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

Webinar Recording: Driving Change in Your Leave Administration Program

September 28, 2022Changes abound within your workforce, work environments, and the leave landscape. Shifts in who will work, what work looks like, where we work, and when we work is driving significant ... Read More

Now Is Always a Good Time to Evaluate Your FMLA Processes

September 27, 2022Based on experience advising hundreds of employers and closely watching court rulings on cases around the country, below are a few tips for complying with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Webinar Recording: Paid Sick Leave vs. Paid Medical Leave – Beyond the Basics

September 23, 2022In April 2022, we presented a back-to-basics webinar exploring the interplay between paid sick leave and paid medical leave. This follow-up webinar moved past the basics and addressed more advanced ... Read More

Webinar Recording: Preparing for the Upcoming Oregon and Colorado PFML Programs

September 22, 2022Effective Jan. 1, 2023, both Oregon and Colorado will start collecting contributions for the state-funded paid family and medical leave (PFML) plans. While the actual benefits go live in September ... Read More

Webinar Recording: Absence Management – Take The Absence Challenge

September 19, 2022Although the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has been around for several years, many employers still struggle with knowing and applying the law. Compliance remains one of the top ... Read More

Fourth Circuit Rules: Gender Dysphoria Is Not Excluded from Coverage under the ADA

August 19, 2022Gender dysphoria is not excluded from the broad definition of “disability” protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has held.

CDC’S COVID-19 Guidance Changes…Again

August 15, 2022Since March 2020, COVID-19 rules have been confusing at best. On Aug. 11, 2022, in an effort to streamline the guidance and reflect the current state of the pandemic, the CDC once again issued updated guidance.

What Employers Need to Know About Monkeypox

August 10, 2022Monkeypox is the latest virus to catch wide attention. But it is important for employers to keep in mind that MPV is not COVID-19. Nevertheless, there are steps employers can take.

Change to Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act Vetoed

August 9, 2022A provision in the enacted state budget for fiscal year 2023 would have amended the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act to provide employers and employees more flexibility to use other accrued benefits to supplement paid benefits received from the state.

Order for Changes to Michigan Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Law Stayed

August 9, 2022On July 19, 2022, the Michigan Court of Claims held that in 2018, the state legislature violated the Michigan Constitution when it enacted, and within the same legislative session amended, two ballot initiatives — one to raise the minimum wage and the other to require employers to provide paid sick leave.

2022 DMEC Long COVID Think Tank Summary

August 8, 2022As employers grapple with understanding and managing long COVID in the workplace, DMEC and Sedgwick have convened a think tank of industry experts to weigh in and provide solutions for ... Read More

Massachusetts PFMLA Allows Adding Accrued Sick and Vacation Pay to Benefits

July 29, 2022A provision in the enacted state budget for fiscal year 2023 amends the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA) to provide employers and employees more flexibility to use other accrued benefits to supplement paid benefits received from the state.

Michigan Court Voids State’s Minimum Wage and Paid Medical Leave Acts

July 28, 2022Citing legislative “sleight of hand,” the Michigan Court of Claims has held that the Michigan legislature violated the state’s Constitution when, in 2018, it adopted and then immediately amended ballot initiatives to increase the state’s minimum wage and to require employer-paid sick leave.

2021 DMEC Benchmarking Reports

July 28, 2022These benchmarking reports are a subset of the 2021 DMEC Employer Leave Management Survey, which was completed by 703 employers, and focus on plan design for workers’ compensation, short-term disability, ... Read More

EEOC Updates Its COVID-19 Guidance to Reflect Current State of COVID-19 in the U.S.

July 22, 2022As the pandemic continues to evolve, so does the EEOC’s guidance. On July 12, 2022, the EEOC once again updated its COVID-19 guidance: What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws to reflect the pandemic’s changing state

San Francisco Voters Approved New Public Health Emergency Leave

July 18, 2022In June, San Francisco voters passed Proposition G, a new Public Health Emergency Leave Ordinance. The ordinance requires private employers to provide paid leave to employees for “public health emergencies.”

Webinar Recording: Strategies For Ensuring a Quality Behavioral Health IME

July 14, 2022Independent medical exams (IMEs) are a valuable tool for employers challenging questionable claims. But navigating the process, particularly for a behavioral health claim, can be an even greater challenge. Many ... Read More

Paid Family Leave Grant for Small Employers

July 13, 2022California’s Paid Family Leave (PFL) program, which is administered by the Employment Development Department (EDD) provides eligible employees with up to 8 weeks of wage replacement benefits when an employee is off work for certain qualifying reasons.

Second Circuit Issues Decision on Title III Braille Gift Card Appeal

July 13, 2022The Second Circuit issued a decision in Calcano, et al. v. Swarovski North America Ltd., et al., affirming dismissal of five consolidated cases brought by visually impaired plaintiffs who alleged various retail defendants must provide braille gift cards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Webinar Recording: The Right Mix – Shaping a Compliant and Supportive Paid Leave Program

July 12, 2022How do you create a leave program that meets the needs of employees while making sure you’re in compliance with administrative and legal requirements? In this session, we guided you ... Read More

Sick Leave for All New Mexico Employees Begins July 1

June 29, 2022The New Mexico Healthy Workplaces Act (“NMHWA”) requires all private employers in New Mexico to provide all employees one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

Bloomington Becomes the Fourth City in Minnesota to Require Paid Sick and Safe Leave

June 29, 2022The City of Bloomington, Minnesota is the latest city in Minnesota to join the cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth in enacting an Earned Sick and Safe Leave ordinance (ORDINANCE NO. 2022-31).

Amendments to Puerto Rico 2017 Employment Reform Law

June 24, 2022Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi has signed into law changes reversing portions of the 2017 employment reform law. House Bill 1244 (HB 1244) rolls back and changes the statutory probationary period, vacation and sick leave accrual, and eligibility for the annual Christmas Bonus, among other requirements.

Webinar Recording: What Employers Need to Know about Statutory PFML Plans

June 22, 2022The rapid adoption of statutory paid family and medical leave (PFML) laws is enough to make heads spin. And it’s impacting a growing number of industry professions. In the 2021 ... Read More

Webinar Recording: Are Your Behavioral Health Benefits Working?

June 21, 2022The recent global health crisis has dramatically increased the prevalence and severity of mental health challenges, and the working world has seen the impact. These challenges can disrupt employees’ ability ... Read More