Absence Management Perspectives

Why is "in loco parentis" a renewed topic of interest for leave management professionals? Has the atmosphere surrounding AI shifted? And what is it about psychedelic treatments that has employers seeking context? Listen in for "lightbulb moments" during the 2025 DMEC Compliance Conference from DMEC subject matter experts Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP, Director of Education Programs, and Jess Dudley, CLMS, CPDM, Senior Education Manager.

Join us June 4 for the 2025 DMEC Virtual Compliance Conference, which features several of the sessions discussed in this episode!

A note to listeners: This version of the podcast, which is only available to DMEC members, includes extra questions and answers from our guests. Click the link below to learn more about joining the DMEC community! 

Resources:

• Join DMECto get the support you need to ensure employer compliance!
• How Can Employers Prepare for Psychedelics?
• What Role Should Health Equity Have in Benefit Discussions?
• Register for the 2025 DMEC Virtual Compliance Conference on June 4!
• Plan ahead and register for the 2025 DMEC Annual Conference Aug. 4-7 in Washington, D.C.
• Increase Your Professional Value: Become a Certified Leave Management Specialist

Mentioned in this episode:

Are Leave Management Specialists Asking the Right Questions?

Increase Your Professional Value. Become a Certified Leave Management Specialist Today: https://dmec.org/certification-and-training/clms-certification/

DMEC

Why is "in loco parentis" a renewed topic of interest for leave management professionals? Has the atmosphere surrounding AI shifted? And what is it about psychedelic treatments that has employers seeking context? Listen in for "lightbulb moments" during the 2025 DMEC Compliance Conference from DMEC subject matter experts Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP, Director of Education Programs, and Jess Dudley, CLMS, CPDM, Senior Education Manager.

Join us June 4 for the 2025 DMEC Virtual Compliance Conference, which features several of the sessions discussed in this episode!

Note to listeners: There is a member-exclusive version of this podcast, which includes extra questions and answers from our guests. If you are a DMEC member, click here for access. If you're not yet a member, click the link below to learn more about joining the DMEC community! 

Resources:

• Join DMECto get the support you need to ensure employer compliance!
• How Can Employers Prepare for Psychedelics?
• What Role Should Health Equity Have in Benefit Discussions?
• Register for the 2025 DMEC Virtual Compliance Conference on June 4!
• Plan ahead and register for the 2025 DMEC Annual Conference Aug. 4-7 in Washington, D.C.
• Increase Your Professional Value: Become a Certified Leave Management Specialist

Mentioned in this episode:

Are Leave Management Specialists Asking the Right Questions?

Increase Your Professional Value. Become a Certified Leave Management Specialist Today: https://dmec.org/certification-and-training/clms-certification/

DMEC

How do structured policies and processes enable employers to treat employees consistently as individuals, reduce liability risks, and improve the employee experience? Listen in for guidance and context from Ryan Bruce, MEd, CRC, SPHR, CLMS, Director of Client Solutions for New York Life Group Benefit Solutions, and Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP, Director of DMEC Education Programs. 

Resources:

• Get more details in the article by Bruce titledThe Benefits to a Strong Return-to-Work Policyin@Workmagazine, which we have unlocked for listeners.
• Register for the DMECBuilding a Return-to-Work Program Microcredential Courseto ensure your team is on the the right track.
• Join DMECto get the support you need to ensure employer compliance!

Amid a sea change in policies and practices, how do employers design the types of plans and policies that ensure employees feel safe and supported? Listen in to this episode for guidance and tips from Ali Schaafsma, director of absence consulting for Brown & Brown Strategic Non-Medical Solutions; and Melanie Payton, CLMS, assistant vice president of Absence Consulting and Audit Practice for Brown & Brown Strategic Non-Medical Solutions.

Resources:

• The Business Case for Inclusive Leave Programsin DMEC@Workmagazine
• DMEC AbsenceNavigator™leave planning tool

Hear more from Ali Schaafsma during the 2025 DMEC Annual Conference Aug. 3-7 in Washington, D.C. Register today!

More employers recognize the value of redesigning benefit plans and policies so they support employees during different life cycles but how do they ensure these benefits are more than just words on a page? Listen in to Bryon E. Bass, CLMS, CEO, DMEC, share insights and suggestions.

