2026 DMEC Leave Plan & Policy Design Survey
Help shape the benchmarks that guide absence and disability program design across the industry. Your data drives insights employers use to evaluate, compare, and improve their programs.
Why this survey matters
The 2026 DMEC Leave Plan & Policy Design Survey, conducted in partnership with Spring Consulting Group, collects detailed data on how employers structure their absence and disability programs, including short-term and long-term disability, workers’ compensation, FMLA, paid leave, PTO, and attendance policies.
The results provide valuable insights into how organizations design and manage their absence plans, enabling employers to benchmark their programs, adopt best practices, and improve overall program efficiency.
Who Should Participate
This survey should be completed by the person responsible for managing your organization’s absence and disability programs, such as a benefits manager, HR leader, or leave administrator.
Why participate
- Access exclusive benchmarking tools
DMEC employer members who complete the survey receive access to the AbsenceExemplar (Limited) Dashboard when data is updated in Q1 2027, allowing you to compare your program design against peer organizations. - Receive the full results
DMEC members receive the complete white paper of survey results when published. Non-members receive the Executive Summary.
- Access exclusive benchmarking tools
DMEC employer members who complete the survey receive access to the AbsenceExemplar (Limited) Dashboard when data is updated in Q1 2027, allowing you to compare your program design against peer organizations. - Receive the full results
DMEC members receive the complete white paper of survey results when published. Non-members receive the Executive Summary. - Benchmark against 800+ employers
Compare your absence and disability programs against organizations across industries and sizes. - Shape industry standards
Your responses help establish the benchmarks and best practices that guide accommodation and leave management across the field. - Important for current Dashboard users: If you already have AbsenceExemplar access from a prior survey, you will lose it once new data is uploaded unless you complete this year’s survey.
- Benchmark against 800+ employers
Compare your absence and disability programs against organizations across industries and sizes. - Shape industry standards
Your responses help establish the benchmarks and best practices that guide accommodation and leave management across the field. - Important for current Dashboard users: If you already have AbsenceExemplar access from a prior survey, you will lose it once new data is uploaded unless you complete this year’s survey.
How it works
Answer questions about your organization’s absence and disability program design. If you’ve participated before, check your email for your personalized link. Your prior responses will be preloaded to make the process faster.
Survey window: July 6 – September 18, 2026
Your data strengthens the field
Join hundreds of employers contributing to the research that shapes accommodation and leave management standards industry-wide.
Register
Today!
DMEC members receive discounts on the CLMS program, along with many other benefits.
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designee?
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Pricing &
Requirements
Following completion of the online course, you must pass a final exam that will cover the knowledge necessary to manage and administer a fully-compliant leave program within your company.
