It’s a data-driven conversation with big implications for HR and Leave Law strategy in 2025 and beyond. Read the full transcript of this episode here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/TIOLI_Episode_40.pdf