Confereneces & Webinars
Virtual Conference
2024 DMEC Virtual Annual Conference
Event Overview
For those who were unable to join us for our in-person conference in Nashville, we are pleased to offer a content-rich, one-day virtual event. The 2024 DMEC Virtual Annual Conference will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, and will include five of the highest-rated sessions from our in-person annual conference plus a bonus session. In addition to the education sessions, we will be offering virtual networking — giving attendees the opportunity to engage with industry experts and peers.
All conference sessions will be recorded and made available to attendees for on-demand viewing for one year.
For those who prefer a content-rich, one-day virtual event, a Virtual Conference is held four weeks after our conferences. These events feature five of the highest-rated sessions from our in-person conferences. In addition to the education sessions, virtual networking is facilitated in DMECommunities — giving attendees the opportunity to engage with industry experts and peers.
All conference sessions will be recorded and made available to attendees for on-demand viewing for one year.
Agenda
11:00-11:15 am ET
Welcome & Overview
Speaker:
Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP, Director, Education Programs, DMEC
11:15am-12:45pm ET
A Working Session on Streamlined Absence and Benefits
Human resources and benefits specialists know firsthand the challenges of coordinating an entire leave and benefits package that could include disability, Family and Medical Leave Act, paid family and medical leave, supplemental health, workers’ compensation, and company-sponsored time off. As benefits continue to evolve and become more intertwined, it’s more important than ever to understand the overlap, provide employees with an easy-to-use experience, and ensure employers have streamlined administration. Join this workshop to look at real-life absence and benefits scenarios and workshop them with your peers.
Speakers:
Sharon Andrus, AVP, Paid Family and Medical Leave Product, The Hartford
Paul Dube’, Director, Disability Product, The Hartford
John Robinson, CPCU, VBS, National Absence Practice Lead, The Hartford
Allison Scaia, MBA, Vice President, Head of Health Services, The Hartford
12:45-1:00 pm ET
Break
1:00-2:00 pm ET
The Future of AI in Leave and Disability Management
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing various industries, and leave and disability management is no exception. In this session, panelists will explore the potential of AI to transform the way organizations handle leave and disability management processes. The benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations associated with the use of AI in this domain will also be discussed. Gain insights from leaders of three leave and disability administrators about the future of AI in leave and disability management and how it can enhance efficiency, accuracy, and employee experience.
Speakers:
Scott Boutin, Chief Claims Officer, Reliance Matrix
Dustin Kingsbury, Vice President, Claims, The Hartford
Matt Morris, Vice President, FMLASource, ComPsych Corporation
Mia Polintan, Vice President, Leave & Absence Product Leave Solutions, Alight Solutions
Moderator:
Tim O’Connor, Consultant, Absence, Disability & Life Practice, Marsh McLennan Agency
2:00 - 2:30 pm ET
Break
2:30 - 3:30 pm ET
You Can Have Paid Leave AND a Productive Workforce. Here is the Secret Sauce.
In a post-pandemic world, attracting and keeping talent AND increasing productivity are fundamental to the survival of businesses. For companies to thrive, overall employee wellness must take on new meaning as increased access to paid leave, whether through employer-funded programs or mandatory paid leave programs, needs to be balanced with caring for workers who cover team members when they are taking time away. Aflac and Prudential surveyed employees and employers to understand the impact to workers’ physical and mental health and overall well-being when tasked with covering a co-worker’s absence. You’ll learn what your company can do proactively to balance time away and productivity. You’ll also hear about global experiences and how other countries manage extended time away.
Speakers:
DeShawna Manley, MBA, Director, National Benefits, PwC
Jenny Merrithew, MBA, Vice President, Product and Service Excellence, Aflac
Kristin Tugman, PhD, CRC, LPC, Vice President, Health Productivity and Holistic Wellness, Prudential
Moderator:
Bryon Bass, Chief Executive Officer, DMEC
3:30 - 3:45 pm ET
Break
3:45 - 4:15 pm ET
Making Medical Inquires and Assessing Your Employee’s Fitness for Duty
You are increasingly facing situations where you’re concerned about an employee’s mental health or physical ability to perform to perform the job. Stress and anxiety, erratic behavior, an aging workforce, and the prevalence of substance abuse all raise fitness for duty issues in today’s workplace. Naturally, you want to take every reasonable step to ensure your employees can safely perform their job before allowing them to work.
