ANNUAL CONFERENCE

2018 DMEC

ANNUAL CONFERENCE AUSTIN | AUGUST 6-9, 2018 HILTON AUSTIN

FINAL PROGRAM STRATEGIES FOR TODAY’S WORKFORCE ABSENCE | DISABILITY | RETURN TO WORK MARK YOUR CALENDAR 2019 DMEC COMPLIANCE CONFERENCE Portland, OR | May 6-9 2019 DMEC ANNUAL CONFERENCE Washington, D.C. | August 5-8

WELCOME

TO AUSTIN AND THE 2018 DMEC ANNUAL CONFERENCE

MEET YOUR DMEC STAFF

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CEUS Each conference attendee received a three-part CEU tracking form at registration to record sessions attended. All tracking forms must be signed by a DMEC representative at the end of the conference or upon your departure. For complete instructions, see the CEU instructions form provided at registration. ACCESSING PRESENTATIONS & HANDOUTS Conference presentations and materials are available on the DMEC mobile app! In addition, all conference attendees will receive a pre- and postconference email which contains an electronic link to access and download conference materials.

Terri L. Rhodes Chief Executive Officer

Tasha Patterson Vice President, Operations

JoAnne Spitale Director, Conferences and Events

Mary Hill Accounting Manager

Kristin Jones Continuing Education Manager

Ayesha Mirza IT Operations Manager

Katie Gillham Senior Events Coordinator

Jennifer Watkins Senior Marketing & Communities Coordinator

Cindy Espe Online Events Administrator

Lisa Jorgenson Database Specialist

Dominica Vargo Administrative Support Specialist

REGISTRATION DESK HOURS MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

7:00 am-5:00 pm 7:00 am-5:00 pm 7:00 am-5:00 pm 7:00 am-12:30 pm

PARTICIPATE IN THE 2018 DMEC LEAVE MANAGEMENT SURVEY AND WIN! Please take a few minutes to share your organization’s leave management experience by participating in the 2018 DMEC Leave Management Survey. Not only will your input help in developing best practices, but you could win: • A Google Home • A free CLMS online course and exam registration The first 50 respondents will also receive a $5 Starbucks gift certificate which can be redeemed electronically upon completion of the survey. Access the survey via the mobile app or visit www.dmec.org/2018-leave-survey 2 to participate.

SESSION EVALUATIONS AND POST-CONFERENCE EVALUATION FORMS Individual session evaluations and our overall post-conference evaluation are available on the DMEC mobile app! All conference attendees will also receive a post-conference email which contains a link to our online evaluations. Your feedback is important and helps us plan future conferences and educational events.

REGISTRATION RIBBON WALL

COMPLIMENTARY WIFI

Don’t forget to stop by DMEC’s ribbon wall to select your badge ribbons. From serious to silly, everyone will find a ribbon to show off your accomplishments and personality!

DMEC will provide attendees with complimentary WiFi access in our conference meeting space at the Hilton Austin.

Sponsored by

PASSWORD DMEC2018

NETWORK NAME HILTON MEETINGS

GET THE 2018 DMEC ANNUAL CONFERENCE

MOBILE APP!

Download the mobile app for access to session materials, to ask questions during general sessions, and to participate in the DMEC Quest.

2 EASY WAYS 1

Download the EventScribe app in the Apple or Google Play store and search for “DMEC”

2

Enter tinyurl.com/DMECAC18 for a web version

Sponsored by

PHOTO & VIDEO CONSENT During the 2018 DMEC Annual Conference, DMEC representatives may take photographs or video recordings of attendees. By registering and attending the conference, attendees consent to DMEC’s use of their image, likeness, or voice for editorial or marketing purposes.

NOT TO BE MISSED EVENTS

SESSION LOCATIONS

OPENING WELCOME RECEPTION

EMPLOYER INDUSTRY LUNCHES

AUSTIN GRAND BALLROOM FOYER (6TH FLOOR) MONDAY 6:00-8:00 PM

DMEC SOLUTIONS MARKETPLACE

MONDAY PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOPS/GENERAL SESSIONS

Kick start your conference experience with a chance to connect with new and old friends and fellow attendees over refreshments at the 2018 DMEC opening welcome reception. Everyone is welcome to join the festivities for a special evening of great food and fun. Sponsored by the DMEC Diamond & Platinum Sponsors

FIRST-TIME ATTENDEE ORIENTATION GOVERNOR’S SALON B MONDAY 8:30-9:00 AM TUESDAY 8:00-8:30 AM Are you a first-time conference attendee? Join us at one of our scheduled first-time attendee orientations for a beverage, a snack, and an overview of what to expect at this year’s conference. FIRST-TIME ATTENDEE LOUNGE MEETING ROOM 408 TUESDAY 9:30 AM-5:30 PM WEDNESDAY 7:30 AM-5:30 PM Take some time to refresh, relax, and sign up to take an updated professional headshot. Also, don’t miss our exclusive first-time attendee meet & greet hours (12:00-1:00 pm each day). Sponsored by The Standard

DMEC SOLUTIONS MARKETPLACE AUSTIN GRAND BALLROOM (6TH FLOOR) TUESDAY 7:30 AM-6:30 PM WEDNESDAY 7:30 AM-3:00 PM This year’s marketplace offers an opportunity to visit with dozens of exhibitors who are ready to share the latest advancements in products, services, technology, and more. Drop off your business card at participating booths for a chance to win great prizes during the Wednesday dessert break. Participate in the DMEC Quest scavenger hunt for a chance to take home our $1,000 grand prize! The grand prize drawing will be held on Thursday (must be present to win).

