For the third year in a row, the majority of HR leaders report significant increases in both leave and accommodations requests, with many teams now managing more than double the caseload they had just three years ago. As requests continue to surge, HR teams are struggling to keep up with programs and processes that can’t scale. Without the right systems and strategies in place, rising volume creates serious compliance risk under the FMLA, ADA, PWFA, and state leave laws.

In this webinar, experts walk through why leave and accommodations requests are increasing, the most common compliance pitfalls that emerge when teams are stretched thin, and practical approaches for building capacity and compliance.

CEUs

This webinar qualifies for the following CEUs: 1 ADMS, 1 CDMS, 1 CLMS, 1 PHR, 1 SHRM and 1 CPDM 

If you are not a DMEC member and need to record a CLMS CEU for attending this event, please contact Jai Hooker at jhooker@dmec.org for assistance. 

Managing employee leaves of absence has never been more complex. While the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) sets a federal baseline for job-protected, unpaid leave, states have introduced their own family and medical leave laws—many offering paid benefits and broader coverage. These overlapping rules create a compliance maze for employers, especially those operating across multiple jurisdictions.

Join us for an insightful session where we break down the critical differences between federal FMLA and state leave programs. Our experts will explore how these laws diverge in eligibility, duration, benefits, and administration—and what that means for your organization. You’ll leave with practical strategies to navigate this patchwork of regulations while supporting employees and minimizing risk.

CEUs

This webinar qualifies for the following CEUs: 1 ADMS, 1 CDMS, 1 CLMS, 1 PHR, 1 SHRM and 1 CPDM 

If you are not a DMEC member and need to record a CLMS CEU for attending this event, please contact Jai Hooker at jhooker@dmec.org for assistance. 

As your leave programs grow in complexity, are you confident you’re leveraging every financial advantage available?  Many organizations are overlooking how the IRS Section 45S employer credit can directly support their PFML and STDI strategies. With ongoing legislative momentum and widespread use of insured leave products, the premium-based path under 45S is becoming an increasingly important, and often misunderstood, opportunity for absence and disability management professionals.

Join DMEC for a practical session that demystifies how the premium-based path works, where it fits within modern leave program design, and what employers need to consider before claiming the credit. We’ll walk through how PFML or STDI products can align with Section 45S requirements, where caution is required (especially around state-mandated programs), and how to use clean, defensible allocation methods when your policies cover mixed employee populations.

Whether you’re an employer, consultant, or vendor partner, this session will equip you with the insights needed to optimize leave program operations while remaining fully compliant.

CEUs

This webinar qualifies for the following CEUs: 1 ADMS, 1 CDMS, 1 CLMS, 1 PHR, 1 SHRM and 1 CPDM 

If you are not a DMEC member and need to record a CLMS CEU for attending this event, please contact Jai Hooker at jhooker@dmec.org for assistance. 

Navigating the transition back to work can be challenging for mothers and it’s crucial for employers to understand their role in making this process as supportive as possible. This session equips HR professionals, managers, and organizational leaders with essential knowledge and practical strategies to better support new moms in the workplace.

Key topics include:

• Understanding Leave Entitlements: Learn about the crucial distinctions between maternity leave and bonding leave, and how these entitlements apply to parents.
• Legal Updates: Gain an overview of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and discover how recent changes, including the new EEOC quorum, may affect enforcement and compliance requirements.
• Physical Accommodations: Explore the unique physical restrictions and limitations mothers may face when returning to work, and discuss best practices for accommodating their needs in the workplace.
• Perinatal Mental Health: Delve into the mental health challenges many moms experience from pregnancy through the first year postpartum, and understand how these can impact work performance and well-being.
• Welcoming Moms Back: Discover effective strategies for managers and supervisors to foster a supportive, inclusive environment that welcomes moms back to work and facilitates their success.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be better prepared to create a positive, compliant, and empathetic work environment for mothers, benefiting both employees and the organization as a whole.

CEUs

This webinar qualifies for the following CEUs: 1 ADMS, 1 CDMS, 1 CLMS, 1 PHR, and 1 SHRM. 

If you are not a DMEC member and need to record a CLMS CEU for attending this event, please contact Jai Hooker at jhooker@dmec.org for assistance. 

Approximately 24% of the U.S. adult population are caregivers, translating to about 59 million people. Whether caring for children, aging family members or both (hello sandwich generation!), caregiving can take its toll mentally and physically. Recent data found that one in ten leaves taken are to care for a family member. Those individuals are significantly more likely to need additional leave for themselves later, often citing mental health concerns including burnout. And beyond the employer’s challenge of helping their caregivers, there’s another question: when is an employee providing family care under the law and what are the considerations? Featuring real-life examples and current case law, this webinar will highlight the intersection of caregiving and employee absence trends, featuring program and compliance considerations to holistically support the caregivers in today’s workforce.

CEUs

This webinar qualifies for the following CEUs: 1 ADMS, 1 CDMS, 1 CLMS, 1 PHR, and 1 SHRM. 

