Mental health solutions are not a one size fits all. Through assessments and awareness campaigns, organizations can better address mental health needs from the executive level to individual employees. Leveraging experience in the market with leading mental well-being providers, we will discuss best practices for determining the right strategies to address mental health for your workforce.

Speakers:
Paula Allen, Bsc, DCS, Global Leader and SVP, Research and Client Insights, TELUS Health
Adrita Bhattacharya-Craven, MSc, Director, Health & Ageing, The Geneva Association
Joe Grasso, PhD, Senior Director of Workforce Transformation, Lyra Health

Moderator:
Dan Iskra, MBA, AVP, Group Products, MetLife

If employers don’t understand their responsibilities under the ADA and the FMLA, the courts will offer their interpretation — and it can be costly. Each year, hundreds of court decisions result in large jury verdicts. In this session, we will share important lessons learned from recent lawsuits as well as dos and don’ts of ADA/FMLA compliance.

Speakers:
Megan Holstein, Esq, VP & Head of Absence Management, The Hartford
Marjory Robertson, JD, AVP & Senior Counsel, Sun Life

In the wake of a turbulent few years, there is mental health crisis brewing in the U.S. Nowhere have these issues been more evident than with employee absence, where mental health related leaves have more than tripled in some industries over a three-year period. In this session, we will analyze emerging absence trends and case law related to behavioral health and use real-life scenarios to discuss the challenges related to administering these leaves, and strategies that can help the employee and employer.

Speakers:
Jennifer Birdsall, PhD, ABPP, Clinical Director, ComPsych Corporation
Matt Morris, JD, Vice President, ComPsych Corporation
Richard J. Mrizek, JD, Attorney at Law, Jackson Lewis PC

Maternity-related leave, musculoskeletal events, and mental health conditions are leading drivers of disability claims — combined they represent 31% of short-term disability (STD) claim volume and 35% of STD dollars paid. In this session, we will explore innovative and supportive ways that various employers are addressing these conditions in their organizations. We will discuss benchmarking analysis of employers’ company leave and parental leave plans, highlighting best practices for maternity leave and the importance of taking a holistic view of the birth event. Additionally, we will review musculoskeletal event solutions and newly released research on the connection between caregiving and mental health as well as meaningful manager resources and training.

Speakers:
Melissa Behne, CLMS, CVP, Absence Strategy, New York Life Group Benefit Solutions
Lisa Carlisle, MSM, PHR, SHRM CP, Manager – Integrated Disability Management, Corporate Benefits, Henry Ford Health

Moderator:
Jason Sadler, CLMS, Director Client Solutions, New York Life Group Benefit Solutions

The country’s paid sick leave (PSL) patchwork continues to evolve and impose perplexing and burdensome compliance obligations on even the most well-intentioned employers. Add in the COVID-19 pandemic and the remote and hybrid work models still in effect at many workplaces, the PSL patchwork can seem more daunting than ever. In this session, we will provide practical tips for employers of all sizes and industries on how to navigate the current PSL landscape, including how to handle teleworkers and proper payment of sick time. We will explore updates on the nationwide PSL landscape with respect to both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 PSL mandates, and we will explore select nationwide PSL compliance options for employers, including thoughts on “one-size-fits-all” and “one-size-fits-most” options.

Speakers:
Joshua Seidman, JD, Labor and Employment Partner, Seyfarth Shaw
Angie Brown, CPDM, AVP Sales and Absence Practice Leader, Majesco

The demand to have everything at our fingertips impacts all areas of our lives, and absence is no different. In this session, we will dive into the benefits of self-service portals and how employers can help employees engage in using technology to improve their leave experience. We’ll discuss the use of portals for simple, but important tasks such as updating personal demographic information, uploading documents to support leave requests, and checking the status of leave or pay as well as review what should still be handled through direct interaction with a case manager.

Speakers:
Joanna Floyd, MBA, Product Manager, IDAM, FINEOS
Charles Price, JD, Product Manager, IDAM, FINEOS
Christy Traupe, SVP, Claims and Absence, FINEOS

Employers know first-hand the challenges of coordinating an entire leave and benefits package that includes disability, FMLA leave, paid family leave, supplemental health, workers’ compensation, company-sponsored time off, and more. As benefits continue to evolve and become more intertwined, it is more important than ever to provide employees with easy-to-use processes and employers with streamlined administration. This workshop offers an opportunity to come with your questions on all things absence and benefits integration and roll up your sleeves to find answers and best practices with other industry professionals and experts.

Speakers:
Chris Hanson, MBA, Group Benefits and Property & Casualty Integration Practice Lead, The Hartford
Megan Holstein, Esq, VP & Head of Absence Management, The Hartford
John Robinson, CPCU, National Absence Practice Lead, The Hartford
Allison Scaia, Head of Health Services, The Hartford

The entertainment never stops, and neither does the education, as we explore the latest trends and updates in reasonable accommodation and leave management cases. Join the fun and see how close you are to “leave jeopardy.” In this interactive session, we will begin with an overview discussion of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), workers’ compensation, and state leave laws. We will then break into groups for a game show style discussion on tricky leave and accommodation issues to test what we’ve learned and engage in some friendly competition.

Speakers:
Richard J. Mrizek, JD, Attorney at Law, Jackson Lewis PC
Cepideh Roufougar, JD, Principal, Jackson Lewis PC

Benchmarking has become increasingly important as employers evaluate their benefits programs against peers and aim to offer competitive packages. It can also inform best practices, especially with the rapid pace of paid leave law and policy change. How do employers get started on their benchmarking journey? DMEC is here to help! In this workshop, we will introduce DMEC’s new self-service benchmarking platform, focused on absence plan design and practices data. We’ll discuss how to use the tool to build a robust benchmarking strategy that will help you build best-in-class, competitive benefits packages.

Speakers:
Karen English, MBA, CPCU, ACI, AU, ARM, Senior Vice President, Spring Consulting Group
Jackie Myers, Analyst, Spring Consulting Group
Terri L. Rhodes, Chief Executive Officer, DMEC

In addition to the complexities employer-sponsored and statutory leaves bring, employers also need to understand when collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) may conflict with leave regulations or vice versa. During this workshop, we will dive into key aspects of collective bargaining agreements that may come into conflict with leave programs and help employers prepare for challenging situations such as when entitlements have been exhausted under leave. We’ll also break into small groups to discuss real-world scenarios. You’ll walk away with project plan examples and a best practices checklist, and be better prepared for new regulations and negotiating future CBAs.

Speakers:
Krista Blair, Account Manager, Total Absence Management, The Partners Group
Hillary A. Forrest, Director, Human Resources, St. Charles Health System

Moderator:
Patricia Borst, National Practice Leader, Total Absence Management, The Partners Group