Please join DMEC and your industry colleagues at lunch for a casual networking opportunity. No RSVP is required. Simply look for your reserved table at lunch. TUESDAY, AUG. 7: • Banking and Finance • Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Entertainment • Manufacturing • Retail and Apparel • Technology and Biotechnology • Transportation WEDNESDAY, AUG. 8: • Education • Hospital Systems • Healthcare • Government and Non-profit • Energy and Utilities • Telecommunications HAPPY HOUR WITH EXHIBITORS

Governor’s Ballroom Salons CDE OPENING WELCOME RECEPTION

Austin Grand Ballroom Foyer (6th floor) DMEC SOLUTIONS MARKETPLACE/ HAPPY HOUR WITH EXHIBITORS

Austin Grand Ballroom (6th floor) TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY MEALS & BREAKS

DMEC Solutions Marketplace CONCURRENT SESSIONS

See program listing for location THURSDAY BREAKFAST & BREAK

Governor’s Ballroom Salons CDE

THANK YOU DMEC NATIONAL SPONSORS

DIAMOND

DMEC SOLUTIONS MARKETPLACE TUESDAY 5:30-6:30 PM Come mingle and relax with attendees and exhibitors after a full day of sessions. Enjoy a complimentary beverage and light snacks.

PLATINUM

AUSTIN LIVE! SPEAKEASY WEDNESDAY 8:00-11:00 PM Join your fellow conference attendees at our popular Wednesday Night Party. Enjoy one of Austin’s own dance bands, along with light refreshments and networking opportunities galore. Come for an hour or stay the whole evening. Everyone’s invited — so come on!

GOLD

This year’s venue, Speakeasy, is a short 5-minute walk from the Hilton Austin. DMEC’s mini-bus shuttles will transport attendees from 5th Street to Speakeasy beginning at 7:50 pm.

THANK YOU

Sponsored by MetLife

CONFERENCE SUPPORTING SPONSORS

$1,000 GRAND PRIZE DRAWING GENERAL SESSION THURSDAY 12:00 PM You must be present to win. Sponsored by Allsup

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MONDAY PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

COMPLIMENTARY WIFI DMEC will provide attendees with complimentary WiFi access in our conference meeting space at the Hilton Austin. NETWORK NAME | HILTON MEETINGS PASSWORD | DMEC2018

PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOP BENCHMARKING AND DATA ANALYSIS 9:00-10:00 AM

10:30-11:30 AM

12:30-1:30 PM

BEYOND BENCHMARKING: CREATING VALUE BEYOND THE NUMBERS

MEASURING UP: IBI’S LEAVE POLICY BENCHMARKING SERIES

Employers are always looking for ways to determine the effectiveness of their programs. However, with company sponsored leaves and paid benefit programs on the rise, there is less benchmarking data available to define industry standards and return on investment. Employers are more often required to look beyond the data available to evaluate their programs. During this session, we will walk you through the steps for establishing benchmarking data that is meaningful for your organization and discuss best practices for evaluating both the data and other factors to determine how well your programs are performing.

Understanding how your organization’s leave programs stack up against the competition is an important part of your talent attraction and retention strategies, but employers often lack information that would help design and implement competitive policies. This session will explore recent surveys from Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI), in which more than 900 organizations gave feedback about their formal leave policies, including maternity, parental, and family leaves; sick days; short- and longterm disability; bereavement; and PTO/leave banks. Learn how these reports can be used in the workplace to help you develop competitive programs for your own organization.

RISK SCREENING TECHNIQUES: CHANGING THE FUTURE OF CASE MANAGEMENT

SPEAKERS

Deborah Labonar, PhD Senior Director, Absence Analytics, ReedGroup

David Setzkorn, MBA, CPCU, CPM National Practice Leader, The Standard

Suzanne Wilson Vice President Reporting & Analytics, Matrix Absence Management *Sponsored session

10:00-10:30 AM

BREAK

Discussion of the findings will center on who is eligible for leaves, how much time off employers allow, what they pay employees on leave, and other policy dimensions. You will come away with basic guidance on what is typical for specific types of leaves, and a starting point for crafting policies that best address your specific business goals for your workforce needs.

What if you could utilize predictive analytics to accurately identify your riskiest claims from the beginning, and operationalize a game plan to get them back on track? With progress in research, we now know more about risk factors for poor recovery — and how best to address them. And the right approach does not always look like tighter control with sharper teeth! In this session, you will learn about two alternative approaches to risk screening that can pinpoint high-risk cases early and with better accuracy than ever before. And because simply identifying the at-risk claim isn’t enough, you will also discover how to create and execute an effective game plan to change their course. Our presenters will describe a new early intervention model being developed and field-tested by pioneering physicians, managed care companies, and employers that will allow you to utilize three distinct management pathways for at-risk cases. SPEAKERS

Stan Smith

SPEAKER

Predictive Analytics Practice Leader, Milliman

Brian Gifford, PhD

Jennifer Christian, MD, MPH, FACOEM

Director, Research and Analytics, Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI)

President, Webility Corporation

11:30 AM-12:30 PM

LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

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MONDAY BREAKFAST & LUNCH IS ON YOUR OWN

BREAK 2:00-3:00 PM

MONDAY 6:00-8:00 PM

INVESTIGATIONS IN THE AGE OF GEOSOCIAL DATA The current growth of geosocial data is changing the face of risk management and investigations. Learn what geosocial data is, and how this type of information is used to investigate insurance claims of all kinds. Gain eye-opening insight into accidents, site security, workplace harassment, and more, by locating social media photographs, videos, and posts at specific locations anywhere in the world. This session utilizes real-life case examples to demonstrate the impact of this new technology in the realm of risk management, law, and insurance. The session will show you how evidence can be uncovered and leveraged in a variety of scenarios. Privacy and legal issues, as well as preserving, authenticating, and presenting this type of cyber evidence will also be discussed.

