2026 DMEC Annual Conference Recording: Connecting the Dots: Leave and Accommodation Data Insights

Organizations often track FMLA leave and ADA accommodations separately, but when these data sets are reviewed together, new insights can emerge about employee needs, program complexity, and operational strain. This session explores what organizations can learn by examining leave and accommodation data side by side rather than in isolation. Using examples from real organizational trends, this session will highlight patterns in accommodation requests, shifts in mental health–related cases, return-to-work challenges, and the growing resource demands placed on absence management teams. The discussion will focus on how these data points can reveal workforce trends that may not be visible when programs are analyzed independently. Participants will leave with practical ideas for identifying meaningful metrics, spotting emerging trends in their own organizations, and using integrated data to inform leadership discussions, program planning, and resource decisions.