New DMEC Education Model Takes Shape

In 2017, DMEC announced its transition from local chapters to a new education model. With a goal of extending the reach of our education events and providing additional resources to more of our members, the new education model has begun to take shape over the last year.

Regional Update Webinars

In October DMEC launched a new series of regional compliance update webinars. Increasingly, employers must comply with legal requirements that are driven by legislation at the state, county, and municipal level. These changes could be expansions or additions to state family or medical leave programs, sick leave mandates, or workers’ compensation (WC) laws. To address this complex patchwork of laws, the four sessions in October focused on legislative updates, major circuit court rulings, and changes to WC law in the four regions. If you missed any of the webinars, you can access the recordings at www.dmec.org/resources/webinar-archives/.

New in 2019

In 2019 DMEC will be adding some additional components to the education model that we believe will help our members connect with each other in unique ways, while taking advantage of cutting-edge education and technology.

Online Community Forums

Watch for new online community forums and a member directory in Spring 2019, which will allow DMEC members to share resources, ask questions, and gather insight from their industry peers in a secure, online environment. Whether you’re interested in connecting with employers in your local area, your industry, or your organization size, you’ll have the opportunity to select and customize the groups you participate in. In addition, you’ll have a chance to build your network and find like-minded peers who understand your unique challenges through the online member directory.

Conference Roundtable Discussions

Based on feedback from conferences attendees, we’ll be adding new roundtable discussions at our 2019 events. Look for roundtables based on location and topic at the 2019 DMEC Compliance Conference, and roundtables based on industry and topic at the 2019 DMEC Annual Conference. Roundtable discussions allow individuals to delve into detailed absence and disability management questions and share lessons learned and best practices.

Summit Events

In Fall 2019, we’ll be introducing our first DMEC Summit event. Using an online platform, the DMEC Summit will feature three to four hot-topic sessions with leading industry speakers. Networking and interactive discussion will be provided through “local hosting parties”. Watch for more information about this exciting new event in the DMEC Bulletin.

Enhanced Webinar Features

As more and more professionals utilize DMEC webinars for education and training, we’ll be adding new opportunities for attendees to chat and connect with one another during the events. We’ll also be introducing some dynamic, interactive elements for speakers and resources. Look for these changes in Fall 2019.

Continued Evolution

As the new education model evolves, DMEC will continue to review and incorporate new learning and networking opportunities. Our goal is to provide timely, high-quality education and training for absence and disability management professionals. If you have feedback or ideas you’d like to share, we invite you to submit them to Tasha Patterson at tpatterson@dmec.org.