Kick off your Austin experience with a chance to connect with old friends and fellow attendees at the 2018 DMEC opening welcome reception. Everyone is invited to join the festivities for a special evening of great food and fun. Sponsored by

DIAMOND

PLATINUM

MONDAY PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

OPENING WELCOME RECEPTION

1:30-2:00 PM

SPEAKER

Garrett McGinn, MA Director of Intelligence Division, DigiStream Investigations

3:00-3:15 PM

WRAP-UP & ANNOUNCEMENTS 3:15-3:30 PM

BREAK

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS MONDAY | 3:30-4:30 PM

Join your peers for small-group discussions on hot topics in the industry. Share challenges, opportunities, and best practices from your organization’s experience. • All Things Accommodation Meeting Room 408 • Benchmarking Meeting Room 410 • Mental Health in the Workplace Meeting Room 412 • Hospital Systems Meeting Room 415 • Insourcing vs. Outsourcing Meeting Room 416

PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOP PAID LEAVE 3:30-5:00 PM

THE BUSINESS IMPACT OF PAID LEAVE: AN INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP There is currently no standard approach to calculating the business value, health impacts, or general return on investment of paid leave. And yet, we know a healthier workforce impacts measurable business areas such as employee performance, productivity, and company profitability. The Paid Leave Project spent the past year conducting research on the drivers, barriers, and emerging trends of voluntary adoption of paid leave by the largest corporations across the United States. Employers want more data to strengthen the business case for paid leave. It’s time we work together to transform workforce health from a line-item cost to a source of business value. Join us for this interactive workshop as we explore this topic and potential tactics to measure the business impact of paid leave. SPEAKER

April Matson Communications Officer, Panorama

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AGENDA AT A GLANCE

MONDAY AUGUST 6 8:30-9:00 am

FIRST-TIME ATTENDEE ORIENTATION

›

Governor’s Salon B

4:00-4:15 pm

BREAK

4:15-5:15 pm

A3 State by State: Paid Family and Medical Leave Legislation

PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOP BENCHMARKING AND DATA ANALYSIS

9:00-10:00 am

B3 Automating Integrated Disability Management Programs to Drive Results, Improve Efficiency, and Reduce Cost

Beyond Benchmarking: Creating Value Beyond the Numbers

C3 Predicting, Preventing, and Reducing Disability Absence

10:00-10:30 am BREAK 10:30-11:30 am Measuring Up: IBI’s Leave Policy Benchmarking Series

D3 ADA Title I Readiness: Medical Examinations for Workers’ Compensation, Hiring, and Reasonable Accommodation

11:30 am-12:30 pm LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

E3 The Flag System: Identifying Delayed Recovery Risk Factors

12:30-1:30 pm

Risk Screening Techniques: Changing the Future of Case Management

5:30-6:30 pm

1:30-2:00 pm

BREAK

7:30-8:30 am

2:00-3:00 pm

Investigations in the Age of Geosocial Data

3:00-3:15 pm

Wrap-Up & Announcements

3:15-3:30 pm

BREAK

Benchmarking - Meeting Room 410 Mental Health in the Workplace - Meeting Room 412 Hospital Systems - Meeting Room 415 Insourcing vs. Outsourcing - Meeting Room 416

PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOP PAID LEAVE

3:30-5:00 pm

The Business Impact of Paid Leave: An Interactive Workshop

6:00-8:00 pm

DMEC OPENING WELCOME RECEPTION

8:30-9:30 am

Getting Back in the Game: Returning to Work After a Life-Changing Injury or Illness

9:30-10:00 am

COFFEE & CONVERSATION BREAK WITH EXHIBITORS

11:00 am-12:00 pm Impactful Diversity & Inclusion Strategies for the Workplace 12:00-1:30 pm

BREAKFAST WITH EXHIBITORS

8:00-8:30 am

FIRST-TIME ATTENDEE ORIENTATION

1:30-2:30 pm

C4 Productive Aging and Cheese: A Case Study from Bel Brands

›

D4 Tools, Techniques, and Technologies for Creating Inclusive Workplaces

Governor’s Salon B

8:30-8:45 am

Welcome & Opening Remarks

8:45-9:30 am

Opening Keynote: Living Out Loud

9:30-10:00 am


E4 How to Lead, How to Succeed: Women in IAM 2:30-3:00 pm

DESSERT & CONVERSATION BREAK WITH EXHIBITORS

3:00-4:00 pm

A5 Supporting Your Employees During a Natural Disaster B5 Can Claims Be Managed by Robots? Data Is the Key C5 Taking the Plunge: First-Time Outsourcers Share Steps to Success

10:00-11:00 am Mental Health in the Workplace: The Invisible Disability, Now Visible

D5 A 360˚ View: From Stay at Work to Return to Work

11:00 am-12:00 pm FMLA/ADA Lessons Learned: Recent Court Cases, Jury Verdicts, and Settlements LUNCH WITH EXHIBITORS

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

1:30-2:30 pm

E5 Leverage Your DISC Profile to Maximize Your Communication 4:00-4:15 pm

BREAK

4:15-5:15 pm

A6 From Training to Gaming: Approaches Promoting Mental Health at Work

A1 FMLA Harassment and ADA Retaliation: Legal and Practical Applications

B6 Disability and Fitness for Duty in Transgender Employees C6 Frisco School District: Leading Leave Compliance in Texas

B1 Digital Solutions: A Window Into the Back Office of Absence Case Management C1 Engagement Matters: An Employee-Centric Approach to Preventing Work Disability D1 It Seems Simple, But: The Complexities of Reasonable Accommodation E1 The Impact of Chronic Disease on Workplace Health and Productivity 2:30-3:00 pm

DESSERT & CONVERSATION BREAK WITH EXHIBITORS

3:00-4:00 pm

A2 I Thought We Were Supposed to Be Flexible!? ADA Leave Cases Post-Severson

D6 Implementation Done Right E6 Get Explicit About Implicit Bias Using Compassionate Dialogue 8:00-11:00 pm

AUSTIN LIVE!