This version of the episode includes a member-exclusive Q&A with Bass, who shares insights on how employers know whether they're doing enough or perhaps too much when it comes to designing employee benefit plans and designs.

Resources referenced during this episode:

• FMLA/ADA Training for Supervisors and Managers
• DMEC AbsenceExemplar® Benchmarking tool
• 2025 DMEC Compliance ConferenceApril 14-17 in Columbus, Ohio
• State and Local Leave Law Map
• Coming in Hot — A Business Case for Menopause Support in the
• Workplace: Webinar recording
• What's the Business Case for Paid Company Leave
• To Position Your Benefit Plans Competitively, Start with These Three Questions

While more employers recognize the value of redesigning benefit plans and policies to support employees during all life cycles, how do they ensure these benefits are more than just words on a page? Listen in to this episode with Bryon E. Bass, CLMS, CEO, DMEC, who shares insights and suggestions.

DMEC members have access to an exclusive Q&A with Bass on this topic of supportive leaves, and received a unique link to access the episode!

Learn more about DMEC membership to join this supportive community of leave management professionals: https://dmec.org/membership/benefits-of-membership/

Resources referenced during this episode:

• FMLA/ADA Training for Supervisors and Managers
• DMEC AbsenceExemplar® Benchmarking tool
• 2025 DMEC Compliance ConferenceApril 14-17 in Columbus, Ohio
• State and Local Leave Law Map
• Coming in Hot — A Business Case for Menopause Support in the
• Workplace: Webinar recording
• What's the Business Case for Paid Company Leave
• To Position Your Benefit Plans Competitively, Start with These Three Questions

Recognizing life as a playground is part of the journey to reenergizing exhausted employees, creating safe spaces to share ideas, and encouraging teams to scale greater heights. Listen in for a sneak peek of the concepts Manley Feinberg, business leader and expert mountain climber, will share during the 2025 DMEC Compliance Conference in April!

And join us April 14-17, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio for the 2025 DMEC Compliance Conference

Is fear preventing employers from having conversations with employees diagnosed with cancer about how they can stay at work and return to work as soon as possible? Work can be part of the healing process and with new treatment approaches, many (if not most) patients survive early-stage diagnoses, explains Raghav Murali-Ganesh, MD, FRANZCR, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder, Osara Health, and Robin Newman, Clinical Program Consultant, Osara Health, and Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University. Listen in for actionable guidance.

This episode includes a member-exclusive answer from Dr. Raghav Murali-Ganesh, who shares insights about barriers to creating cancer-friendly work environments and how employers can overcome them. Access is limited to DMEC members, who received this link.

Get more insights in this DMEC @Work magazine article, which was referenced in this episode and we will unlock for podcast listeners:

• Supporting Effective Return-to-Work Practices for Employees with Cancer

Is fear preventing employers from having conversations with employees diagnosed with cancer about how they can stay at work and return to work as soon as possible? Work can be part of the healing process and with new treatment approaches, many (if not most) patients survive early-stage diagnoses, explains Raghav Murali-Ganesh, MD, FRANZCR, Chief Executive Officer, co-founder, Osara Health, and Robin Newman, clinical program consultant, Osara Health, and clinical associate professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University. Listen in for actionable guidance.

Member Exclusive Q&A

DMEC members have access to an additional answer from Dr. Raghav Murali-Ganesh, who shares insights about barriers to creating a cancer-friendly workplace and how to overcome them. The link to the full episode with this additional answer was shared with DMEC members. Learn more about membership and gain access to the full episode by contacting us at [email protected].

Get more insights in this DMEC @Work magazine article, which was referenced in this episode and we will unlock for podcast listeners:

Supporting Effective Return-to-Work Practices for Employees with Cancer

How do you build the business case for company paid leave programs that align with executive goals and employee expectations so everyone comes out whole? Listen in as Tina Computzzi, senior digital product manager with Symetra Life Insurance Company, shares analyses you need and the results you can expect!

Resources:

• A Comprehensive Guide to Budget Analysis for Proposing Paid Company Leave Benefits
• Comparisons Matter: Benchmarking Provides Direction for Disability and Absence Management Professionals
• Surveys & Benchmarking Resources