Lincoln Absence Advisor

A new year brings new leave program launches and updates. In this episode, we dive into questions we received on various state PFML or PFL programs during our last webinar, Preparing for 2021. Join Lincoln’s Marissa Mayfield and Kristin Hostetter, product leads for state leave programs, as they answer questions on PFML, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York programs in our last season 1 episode of Lincoln Absence Advisor.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Connecticut Paid Family Leave Website
• Lincoln’s Webinar, Preparing for 2021

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©2024 Lincoln National Corporation. All rights reserved.

Get answers to your questions on Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML). In this episode, we’ll answer the questions we’ve heard on private plans, administration, definitions, and more. Join Lincoln’s Kristin Hostetter, product lead for Connecticut Family Leave, and Alexa Greenberg, legal counsel, as we discuss the latest information we’ve received on this new program.

Resources mentioned in the episode:
Connecticut Paid Family Leave Website
Lincoln’s Connecticut Paid Family Leave Website


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© 2024 Lincoln National Corporation. All rights reserved.

With the summer coming to a close, it’s time to catch up on all the latest compliance news as it relates to family and medical leave laws and regulations. In today’s episode, we’re joined by two of my Lincoln Financial Group colleagues. Trish Zuniga Compliance Consultant, and Annie Jantz, Senior Product Manager for State Disability and Paid Family Leave. During this episode we discuss:

• The on-going federal response to COVID-19
• PFML program updates from MA, CA, and CO
• Insights into Company Paid Leave

Check out the FAQ: “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws”

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© 2024 Lincoln National Corporation. All rights reserved.

What is ableism? Why should it be a key topic in any workplace diversity and inclusion program? In this week’s episode, leaders of Lincoln’s internal resource group for people with disabilities join us for an open discussion on this trending topic. Mike Kellar, vice president of recruiting, and Arlene Hendricks, director of life underwriting, share their observations and stories and also touch upon how companies can identify and avoid the negative effects of ableism.

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© 2024 Lincoln National Corporation. All rights reserved.

In this episode, we talk about the “Disability Mindset.” A term that describes a mindset that can develop after an employee becomes ill or injured – taking them out of the workplace – where they begin focusing more on their disability rather than their ability to return to work. Joining us to talk about this topic are two Lincoln Financial Group employees. Saretha Bradley, and Melissa Michuda of Lincoln’s Vocational and Clinical Operations. During this episode we discuss:

• What the term "disability mindset" means 
• How open communication and education surrounding disability programs is key
• The importance of flexibility, customized solutions, and thinking outside the box when it comes to return to work solutions

Resources: JAN (Job Accommodation Network)

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© 2024 Lincoln National Corporation. All rights reserved.

There is a lot to talk about when it comes to the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) – in particular, the impact of schools reopening and the recent revisions from the Department of Labor in response to New York’s federal court ruling.  Learn more about:

• What the DOL clarified in this week’s regulation updates
• The impact of these regulation updates and clarifications on the recent New York court case
• The three scenarios for schools reopening, when an employee is covered by the FFCRA

Join Lincoln’s Sarah Montgomery, Assistance Vice President and General Counsel for Group Protection and Annie Jantz, product lead for leave services, on this latest episode of Lincoln Absence Advisor

Resources:

• DOL’s FAQs for FFCRA 
• Lincoln Financial’s Compliance Updates 

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©2023 Lincoln National Corporation. All rights reserved.

Emily Igrejas, Lincoln product manager, joins our podcast today -- and brings us her expertise in disability coverage and how it interacts with PFML. She clarifies the complex layers of information surrounding STD in the PFML landscape, as she:

• Explains the key differences between STD and state-mandated leave 
• Explores the unique value of STD coverage when it’s combined with state coverage
• Breaks down important concepts and definitions
• Walks us through examples of how an employees’ one illness or injury can trigger several different leave or benefit programs

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©2023 Lincoln National Corporation. All rights reserved.

In this episode of Lincoln Absence Advisor, we’re joined by two Lincoln Financial Vocational Rehabilitation specialists, Michelle Reddinger and Jennifer Irvin to discuss transitional work. During this conversation, we take a deeper dive into what transitional work is and how this accommodation option can benefit employees and employers. 

We also discuss:

• How to determine if transitional work is a reasonable accommodation option
• Examples of transitional work put into practice
• Common misconceptions about transitional work

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©2023 Lincoln National Corporation. All rights reserved.

With Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical final leave regulations announced in July, and their launch right around the corner, it is time to talk. In this episode of Lincoln Absence Advisor, we are joined by our partners at Lincoln—Marissa Mayfield, product lead for Massachusetts PFML and Trish Zuniga, compliance lead for leave regulation—to discuss some of the impacts, including:

• New July 2020 regulations compared to May 2019 regulations
• The new addition of accrued paid leave
• Intermittent leave and how it is defined in the program
• Expectations for private plans with the newest regulations

Additional Resources:
As mentioned in our conversation, MA PFML website is a great resource for details and signing-up for updates from the state. 

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©2023 Lincoln National Corporation. All rights reserved.