THURSDAY AUGUST 9 7:30-8:30 am

BREAKFAST

GENERAL SESSIONS

8:30-9:30 am

Ask the Experts: Present and Future Challenges in Our Industry

9:30-9:45 am

COFFEE & CONVERSATION BREAK

B2 The Digital Do’s & Don’ts of Leave Technology

9:45-10:45 am

Paid Parental Leave: A Focus on Fatherhood

C2 Employer Size: The Effect on Absence & Productivity

10:45-11:45 am A Journey from Disability to Capability: Returning to Work and Removing the Disability Stigma

D2 Peer-to-Peer Communication: Getting Physicians on Board about RTW 6

A4 The Work/Life Squeeze: Policies and Protections for Caregiver Employees B4 Neurodiversity: Driving Innovation from Unexpected Places

GENERAL SESSIONS

12:00-1:30 pm

LUNCH WITH EXHIBITORS

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

TUESDAY AUGUST 7 7:30-8:30 am


10:00-11:00 am The Changing Workforce and Benefit Design

• All Things Accommodation - Meeting Room 408 • • • •

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 8 GENERAL SESSIONS

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS

3:30-4:30 pm

HAPPY HOUR WITH EXHIBITORS

E2 The Journey to Minimizing the Impact of Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Workplace

11:45 am-12:00 pm Closing Remarks and Grand Prize Drawing

9:30-10:00 AM

11:00 AM-12:00 PM



FMLA/ADA LESSONS LEARNED: RECENT COURT CASES, JURY VERDICTS, AND SETTLEMENTS

10:00-11:00 AM

Each year, hundreds of court decisions interpreting employers’ ADA and FMLA obligations, including jury verdicts and large settlements, are decided. Each decision has important implications for employers. During this session, we will identify trends that have emerged, and advise about the “do’s” and “don’ts” with regard to ADA/ FMLA compliance challenges. You will learn what makes courts and juries sympathetic to employers and how to improve your policies, practices, and processes for handling ADA accommodation issues to avoid liability. Ensure you have the tools you need to avoid risk in this hotlylitigated area!

Sponsored by

GENERAL SESSIONS 8:30-8:45 AM

WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS SPEAKERS

Marcia Carruthers, MBA, CPDM Chairwoman of the Board, DMEC

Terri L. Rhodes, CCMP, CLMS, CPDM, MBA Chief Executive Officer, DMEC

MEETING LOCATIONS KEYNOTE/GENERAL SESSION Governor’s Ballroom Salons CDE SOLUTIONS MARKETPLACE, TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY BREAKS & MEALS Austin Grand Ballroom (6th floor) CONCURRENT SESSIONS See program listing for location

8:45-9:30 AM

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE: THE INVISIBLE DISABILITY, NOW VISIBLE Mental illnesses, once hidden and invisible in the workplace, are now taking center stage for many employers as they realize the true impact these illnesses have on overall workplace health and productivity. During this session, we will walk through the facts related to the increasing national disabled workforce and discuss the impact to both the employee and the organization when mental health in the workplace is not supported or treated. Attendees of this session will gain an understanding of mental illness, the stigma attached to the illness, and what can be done now to stem the untenable tide of absenteeism, presenteeism, and organizational cost that these disabilities can produce. SPEAKER

Rachel A. Shaw, MBA President, Shaw HR Consulting, Inc

OPENING KEYNOTE

LIVING OUT LOUD

TUESDAY KEYNOTE AND GENERAL SESSIONS

7:30-8:30 AM

SPEAKERS

Megan Holstein, JD SVP Absence and Claims Management, FINEOS

Marjory D. Robertson, JD AVP & Senior Counsel, Sun Life Financial Services Company, Inc

12:00-1:30 PM

LUNCH WITH EXHIBITORS Sponsored by

SPEAKER

Nyle DiMarco

Prepare to be moved and inspired as Nyle DiMarco, winner of America’s Next Top Model and Dancing with the Stars, demonstrates the value of non-verbal communication and embracing one’s true identity. As he shares his barrier-breaking story as a deaf man, he will pique your curiosity as you gain a deeper understanding of the deaf community. During this powerful session, Nyle will reveal his triumphs, challenges, fears, and dreams, and encourage you to live your own life Sponsored by authentically and define your own version of success. You will walk away enlightened and empowered to defy societal pressures, embrace diversity, and appreciate and harness your personal strengths.