What kind of questions can you legally ask about their medical condition? And can you require that they undergo a medical examination?
In this session, Jeff will tackle the most common, yet difficult, fitness for duty scenarios that employers face and provide practical suggestions on how you can address these situations.
Speaker:
Jeff Nowak, Esq, Shareholder, Littler
4:15 - 4:30 pm ET
Break
4:30 - 5:30 pm ET
Walk, Crawl, Run: The PWFA Turns One
The PWFA (Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act), which became effective June 27, 2023, requires employers across the country to comply with new accommodation obligations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Join us to discuss what your human resources team and managers need to know about their obligations under this law while also complying with the over 30 state and local pregnancy accommodation laws. You’ll leave with resources that explain how to update your reasonable accommodation policies and communications for PWFA compliance.
Speaker:
David Mohl, JD, Principal, Jackson Lewis PC
Katharine Weber, JD, Principal, Jackson Lewis PC
BONUS EDUCATION
Colorado and Connecticut PFML: What’s Worked, What Hasn’t, What’s Next (Pre-recorded session)
In Connecticut, paid family and medical leave (PFML) contributions began in 2021 and benefits in 2022. In Colorado, contributions started in 2023 and benefits in 2024. This session will begin with a brief statistical introduction and comparison of Connecticut’s and Colorado’s benefits programs (e.g., the number and types of claims filed, benefits paid, leave lengths, approvals and denials, and number of private plans). The discussion will also examine the demographics of claimants and assess whether these plans are reaching marginalized employee groups. Additional topics will include the experience of both programs with affinity claims; leave stacking; fraudulent claims; private plan reporting, renewals, audits, and carrier changes; the legislative and regulatory landscape; and what’s next on the horizon.
Speakers:
Michael Cisar, Esq, General Counsel, CT Paid Leave Authority
Shelby Felton, Esq, Director & Product Compliance Counsel, Reliance Matrix
Rebecca Ford, Esq, Director of Statutory Paid Leave Products, Reliance Matrix
David Gallivan, Compliance and Appeals Branch Manager, Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance
Register Today
We are offering a single registration option that allows access to all live sessions, the bonus recorded session, and networking as well as on-demand access to the session recordings post-event. Registration closes at 9:00 am ET on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
Registration Fees
$329 – Member
$389 – Nonmember
DMEC members receive discounted pricing for the event. Not sure if your organization is a member? Follow these steps to add your company affiliation and verify your DMEC membership status. Or contact us at info@dmec.org or 800.789.3632, ex. 101.
If you are not currently a DMEC member, you can sign up for a membership before registering for the event, or you can add a membership to your cart, along with the conference registration, to receive the member pricing.
Continuing Education
The MEC Virtual Annual Conference offers the opportunity to earn approximately five (5) continuing education hours. DMEC has applied for recertification CEUs for the following certifications and professional designations:
- ADMS (Associate Disability Management Specialist)
- CA-BRN (California Board of Registered Nursing (and reciprocal states)
- CCM (Certified Case Manager)
- CDMS (Certified Disability Management Specialist)
- CLMS (Certified Leave Management Specialist)
- PHR/SPHR (Professional/Senior Professional in HR)
- SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP (SHRM Certified Professional/Senior Certified Professional)
DMEC is a pre-approved provider of CEUs for the certifications above. In addition, DMEC conferences attendees are encouraged to download and submit their certificate of attendance to other certifying organizations for credit consideration. In most cases, DMEC’s conferences will be approved for continuing education credit.
LOOKING FOR CRC CREDITS THROUGH THE COMMISSION ON REHABILITATION COUNSELOR CERTIFICATION (CRCC)?
Download instructions on how to submit your certificate of attendance for credit consideration.
