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2025 Integrated Disability and Absence Management Issue

June-August 2025

Integrating disability and absence management supports a seamless approach to helping employees stay at work and return to work as outlined in this issue of @Work magazine. Content illustrates the value of taking an integrated approach to this work — from offering holistic benefit plans that address financial, physical, and mental health aspects of employee health to recognizing (and communicating) the reality that work can be part of recovery. Learn more about why industry influences return-to-work durations, the true cost of taking a siloed approach to disability and absence management, and the best ways to minimize disruptions from intermittent leave. In today’s work environment, successful employers expect and encourage employees to use benefits and capitalize on generous plans that include leave. They act as guides to support the diverse needs of employees at different ages and stages of their lives and careers.

The CEO's Desk

A hand drawing a colorful light bulb with an orange pencil on a sheet of paper, surrounded by crumpled paper balls, drafting tools, and markers—symbolizing the creative process and brainstorming ideas.

Seeing the Whole Employee: Why Leave Is a Promise Not a Perk

For true success, leave benefits must be considered and positioned as tools to support employees throughout their entire employment life cycle — not just in moments of crisis. Get guidance and DMEC resources to redesign your approach.
Read more
Disclo ad reading: The only platform built to manage workplace accommodations

Feature Articles

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Wealth of Mind: Prioritizing Holistic Wellness Pays Off

In today’s competitive landscape, organizations that prioritize holistic wellness programs that span disability and absence management realms position themselves as leaders.
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Considering Work As a Transition of Care Improves Outcomes

Ensuring that employers talk about how returning to work can be therapeutic is an important step that some leave management teams are skipping, which introduces process vulnerabilities. Get best practices, guidance, and data that explain the value of talking with

Spotlight Articles

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Program Showcase

Exploring a Speed-of-Trust Approach to Program Administration to Improve Employee Experiences

Could instilling more trust in employees reduce confusion and lead to better outcomes? Learn about speed-of-trust programs and how they have helped employers simplify the process.
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Program Showcase

Knowledge is Power: Putting All the Pieces Together Helps Employers

When is an independent medical examination helpful to an employer? How does this type of program help ensure employees get the right type of care and, in some instances, result in cost savings for employers? Read on for answers to these questions and more.

Expanded Perspectives:
@Work To Share

DMEC provides the following @Work magazine articles and podcast episodes to offer additional perspectives on and increase awareness of integrated absence management trends and challenges. The resources — available to members and nonmembers — can be shared with your colleagues and through social media channels.
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2025 Trends

The Strength of Interwoven Threads within Effective Plan and Policy Design

As paid leave options expand across the U.S., employers must consider whether investing in short-term disability remains essential.
Read more
Season 4 Podcast

DMEC Podcast

The Benefits to Embracing Neurodiversity in the Workplace

Neurodiversity is like biodiversity — there is a natural variation between the ways the human brain functions and there is no one right way of thinking, learning, or behaving, explains Lizzie Somerfield, LLM, MSC, New Deal for Neurodiversity, in this podcast episode with Seth Turner, founder, senior advisor, AbsenceSoft. Listen in to hear our guests talk about small adjustments that can be made to workplaces to ensure they are neuroinclusive, and how that can benefit all employees. Hear insights and practical guidance from Somerfield and Turner, who encourage employers to ask questions and engage openly in discussions to create psychological safety for neurodiverse individuals, who may represent one in four of your team members.

Listen in
Season 4 Podcast

DMEC Podcast

Are Leave Management Specialists Asking the Right Questions? DMEC Member-exclusive version

Why is “in loco parentis” a renewed topic of interest for leave management professionals? Has the atmosphere surrounding AI shifted? And what is it about psychedelic treatments that has employers seeking context? Listen in for “lightbulb moments” during the 2025 DMEC Compliance Conference from DMEC subject matter experts Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP, Director of Education Programs, and Jess Dudley, CLMS, CPDM, Senior Education Manager. A note to listeners: This version of the podcast, which is only available to DMEC members, includes extra questions and answers from our guests.

Listen in
Season 4 Podcast

DMEC Podcast

Do Formalized Policies Help Employers Humanize the Return-to-Work Process?

How do structured policies and processes enable employers to treat employees consistently as individuals, reduce liability risks, and improve the employee experience? Listen in for guidance and context from Ryan Bruce, MEd, CRC, SPHR, CLMS, Director of Client Solutions for New York Life Group Benefit Solutions, and Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP, Director of DMEC Education Programs.

Listen in

Columns

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Absence Matters

How Does PFML Work in an IDAM World?

There’s a lot of value in integrating disability and absence management as well as real-life challenges of not doing so, as noted in this column.
Read more
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The Disabled Workforce

When is an Employee Too Disabled to Work Full Time?

By creating guiding principles for leave use, employers can accommodate their employees in ways that will help them stay at work when possible and return to work more quickly.
Read more
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Employer Solutions

Does Industry Influence Return-to-Work Durations?

How does industry influence an employee’s return to work following an illness or injury? The answer might surprise you.
Read more
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Engaging Today’s Workforce

A 360-Degree Approach to Disability and Absence Management Services

How can comprehensive disability and absence management programs help employees navigate this complex process?
Read more
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Featured Case

Getting Incomplete or Insufficient FMLA Medical Certifications? Request More Information

How can employers ensure compliance with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) when it comes to medical certifications?
Read more

DMEC Resources

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DMEC News

DMEC News: June-August 2025

The DMEC team hit the ground running this year with a new cadence for member communication, a new season of the DMEC podcast, and more.
Read more

Legislative and Paid Sick Leave Updates

Check out the latest federal, state, and local compliance updates on the DMEC Legislative Updates page, and don’t miss new updates on paid sick leave that have been introduced through a variety of state and local regulations. It is essential for employers to remain informed about ongoing changes in order to effectively adapt. And follow DMEC on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for additional insight and up-to-date news

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DMECommunities

The DMECommunities Americans with Disabilities Act Group offers a forum to pose questions, get guidance from colleagues, find resources, and more! This exclusive online networking group gives DMEC members the opportunity to connect with industry peers, ask/answer questions, share resources, and seek feedback. Get started.

@Work

@Work™ magazine is the official publication of the Disability Management Employer Coalition. Copyright© 2025. Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC). All rights reserved.

Editorial Staff

Editor: Heather Grimshaw
Editorial Advisory Group Members: Linda Croushore, Rebecca Fisco, Jenny Haykin, Terri Morris, Fred Schott, Jessica Thornton, and Lori Vickory

Editorial Policy

The goal of @Work magazine is to present industry and Association news, highlight member achievements, and promote the exchange of specialized professional information. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Association, its staff, board of directors, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers does not constitute an endorsement of products or services featured in this, past, or subsequent issues of this publication. DMEC makes no representations, warranties, or assurances as to accuracy of the information contained in the articles, and no content herein is legal or tax advice. Consult appropriate professionals for legal or tax advice.

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