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TUESDAY CONCURRENT SESSIONS

1:30-2:30 pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS (choose one)

TRACK | YEAR IN REVIEW: LEGAL UPDATES u

MEETING ROOM 402

A1 FMLA HARASSMENT AND ADA RETALIATION: LEGAL AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Organizations need to know how to address and prevent retaliation and harassment related to family and medical leaves and employees with disabilities. Using an interactive case study exercise, this session will employ a fact-finding approach to clarifying the applicable legal standards under the ADA, the FMLA, and state and local leave and disability laws. You will hear about court cases and situations that illustrate potential pitfalls to avoid and walk away with practical tools and solutions for navigating retaliation and harassment. SPEAKERS

Susan W. Brecher Director, Scheinman Institute, Cornell University

Judy Young, MA Associate Director, Training and Development, Cornell University

TRACK | TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS u

GOVERNOR’S SALON B

B1 DIGITAL SOLUTIONS: A WINDOW INTO THE BACK OFFICE OF ABSENCE CASE MANAGEMENT How would you feel if 10,000 employees walked into your headquarters office and could see how their absences are being managed? Digital solutions deliver shorter turnaround times, increased awareness, and, in turn, come with increased customer expectations, including greater transparency. If you want to provide superior customer service, you’ll need to bring employees much closer to each 8

stage of your absence management process. This session will highlight five key absence case management functions you should evaluate to ensure a positive digital experience.

USING THE TRACK SYSTEM Attendees are encouraged to select sessions across various tracks that best fit their education and training needs.

SPEAKERS

Jonathan Boylan, BSc Chief Technology Officer, FINEOS

Randi Weir Simmons, SPHR, SHRM-SCP AVP Absence Management, FINEOS *Sponsored session

TRACK | THE ADA AND RETURN TO WORK u

TRACK | PREVENTION & PRODUCTIVITY u

GOVERNOR’S SALON A

C1 ENGAGEMENT MATTERS: AN EMPLOYEE-CENTRIC APPROACH TO PREVENTING WORK DISABILITY It is becoming clear how important engaging employees in staying at work, their recovery, and returning to work (RTW) is in reducing the human, social, and economic costs of work disability. The worker is central to the process and all stakeholders should play a supporting role rather than a lead role. Instead of a department building an RTW program from the top down, we will show how the Washington State Department of Corrections used a grassroots approach to develop an integrated work disability prevention program with a foundation of employee engagement. Using engagement as the unifying purpose, we will highlight how powerful it can be to engage frontline staff all the way up to the C-suite as you build your programs. SPEAKERS

Sonja Dordal, MA, CWPC Wellness Coordinator and Occupational Health and Wellness Manager, Washington State Department of Corrections

Jason Parker, B.HK President/CEO, Centrix Disability Management Services

GOVERNOR’S SALONS CDE

D1 IT SEEMS SIMPLE, BUT: THE COMPLEXITIES OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION While most disability management programs cover transitional returnto-work, light-duty, and stay-atwork programs, employers have traditionally paid less attention to the broader ADAAA requirements which include reasonable accommodations. This oversight leaves them open to significant EEOC violations, which could result in six-figure penalties for an individual incident. Because of its unique workplace environment, the airline industry faces extraordinary challenges in meeting reasonable accommodation demands. This includes managing accommodations or temporary light-duty assignments for employees in various occupations, to fair reassignment practices for employees who can no longer work at their previous jobs due to disability. In this session, we will detail the evolution of United Airlines’ reasonable accommodation program and explain how these implemented strategies can be applied to other industries. SPEAKERS

Amy Kelly, MS, CRC Director, Absence Management and Pilot Service Center, United Airlines

Christi Doe, MEd, CPDM Director, Disability & Absence Management Services, ECN, a division of Genex Services LLC *Sponsored session

u

MEETING ROOM 406

E1 THE IMPACT OF CHRONIC DISEASE ON WORKPLACE HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY This session will focus on the everincreasing burden of chronic disease that is impacting employees and their organizations. We will discuss the current and future state of employee health status as it relates to chronic disease and explore evidence-informed strategies and best practices to reduce the impact of chronic disease on health, productivity, and engagement in the workplace. We will review investments in strategic workplace health, well-being, absenteeism, presenteeism, and absence and disability management as well as disability prevention. SPEAKER

Tyler Amell, PhD, MSc, BSc Chief Relationship Officer, CoreHealth Technologies

DESSERT & CONVERSATION BREAK Please join us from 2:30-3:00 pm for dessert with our exhibitors.

DMEC

QUEST

3:00-4:00 pm




A2 I THOUGHT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE FLEXIBLE?! ADA LEAVE CASES POST-SEVERSON In the 2017 Severson v. Heartland Woodcraft case, the 7th circuit court of appeals said that long-term leaves are not reasonable accommodations under the law. This runs counter to the EEOC’s enforcement over the last several years as well as the multimillion dollar settlements they’ve procured. After this landmark case, what’s an employer to do? In this informative session, we will walk through the highlights of this case and the significant impact it has on how employers handle the leave process moving forward.

TRACK | TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS u

MEETING ROOM 402

B2 THE DIGITAL DO’S & DON’TS OF LEAVE TECHNOLOGY Many employers are exploring technology to support internal leave processes and practices. While technology may help you solve challenges with process efficiencies and achievement of regulatory compliance, there are several things to be aware of as you investigate the variety of technology applications now available in the market. This session will explore what to do and what not to do when leveraging technology for leave administration. We will discuss how technology can be integrated in your current state and improve your future state of compliance, reporting, and overall administrative management.


TRACK | PROMOTING RECOVERY

SPEAKERS

Connie Moore Director, Absence & Productivity, Pacific Resources

Melanie Payton Senior Consultant, Absence Management, Pacific Resources *Sponsored session

SPEAKERS

Matt Morris, JD VP of FMLASource, ComPsych

Jeff Nowak, JD Partner and Co-Chair, Labor and Employment Practice Group, Franczek Radelet PC

DMEC QUEST & GIVEAWAY Download the conference mobile app to participate in DMEC’s online scavenger hunt! Attendees will be given the opportunity to earn points by attending sessions & events, visiting exhibitors & sponsors, and much more. Stay at the top of the DMEC Quest leaderboard for a chance to win $1,000 at the closing session (must be present to win).

