
January is a natural time for reflection — a chance to take stock on what’s working, refine what isn’t, and prepare for the road ahead. For employers, it’s a critical moment to ensure that strategic goals align with practical realities.
When vulnerabilities are left unaddressed, they can grow into costly
legal cases — exactly the kind we’ll explore during the DMEC Compliance Conference April 14-17 in Columbus, Ohio.
Many of these cases arise not from ill intent but from gaps in knowledge or understanding — issues that can lead to judgments costing millions of dollars. Success with compliance isn’t just about knowing the rules; it’s about navigating the nuances of how overlapping and sometimes conflicting laws interact. Disability and absence management professionals operate at the intersection of these complexities, and helping them succeed is where DMEC excels.
Success with compliance isn’t just about knowing the rules; it’s about navigating the nuances of how overlapping and sometimes conflicting laws interact.
Practical Solutions for Complex Challenges
The heart of our work lies in turning high-level strategy into actionable steps. You’ll see that in the variety of topics addressed in this issue of the magazine, which focuses on employer compliance. The content in this issue — from strategies for managing intermittent leave to using cognitive demand data to improve an employee’s safe return to work — is designed to provide actionable insights, not just theories, and offers tools to enhance policies and processes.
This approach reflects DMEC’s long-standing commitment to equipping disability and absence managers with what they need. These professionals often work behind the scenes to balance the needs of employees and employers. While they often feel isolated, their work is essential. DMEC was built to support them, a mission established by our co-founders more than 30 years ago and expanded by the collective contributions of members.
A Community of Champions
One of DMEC’s greatest strengths is the sense of community we foster. As one of our member volunteers said recently, “It’s a large industry and a small world,” and added, DMEC “really does feel like a family!”
That sentiment resonates through our online discussion platform DMECommunities, where members share questions, ideas and solutions. It’s echoed at our events, where roundtables and networking sessions create opportunities for collaboration and mentorship.
For newer professionals, these resources are invaluable. Often the hardest part of learning is not knowing what questions to ask. Time and again, I see DMEC members stepping up to guide their colleagues, sharing their expertise and helping others grow.
The culture of mentorship is critical in today’s increasingly complex environment. With the volume and intricacy of employment laws on the rise, organizations need to assess whether managers not only know the right question to ask, but that they recognize when to involve disability and absence professionals. We all tend to assume people know more than they might, and that is increasingly risky.
Lifelong Learning in a Changing World
As someone who dedicated his career to this field, I can attest that the learning curve is endless. The most successful professionals are those who embrace lifelong learning and seek innovative solutions to support employees while protecting their organizations.
To support that journey, DMEC offers Legislative Updates and Paid Sick Leave Updates, publishes @Work magazine and the Absence Management Perspectives podcast, and facilitates timely webinars, to name a few of a long list of resources. Our conferences, including the Compliance Conference in April, provide unparalleled opportunities to engage with peers, share insights, and tackle the challenges that shape our field.
At a time when polarization often overshadows collaboration, DMEC remains a safe space — a community that champions the essential work of disability and absence managers. While this work is emotionally taxing and may often go unrecognized, it is vital to the well-being of employees and organizations.
Looking Ahead
I encourage you to dive into this issue of @Work, which includes lessons learned from the Family and Medical Leave Insurance team in Colorado, and hope you will join us in Columbus this April. The Compliance Conference agenda is packed with timely topics designed to challenge assumptions, inspire innovation, and equip you with the confidence and tools you need to succeed.
In addition to valuable knowledge and resources, our conferences deliver a renewed sense of purpose and hope. This work is not easy, but it is meaningful, and DMEC is here to support you every step of the way. Let us be your champion as you navigate the complexity of compliance and continue to do the essential work that makes a difference in employees’ lives!