The nature of the employment relationship and how employees work has changed dramatically in the last few years. This has created new intricacies and issues for leave professionals as they work to compliantly manage their absence management programs. In this session, we will explore the changing world of work, discuss how federal law impacts leave administration for these workers, and identify the significant challenges created by state leave laws.

The leave landscape is changing as proposed and new leave laws continue to multiply and new trends emerge. In this session, we will review expansion of covered leave reasons including bereavement, pregnancy loss, and safe leave; explore the latest in proposed new paid family and medical leave programs, and predictions of which states are most likely to see the passage of a new program; and delve into new and emerging duration trends including extensions of time specific to pregnancy-related conditions, and how each state differs in their interpretation. We will also present the latest trends and employer considerations in light of these developments.

Whether it is return to the office, hybrid work arrangements, or a continuation of work from home, change and challenge continues to be the “name of the game” for absence and disability management professionals. In this session, we’ll discuss recent decisions from courts interpreting the ADA and the FMLA, as well as legislative and agency developments that impact our workplaces. We’ll explore how these developments may offer new ideas to address some of the most difficult leave and accommodation situations in 2023 and beyond.

Your remote employee is out for her serious health condition, or is she? When you call, you hear background noise inconsistent with her leave (festive music, cheering, etc.). Another remote worker on intermittent leave for a serious health condition frequently misses calls and deadlines but blames it on a sudden flare-up of his medical condition. How do you handle these situations? Catching FMLA abuse and managing intermittent leaves is always challenging, but it is more difficult with virtual workforces. In this session, we will identify issues employers face when trying to track and monitor FMLA abuse, managing intermittent leave, and supporting the “honest belief” defense in a virtual work environment in light of regulations, case law, and DOL guidance.