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C2 EMPLOYER SIZE: THE EFFECT ON ABSENCE & PRODUCTIVITY Are you struggling with managing the effects of workplace absence? You are not alone; many employers struggle with lower levels of productivity, lost profits, and workplace disruptions when employees are absent. A 2017 research project analyzed employer’s experiences with the FMLA & short-term disability (STD) in the context of employer size. The results show that employers of various sizes experience different issues depending on their industry and their organizational structure. This session will detail the differences between large and smaller employers across all industries, experiences with FMLA & STD usage and cost, before diving into specific industries, including hospitals, food manufacturers, and others. We will outline actionable insights to provide you with tools to help you address these size-related absence issues. SPEAKER

Michael Klachefsky Consultant, ClaimVantage, Inc *Sponsored session



D2 PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNICATION: GETTING PHYSICIANS ON BOARD ABOUT RTW Clinicians have a central role in all aspects of medical leave — diagnosis and treatment, functional limitations, and return-to-work (RTW) decisions. However, with little training in this area, they often fail to recognize the negative consequences of being out of work, feel conflicted about their role, and don’t take the time to address this problem. Educational programs, requests for documentation, and 10

other strategies have not had much of an impact. During this session, we will highlight a strategy that has proved effective: collaboration with trusted peers who are familiar with work absence, work restrictions, and other RTW issues. We will discuss the causes of the problem, scientific evidence and practical experience on effectiveness of a peer-to-peer approach, and provide suggestions for employers to prevent unnecessary disability.

Mandy Stogner, CLMS

PANELISTS

Senior Manager, Integrated Absence Management, Walmart

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Glenn Pransky, MD, MOCCH, FACOEM

(choose one)

Herminio Vargas, MBA, MPA, JD

Scientific Advisor, Lincoln Financial Group

David Berube, MD, MPH, FACOEM Chief Medical Officer, Lincoln Financial Group *Sponsored session

HR, Health & Wellbeing Consultant, Unum

Marcy Ledford, MS, CRC, CEAS Director, Workforce Solutions, Unum

Stephanie Willett, MPH Director, Workforce Solutions, Unum *Sponsored session

4:00-4:15 PM

BREAK

4:15-5:15 pm


TRACK | PROMOTING RECOVERY u

MEETING ROOM 406

E2 THE JOURNEY TO MINIMIZING THE IMPACT OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS IN THE WORKPLACE Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect more than half of Americans age 18+ and account for one-third of lost work time. All industries struggle with the impact MSDs have on absence and lost productivity as well as the associated healthcare and disability costs. This session will provide insight into ways that employers can identify and quantify MSD risk factors as well as the bottom line impact to their organization. Learn how members of our employer panel took a deeper look at the impact of MSD on their disability experience and healthcare spend and made the crucial decision to implement proactive strategies to address this issue. These innovative strategies vary from vendor partnership to ergonomic solutions to building a robust return-to-work program. SPEAKERS

Rebecca Day Benefits Manager, HR Service Delivery, Cox Communications, Inc

Kim German, BSN, COHN-S Nurse Case Manager/SPHM Coordinator, Emory Healthcare


A3 STATE BY STATE: PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE LEGISLATION New York Paid Family Leave (NY PFL) has been all over the media lately, but a number of states are proposing or have passed their own paid family and medical leave laws, allowing employees to take paid time off from work for medical or family reasons. What are the nuances employers need to understand to manage current and emerging paid family leave laws effectively? How are employers looking at paid family leave benefits and attempting to be equitable to employees in states with differing or no paid family leave? How do paid family leave laws intersect with unpaid leaves, shortterm disability, sick leave, or other paid company leaves? This session will cover all this and more. SPEAKERS

Lais Washington, JD Legal Counsel, Lincoln Financial Group

Marissa Mayfield, MBA Sr. Product Manager-PFL & Statutory Disability, Lincoln Financial Group *Sponsored session

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MEETING ROOM 402

B3 AUTOMATING INTEGRATED DISABILITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS TO DRIVE RESULTS, IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, AND REDUCE COST During this session, you will learn how employers are using technology and automation to proactively identify absences requiring aggressive management and intervention, while simplifying and automating the administrative and employee process for routine absences and leaves. We’ll discuss the myriad benefits of this approach, including reduced durations of absences, reduction in administrative costs, and improved employee experience and satisfaction. SPEAKERS

Loyd Hudson, MA, SPHR, CPDM IDM Manager, American Electric Power

Seth Turner, MBA VP of Business Development, AbsenceSoft *Sponsored session



C3 PREDICTING, PREVENTING, AND REDUCING DISABILITY ABSENCE Did you know that workplace absence can cost an employer $226 billion dollars a year? One of the ways to help reduce disabilityrelated absences is to prevent disabling illnesses and injuries from happening in the first place. In this session you’ll hear how integrating your health plan with your disability management plan can help reduce short-term disability incidence and result in better return-to-work rates and shorter disability durations. You’ll also learn about best practices in pre-disability intervention programs and how these programs can help

individuals prevent a potential disabling illness or injury, and help those already out on disability safely and productively return to work more quickly. SPEAKERS

Chloe Potts, SHRM-CP Talent Services Partner, American Cancer Society

Meaghan Rohletter Director of Health and Welfare Benefits, American Cancer Society

Angelica Greene, MHS, CRC Clinical Program Manager, Cigna *Sponsored session



D3 ADA TITLE I READINESS: MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION, HIRING, AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION This session will prepare you to query medical examination service providers (physicians, occupational therapists, and physical therapists) for their readiness to comply with Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We’ll begin with a review of the federal court’s response to medical examination issues central to recent hiring, stay-at-work, workers’ compensation, and reasonable accommodation cases. From there, we’ll utilize a self-screening tool that will demonstrate how to match each type of medical examination to a hiring, retention, or reasonable accommodation situation. You’ll get updated knowledge of trends in employment testing and explore exposure that can be associated with medical opinions related to adverse employment decisions.

