2026 Mental Health and Well-Being Issue

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April-May 2026

Mental health support starts with practices, not policies. This issue of @Work magazine explores what it takes to move beyond compliance to genuine care. You’ll discover how organizations build psychologically safe environments, accelerate access to treatment, address systemic barriers, and create cultures where mental wellness thrives. Learn why empathy is strategic, how to support employees through trauma, and what legal protections employers must understand. Written by and for DMEC members.

The CEO's Desk

Setting a New Bar for Compliance

Effective compliance with leave and accommodation laws does not happen in isolation. It requires a coordinated, enterprisewide approach that connects health and safety, workforce planning, education, and clear, consistent policies.

Empathy in Action: Inclusive Communication Practices to Support Employees with Disabilities

Learn how leading with empathy enables workplace accommodation and leave management teams to support employees, build trust, and boost retention.

Less Red Tape, More Relief: Rethinking Mental Health Short-Term Disability Leave

Mental health–related short-term disability (STD) claims are rising at a rate that many employer leave programs were never designed to handle. Stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, and trauma now represent some of the fastest-growing drivers of time away from work.

Missteps in Trauma-Informed Management and How to Avoid Them

Emergencies and disasters are unfortunate realities of life. When an employee experiences trauma, whether it is from a weather catastrophe, workplace violence, a personal crisis, or a community event, a manager’s response becomes a defining moment. If the situation is

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.

Exploring Strategies Supporting Neurodivergence

Employers can support neurodivergent employees by integrating neurodiversity considerations into benefit plans. Learn about two critical areas of opportunity.

The ROI of Empathy: How Leave Impacts Retention, Productivity, and Culture

Empathy economics challenges the traditional notion that efficiency and empathy are mutually exclusive. It argues that sustainable economic and organizational success depends on understanding and addressing human needs.

Columns

Disabled Workforce

The Unhappy Workforce: Why Engagement, Connection, and Relationships Matter More Than Ever

An organization is only as strong as its workforce. But strength is not built on policies alone. It’s built on how people feel when they come to work each day. Do they feel seen, supported, and trusted? Or do they feel isolated, overwhelmed, and interchangeable?

Employer Compliance

Leading with Heart: Supporting Mental Health Beyond Policy

“Who’s helped you this week? And what’s one personal win you’d like to share?” These questions are posed during weekly team huddles to encourage staff members to share insights and takeaways, and ideally to ask for help when they need it.

Employer Solutions

Beyond Band-Aids: Why Workplace Mental Health Requires Systemic Change

Instead of handing stressed employees a self-help resource, we need to assess and address the organizational conditions creating that stress.

Engaging Today’s Workforce

Why Should Employers Care about Rising Rates of Heat?

Seven states have heat safety regulation laws for employees, and more are considering them. How can employers protect their teams from heat stress?

Featured Case

The PWFA and Mental Health Limitations

How should employers handle accommodation requests under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) when an employee needs an accommodation due to a mental health condition related to pregnancy, childbirth, or other medical condition?

DMEC News

New research, smarter tools, and practical resources, explore the latest insights on leave management, mental health trends, and policy support for today’s workforce.

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 Facebook and LinkedIn for additional insight and up-to-date news

DMECommunities

The DMECommunities Mental Health 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

Editorial Staff

Editor: Kelly Hernandez
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 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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2026 Mental Health and Well-Being Issue

April-May 2026

The CEO's Desk

Setting a New Bar for Compliance

Feature Articles

Expanded Perspectives: @Work To Share

Columns

DMEC Resources

Legislative and Paid Sick Leave Updates

DMECommunities

@Work

Editorial Staff

Editorial Policy

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