If you are not a DMEC member and need to record a CLMS CEU for attending this event, please contact Jai Hooker at jhooker@dmec.org for assistance. 

What does a well-managed absence look like? How can an organization consistently deliver positive absence experiences for its workforce – measured objectively – and return people to work at the right time? In this webinar, led by experts in industrial/organizational psychology, operations, and technology, we’ll explain useful metrics that are relevant for measuring “good” when it comes to a leave of absence; how to set benchmarks and apply them within your organization; and ultimately develop a better absence management program.

With a focus on employee interactions/results and technology enablement, we’ll identify what (and how) to measure; key elements of a “good” absence; key interactions that define the quality of a leave for an employee; and what technology and AI can do to help you deliver consistently good leave experiences for your employees and their managers.

CEUs

This webinar qualifies for the following CEUs: 1 ADMS, 1 CDMS, 1 CLMS, 1 PHR, and 1 SHRM. 

If you are not a DMEC member and need to record a CLMS CEU for attending this event, please contact Jai Hooker at jhooker@dmec.org for assistance. 

If you have employees in a state or jurisdiction with a paid leave program, it has been a busy year! As we look to 2026, there are three new programs launching – Delaware and Minnesota in January followed closely by Maine in May. Additionally, this year there have been impactful changes to the programs in several states including Colorado, Washington, and Delaware. This discussion will encompass all these developments and more, including any announcements regarding contribution rates, benefit amounts and other pertinent updates in California, Connecticut, Colorado, DC, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, and Washington. Additionally, we will explore federal-level activities.

This webinar is 90 minutes.

CEUs

This webinar qualifies for the following CEUs: 1 ADMS, 1 CDMS, 1 CLMS, 1 PHR, and 1 SHRM. 

If you are not a DMEC member and need to record a CLMS CEU for attending this event, please contact Jai Hooker at jhooker@dmec.org for assistance. 

Are you prepared to meet ADA compliance challenges as AI transforms HR practices? Ensuring ADA compliance is more challenging than ever in the age of artificial intelligence. Organizations must carefully evaluate how AI tools used in hiring, performance reviews, and employee engagement impact individuals with disabilities.

This webinar will guide attendees through how to select, deploy, and manage AI tools with accessibility in mind, conduct audits to identify and mitigate bias, and provide effective training on ADA requirements. By working with legal and disability experts and implementing feedback mechanisms, organizations can integrate AI responsibly while fostering an inclusive workplace. We’ll also cover key compliance concerns like algorithmic bias, tool accessibility, data privacy, and applicable federal and state laws. Attendees will gain practical strategies and insights to confidently integrate AI while fostering an inclusive and compliant workplace.

CEUs

This webinar qualifies for the following CEUs: 1 ADMS, 1 CDMS, 1 CLMS, 1 PHR, and 1 SHRM. 

If you are not a DMEC member and need to record a CLMS CEU for attending this event, please contact Jai Hooker at jhooker@dmec.org for assistance. 

Time away is a consequential part of an employer’s benefit program. Aflac’s 2025 Time Away study highlights the impact to workers caring for the work of coworkers on leave and uncovers the true impact to employees’ mental and physical well-being as well as productivity.

In this session, we will review key findings from this year’s study and hear from experts on how to promote employee resilience and well-being. We will highlight what leaders should be on the lookout for when identifying signs of burnout, stress, and physical breakdown. Finally, we will uncover what one employer considers when creating time away programs and strategies they have in place to highlight resources for managers, teams, and employees in an effort to reduce the impact of covering for extended leaves.

CEUs

This webinar qualifies for the following CEUs: 1 ADMS, 1 CDMS, 1 CLMS, 1 PHR, and 1 SHRM. 

If you are not a DMEC member and need to record a CLMS CEU for attending this event, please contact Jai Hooker at jhooker@dmec.org for assistance. 

The past year has redefined absence management, shifting from reactive processes to employee-centric strategies that treat leave as a promise, not a perk. Employers are integrating strategic absence planning into holistic wellness programs, streamlining processes through trust and transparency, and reimagining return-to-work as a key part of recovery. We’ll explore trends including:

Proactive absence planning – positioning leave as a driver of sustainability and engagement.
Wellness-integrated IDAM – linking absence management to financial, physical, and mental health.
Return-to-work as therapy – using reintegration to support recovery and morale.
Speed-of-trust approaches – simplifying administration through transparency and trust.
Breaking down silos – replacing fragmented systems with streamlined, integrated processes.
Ethical AI in IDAM – applying artificial intelligence responsibly in disability and absence management, informed by internal insights and industry trends.
Looking ahead, expect AI-driven personalization, mental health–focused policies, and integrated systems to replace outdated, siloed approaches. Join our industry experts as we unpack which trends are fading, which are here to stay, and what’s next for 2026 and beyond.

CEUs

This webinar qualifies for the following CEUs: 1 ADMS, 1 CDMS, 1 CLMS, 1 PHR, and 1 SHRM. 

If you are not a DMEC member and need to record a CLMS CEU for attending this event, please contact Jai Hooker at jhooker@dmec.org for assistance.