TRACK | PROMOTING RECOVERY u

MEETING ROOM 406

E3 THE FLAG SYSTEM: IDENTIFYING DELAYED RECOVERY RISK FACTORS Delayed recovery after an injury or illness presents a challenge to employers and employees alike. Using a flag system to identify multiple risk factors that impact or influence disability is a helpful way to apply a holistic, biopsychosocial model to disability management. In this session, we will discuss medical, psychosocial, psychiatric, and work barriers to recovering function; explore ways to identify these barriers; and discuss tools to address them in an effort to minimize delayed recovery for your employee.


TRACK | TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

SPEAKER

Marcos A. Iglesias, MD, MMM, FAAFP, FACOEM SVP, Chief Medical Officer, Broadspire *Sponsored session

5:30-6:30 PM

HAPPY HOUR WITH EXHIBITORS

SPEAKER

Roy O. Matheson, ADAC, MTM Managing Partner, Reasonable Accommodation LLC

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WEDNESDAY GENERAL SESSIONS

7:30-8:30 AM

9:30-10:00 AM

11:00 AM-12:00 PM



IMPACTFUL DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STRATEGIES FOR THE WORKPLACE

8:30-9:30 AM

GETTING BACK IN THE GAME: RETURNING TO WORK AFTER A LIFE-CHANGING INJURY OR ILLNESS

10:00-11:00 AM

Returning to work after a lifechanging injury or illness can be challenging not only physically, but mentally. What is the employee going through? How can you support your employee’s return to work? What other resources are available to assist you and your employee? During this session, we will share research and interventions underway for successful return to work, and will introduce Keith Gabel, a remarkable man who lost his leg in an industrial work accident. Discover how Keith greeted his disability and adversity with tremendous strength to rise above the challenges, focus on what is possible, and reach his goals. His positive outlook has opened many doors to other opportunities including becoming a world-class athlete and two-time U.S. Paralympian. Keith’s story will challenge your perception of people with disabilities and illustrate the power of the human spirit.

New technologies are poised to radically change work and the workforce, and it’s causing anxiety among employees, who are already leaning toward gigs (temporary jobs) and more flexible ways of working. No matter how pervasive machines may become, human workers will remain irreplaceable. Now is a pivotal time for employers to engage the human workforce by meeting their needs. Thought leaders from Duke University and MetLife will share insights which can help employers understand the drivers of engagement for the workforce of 2023 and the growing importance of workplace benefits. We will explore how these changes alter the way benefit plans are designed and how employers have begun to implement programs to address changing needs of the workforce.

THE CHANGING WORKFORCE AND BENEFIT DESIGN

SPEAKERS

Aaron Chatterji, PhD Associate Professor, The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University

Bradd Chignoli

SPEAKERS

Keith Gabel U.S. Paralympian

Senior Vice President, MetLife MODERATOR

Phil Bruen Vice President Group Life and Disability Products, MetLife *Sponsored session

Adam Seidner, MD Chief Medical Officer, The Hartford *Sponsored session

MEETING LOCATIONS GENERAL SESSION Governor’s Ballroom Salons CDE SOLUTIONS MARKETPLACE, TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY BREAKS & MEALS Austin Grand Ballroom Foyer (6th floor) CONCURRENT SESSIONS See program listing for location

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Demographics are shifting, and the workforce of tomorrow will look very different than today. Companies must recognize these movements and adjust their workforce strategies accordingly. The composition of the workforce impacts hiring, training, and retention strategies; communication avenues; compensation and benefits programs; and use of technology. These factors impact how organizations manage their workers’ compensation and disability programs to maximize the value of the labor pool. Workers of different generations, backgrounds, and beliefs approach work differently, and this can impact employer protocols and plans. This session will address some of the demographic shifts in the workforce, discuss employer strategies for managing these differences, and examine the impact diversity & inclusion have on workers’ compensation and disability strategies. SPEAKER

Bryon Bass SVP, Disability and Absence Practice & Compliance, Sedgwick *Sponsored session

12:00-1:30 PM

LUNCH WITH EXHIBITORS Sponsored by

Attendees are encouraged to select sessions across various tracks that best fit their education and training needs.

1:30-2:30 pm


TRACK | HAPPY, HEALTHY WORKFORCE u


A4 THE WORK/LIFE SQUEEZE: POLICIES AND PROTECTIONS FOR CAREGIVER EMPLOYEES It’s a reality. Increasing numbers of employees have caregiver responsibilities for family members — children, elderly parents, family members with health needs, and others. The legal protections for caregiver employees are broad and numerous. Some employers are trying to get ahead of these issues by implementing family-friendly policies and benefits to assist employees in dealing with caregiver responsibilities. In this session, learn what various state and federal laws require of employers with respect to their caregiver employee population. A leading employer will share policies and benefits it has implemented in support of their employees. How these efforts are working, how they are being received by the employees, and what lessons have been learned so far will be covered. SPEAKERS

