Media Requests

To arrange interviews with industry experts, request access to white papers and case studies, or to register for one of our events, please contact Tasha Patterson at tpatterson@dmec.org or 800.789.3632, ext. 102.

The Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) is a non-profit organization founded in 1992 dedicated to providing absence and disability professionals with ongoing support and the latest information, tools, and resources organizations need to minimize employee lost work time, improve staff productivity, and maintain legally compliant absence and disability management programs. We can connect members of the media with top experts in the integrated absence management field.

Latest DMEC News and Events

U.S. Supreme Court Turns Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services COVID-19 Vaccine Rules Back On

January 14, 2022Accordingly, CMS can enforce in the 24 states that had been subject to the injunctions reviewed by the Court its interim final rule requiring many Medicare and Medicaid providers to ensure that their covered staff are vaccinated against COVID-19.

U.S. Supreme Court Puts OSHA COVID-19 Vaccine-Or-Test ETS Back on Ice

January 14, 2022In a 6-3 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has granted a temporary stay of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). 

All Connecticut Employers Are Covered by State Family and Medical Leave Act Beginning 2022

January 13, 2022Have any employees in Connecticut? Then you are covered by the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act (Connecticut FMLA).

Updated Rates for California EDD Benefits and San Francisco Paid Family Leave Ordinance

January 13, 2022The California Employment Development Department (EDD) has released the Voluntary Plan Employee Contribution and Benefit Rates for 2022.

Connecticut Paid Leave Payments and FMLA Changes What You Need to Know

January 3, 2022As we speed closer to Jan. 1, the date when payments will begin under Connecticut’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Act and the effective date of changes to Connecticut’s Family and Medical Leave Act (CT FMLA), below are some updates and considerations for employers.

Sixth Circuit Dissolves Stay of OSHA COVID-19 Vaccine ETS

December 20, 2021The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has lifted the Fifth Circuit’s stay of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on COVID-19 vaccination and testing for employers with at least 100 employees.

Is COVID-19 a Disability? EEOC Provides Updated Guidance

December 15, 2021On Dec. 14, 2021, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) added a new section, COVID-19 and the Definition of “Disability” Under the ADA/Rehabilitation Act, to its COVID-19 guidance.

Webinar Recording: 3 Key Areas to Fortify Your Leave Administration Plan Strategy

December 9, 2021Administering absence, disability, and accommodations can be fraught with challenges. Employers should fortify their approach by holistically and systematically addressing challenges across three foundational areas of focus: compliance, technology, and ... Read More

Webinar Recording: Leveraging Technology to Improve Leave Programs

December 7, 2021While many employers have juggled remote and hybrid work alternatives for the past 18+ months with efficiency, the physical separation of employees from the workplace continues to pose challenges. How ... Read More

Philadelphia Mandates COVID Vaccine for All City Workers

November 24, 2021On Nov. 19, 2021, the City of Philadelphia announced all City workers must “complete a full schedule of COVID-19 vaccination(s)” by Jan. 14, 2022, or risk losing their jobs.

Florida Legislature Passes New COVID-19 Workplace Laws

November 22, 2021During a special session to consider what Governor Ron DeSantis called his “Keep Florida Free” agenda, the Florida Legislature passed several vaccine measures, some of which conflict with recently implemented federal rules, that affect the workplace.

Fate of OSHA’s COVID-19 Vaccine ETS in the Hands of Sixth Circuit Court

November 18, 2021The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has won the much-anticipated Multi-District Litigation lottery and will get to decide the merits of the challenges to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 vaccine Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS).

Puerto Rico Expands Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination

November 18, 2021Puerto Rico Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi has issued an Executive Order (EO) requiring all private sector employers with at least 50 employees to adopt COVID-19 vaccine or testing requirements.

Webinar Recording: Statutory Paid Leaves – What You Need to Know for 2022

November 18, 2021If you have employees in any of these statutory jurisdictions — California, Connecticut, Colorado, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, and/or Washington state ... Read More

Webinar Recording: Crucial Considerations for the Changing Workplace

November 17, 2021There is no doubt that our workplace is in the midst of a permanent shift. Strategic employers are working to understand the shifts and get out ahead. New leave laws, ... Read More

Council Adopts Paid Leave for D.C. Employees Getting COVID-19 Vaccines

November 17, 2021The D.C. Council has adopted legislation that “removes one of the biggest obstacles workers say prevents them from getting the COVID-19 vaccine” by ensuring paid time off for both vaccination and recovery from any side effects.

Webinar Recording: Connecticut Paid Family & Medical Leave 101 – Preparations for Success

November 11, 2021Ready or not, Connecticut’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) benefits will become available to employees on Jan. 1, 2022. This session walked through the distinctions between the state ... Read More

What Healthcare Employers Need to Know About the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Vaccine Mandate

November 10, 2021The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) establishing the COVID-19 vaccination requirements for staff employed at Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers.

Fifth Circuit Hits Pause on OSHA COVID-19 Vaccine or Testing Emergency Standard

November 10, 2021One day after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) titled “COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing; Emergency Temporary Standard” (Mandate) (see 86 Fed. Reg., 61,402), a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a nationwide stay of the OSHA ETS.

Update on Face Coverings in California

November 5, 2021In June, California relaxed many of its COVID-19 restrictions, including allowing fully vaccinated individuals to go without a face covering indoors, with limited exception.

OSHA Issues Emergency Temporary Standard Requiring COVID-19 Tests or Vaccinations for Most Employers

November 5, 2021The temporary COVID-19 Massachusetts emergency paid sick leave (MA EPSL) has been extended through Apr. 1, 2022.

Webinar Recording: Masks, Vaccine Mandates, and More Remote Work? Insights for 2022!

November 4, 2021After the unexpected events of 2020, 2021 has been anything but predictable. As the year began, vaccines were rolling out and mask mandates eventually started to lift. Many employers, in ... Read More

Webinar Recording: West Region Compliance Update

October 28, 2021The compliance landscape surrounding absence and disability management is changing at a dizzying pace. DMEC’s annual compliance update webinar series is intended to help employers who might be struggling to ... Read More

Webinar Recording: Midwest Region Compliance Update

October 26, 2021The compliance landscape surrounding absence and disability management is changing at a dizzying pace. DMEC’s annual compliance update webinar series is intended to help employers who might be struggling to ... Read More

Webinar Recording: South Region Compliance Update

October 21, 2021The compliance landscape surrounding absence and disability management is changing at a dizzying pace. DMEC’s annual compliance update webinar series is intended to help employers who might be struggling to ... Read More