2024 DMEC Virtual Compliance Conference

Speaker:
Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP, Director, Education Programs, DMEC

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) interactive process is not always easy, and leave managers are often challenged with difficult requests from employees needing accommodations due to their disability. In this session, we will present various ADA interactive process scenarios, based on recent legislation and court rulings, and will demonstrate how to prepare for ADA-related conversations, share examples of different workplace accommodation requests, provide practical guidance on how to address difficult accommodation needs, and reveal consequences for incorrectly administering the interactive process.

Speakers:
Amber Behanna, Senior Product Consultant, MetLife
Tony Dulgerian, Esq, AVP & Assistant General Counsel, MetLife
Donna Fisher, MRC, Director, Product Development, MetLife

Administering employee leave of absences ranks among the top challenges for employers. But for organizations with remote workers operating in multiple states, the task is even more daunting. Employers must contend with employee-friendly statutes, both state and local, including laws mandating employer-paid leave for illness and other reasons. Complying with the myriad of legal requirements is no small feat. In this session, we will provide an overview of leave laws, what you should consider with a remote workforce, and how to build a time-off program that is reflective of your company culture and attracts and retains talent.

Speaker:
Marina A. Galatro, PHRca, SPHR, SHRM-CP, Executive HR Consultant, HR Services, Newfront Insurance
Emily Zellmann, Leave of Absence Consultant, New Front Insurance

What would you learn about reflective leadership if you mopped the floors, stocked the shelves, or made deliveries? For many, we have titles such as Leader, Manager, Director, Vice President, Owner, and Executive. They define and claim us — creating expectations, but also new ecosystems where we risk becoming disconnected from our roots. This creates a culture that divides and compartmentalizes humans via the lines of an organizational chart, and companies have paid the price in low-quality candidates, poor engagement, and high turnover. In this session, Nora Burns will take insights from her primary research, including 250+ job interviews, and help you understand why people stay, why they go, what works, and what doesn’t for employees. She’ll share the four key attributes that create leadership “ECHOs” — from the boardroom to the breakroom. And she’ll help you reconnect with your front line to improve hiring, reduce turnover, and build more successful organizations.

Speaker:
Nora Burns, Founder and Chief Curiosity Officer, The Leadership Experts

Leave administration is complex and getting more complicated by the day. What happens if an employer fails to satisfy their obligations related to a Family and Medical Leave Law (FMLA) request or doesn’t recognize an employee’s need for FMLA leave? What options do they have? In this session, we will cover a variety of scenarios — such as retroactive designations, sending notices after the fact, whether or not employees have suffered harm, and more — and ask attendees to vote on how the employer should proceed. We’ll also walk through the applicable compliance requirements and offer tips on how you could proceed if you ever found yourself in similar circumstances.

Speakers:
Lynne A. Sousa, JD, SHRM-CP, PHR, Senior Leave Management Legal and Compliance Counsel, Voya Financial
Susan Woods, JD, Senior Counsel, FullscopeRMS

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) is the most significant federal worker protection legislation passed by Congress in many years, and it fills serious gaps in prior federal leave and accommodation legislation with regard to the rights of pregnant workers. Under the PWFA, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is charged with implementing and enforcing the law’s requirements. Carol R. Miaskoff, Legal Counsel to the EEOC, who led the EEOC’s work on the development of the PWFA regulations, will share important perspectives about this watershed legislation, and the EEOC’s commitment to it. We’ll also discuss the practical aspects of the regulations and share insights about the scope of the PWFA and its impact on state and local pregnancy accommodation laws.

Speaker:
Carol Miaskoff, JD, Legal Counsel, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Moderator:
Marjory Robertson, JD, AVP & Senior Counsel, Sun Life

This is your opportunity to get the latest headlines directly from the Department of Labor (DOL). Hear what’s new from the DOL’s leading FMLA expert, Helen Applewhaite, as she gets you up to speed on all things Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), PUMP Act, and more. She will also cover compliance trends and challenges from the perspective of the FMLA’s governing agency.

Speaker:
Helen M. Applewhaite, Director, Division of FMLA/Section 14(c)/PUMP, US Department of Labor