Absence Management Perspectives

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 a 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 Healthtool
• TELUS Mental Health Index
• 2024 DMEC Virtual Mental Health Conference Jan. 23 & 25, 2024
• DMEC Mental Health Resources
• DMEC 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:

• FAMLIwebsite
• FAMLI Resources for Employers
• 2024 DMEC FMLA/ADA Employer Compliance Conference
• DMEC 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.cfm
• Stay at Work/Return to Work:https://askjan.org/topics/return.cfm
• Pregnancy:https://askjan.org/disabilities/Pregnancy.cfm
• Employer-provided Leave and the Americans with Disabilities Act:https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/employer-provided-leave-and-americans-disabilities-act
• Enforcement Guidance: Workers' Compensation and the ADA:https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/enforcement-guidance-workers-compensation-and-ada
• Regulations to Implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act:https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/08/11/2023-17041/regulations-to-implement-the-pregnant-workers-fairness-act

DMEC-Related Resources:

• Creating More Effective Return-to-Work Pathwayspodcast episode
• DMEC accommodation resources
• DMEC 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 Job
• DMECommunities, an online member networking and discussion platform
• DMEC Resources

Listen in as DMEC subject matter experts share takeaways and favorite moments from the 2023 DMEC Annual Conference. From inspiring keynote speakers to breaking news about psychedelic drugs to treat mental illness, and important reminders about the meaningful work absence managers do, hear what resonated with Bryon Bass, CLMS, incoming DMEC CEO; Kristin Jones, CLMS, DMEC director of education; and Jess Dudley, CLMS, DMEC education manager.

Resources mentioned during this episode:

• The four live sessions (plus one recorded session) that will be shared during the 2023 DMEC Virtual Conference Sept. 20 have been selected and published! Learn more and register! 
• How Can Employers Prepare for Psychedelics?
• DMEC resources 

How will an increasing number of paid family and medical leave (PFML), which vary by state, influence the future of employee benefits? Listen in to this episode with Terri L. Rhodes, CCMP, CLMS, CPDM, MBA, CEO, DMEC, and Breanna Scott, CLMS, senior product manager, paid statutory leave for New York Life Insurance Company, for details, practical tips, and insights on industry trends.

DMEC resources unlocked for podcast listeners:

• What Does Your Paid Leave Program Say About You As An Employer?
• Does Offering a Private PFML Plan Make Sense?

Identifying and embracing differences among four generations in the workplace is essential for employer success, explains Raven Solomon, CEO of Raven Solomon Enterprises, and keynote speaker for the 2023 DMEC Annual Conference. Hear Raven discuss the business strategy to pursuing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that encourages a sense of belonging and ensures accessibility in this episode of the DMEC podcast.

• Read theQ&A with Raven Solomon.
• Hear Raven Solomon's keynote presentation during the2023 DMEC Annual Conference.
• Read the article Raven mentions in this episode, "Six Things You Need to Know in order to Effectively Lead Gen Z".
• Raven mentions the value of "micro learning" in this episode. Learn aboutDMEC's microcredential program.

How can employers create an environment that encourages employees to return to work when possible? Kerri Wizner, MPH, Assistant Director of Epidemiology for MDGuidelines, and Dr. Keemia Vaghef, PhD, Director of Analytics Consulting for Alight Leave Solutions, share insights and recommendations in this episode, which elaborates on concepts discussed in their @Work magazine article "The ROI of Shifting the Curve Toward Optimum Durations.“ Listeners will also hear from W. Shane Journeay PhD, MPH, MD, FRCPC, BC-Occ Med, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation & Occupational Medicine, who shares a valuable provider perspective. 

Related DMEC Resources

• The ROI of Shifting the Curve Toward Optimum Durations
• Building a Return-to-Work Program Microcredential Course