TRACK | THE PROGRESSIVE WORKFORCE u

MEETING ROOM 402

B4 NEURODIVERSITY: DRIVING INNOVATION FROM UNEXPECTED PLACES The business world is rapidly changing, fueled by increasingly sophisticated technology and an accelerating pace of innovation. As businesses adopt applications like artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and process automation, they become more data-driven and connected. Despite the constant technological advances in business, people still play a critical role and organizations need to continually innovate and identify new sources of talent. Leading companies such as SAP, Microsoft, HPE, and professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP (EY) are addressing strategic business issues by leveraging often-overlooked but talented individuals — people on the autism spectrum. As part of these initiatives, companies are discovering new benefits for their brands, employee engagement, customer relationships, and more. During this session, EY will share the decisions that led to launching their program, how to secure buy-in from key leadership, how to build the program (sourcing, partners, referrals, and more), and how to measure the impact and success of a program like this one. SPEAKERS

Jamell Mitchell, NCoE Operations Leader, EY

Christopher Morris, MA Account Support Associate, EY

TRACK | EMPLOYER SUCCESS STORIES u


C4 PRODUCTIVE AGING AND CHEESE: A CASE STUDY FROM BEL BRANDS As workforce demographics change, it is more important than ever to develop solutions that help employees stay safe and productive at work, especially as they age. So what do you get when an international cheese maker and an insurance company combine forces to develop a health and productivity strategy for an aging population? You get an innovative productive aging program.

WEDNESDAY CONCURRENT SESSIONS

USING THE TRACK SYSTEM

Facing an aging population, Bel Brands turned to Prudential’s Health & Productivity Analytics and Consulting practice to design a oneof-a-kind productive aging program that helps workers (of all ages) stay healthy and productive at work. This session will explore the process, key findings, and outcomes from Bel Brands’ custom program. SPEAKERS

Christy Naniot, SPHR-SCP HR Manager, Bel Brands USA

Matthew Bahl, JD Vice President, Financial Wellness Customer Strategies, Prudential Financial

Kristin Tugman, PhD, MS, CRC, LPC Vice President, Health & Productivity Analytics and Consulting Practice, Prudential Financial *Sponsored session

STOP BY, RELAX & RECHARGE at the DMEC Charging Station and Lounge Sponsored by

Jim Tierney, GBA, CWPD, CPT Sr. Program Manager, Total Absence Management, Corporate Benefits, Medtronic

Marti Cardi, JD Vice President, Product Compliance & Human Resources, Matrix Absence Management, Inc *Sponsored session

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TRACK | TOOLS & TECHNIQUES u


TRACK | BUILDING YOUR PROFESSIONAL BRAND

D4 TOOLS, TECHNIQUES, AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR CREATING INCLUSIVE WORKPLACES

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Inclusion results when good processes and practices are normalized into the workplace. Normalizing inclusion requires tools, techniques, and technologies. Many of these are embedded within the no-cost Workplace Accommodation Toolkit and Mobile Accommodation Solution app developed by the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). This session will feature three new video trainings within the toolkit and a demonstration of the new app. You will leave this session with the tools, techniques, and technologies necessary for institutionalizing inclusion and ensuring the longevity of disability inclusion efforts.

How can you find balance between the personal and professional aspects of your life while still moving up? How can being a female work to your advantage? What does the #metoo movement mean for your future? During this lively discussion, integrated absence management (IAM) leaders will share their personal career journeys including life lessons and necessary detours, such as taking a demotion to eventually get to the next level. We will share the secrets to successful IAM leadership that you can use to advance your own careers, discuss what it truly takes to lead in today’s IAM world, and explore different types of opportunities in the field.

SPEAKERS

MEETING ROOM 406

E4 HOW TO LEAD, HOW TO SUCCEED: WOMEN IN IAM

(choose one)


MEETING ROOM 402

A5 SUPPORTING YOUR EMPLOYEES DURING A NATURAL DISASTER

DESSERT & CONVERSATION BREAK Please join us from 2:30-3:00 pm for dessert with our exhibitors.

Stephen Buehler, MA, MFT

PANELISTS

CoDirector, Job Accommodation Network

Maria Henderson, MS, CDMS

President, Deb Dagit Diversity

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

When a natural disaster strikes, it is important for employers to have a plan and safety measures in place and be aware of employment laws that may be implicated when a flood, hurricane, fire, earthquake or other emergency occurs. A panel of experts will discuss their organization’s experience with natural disasters which impacted and closed some of their facilities. We will focus on planning and preparedness; crisis communications including how to contact your employees, vendors, and suppliers; how to make correct decisions around the FMLA and short-term disability; evaluating alternate locations for continued business operations; understanding the psychological and financial impact on employees; and more. You will obtain practical hands-on information to help your organization prepare in advance of such emergency situations.

Anne Hirsh, MS, CPDM Deborah Dagit

3:00-4:00 pm

Chief Innovation Officer, WorkCare, Inc

Jenny Haykin, MA, CRC Integrated Leaves & Accommodations Program Manager, Puget Sound Energy

Kimberly George, RN Senior Vice President Corporate Development, M&A, and Healthcare, Sedgwick

SPEAKERS

Employee & Physician Assistance Program Consultant, Kaiser Permanente

Todd Masteller, MA, LP, EAS-C EAP Liaison, Kaiser Permanente

Debra Zoppy, CBCP, CTPRP AVP, Operational Risk & Resiliency, Guardian MODERATOR

Colleen Hutchings, MA Vice President, Operations and Client Services, ReedGroup

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B5 CAN CLAIMS BE MANAGED BY ROBOTS? DATA IS THE KEY We have all heard amazing things about the power of business analytics and artificial intelligence, but how far away is automated claims management? The use of analytics is on the rise in claims operations, and this will fundamentally change the industry. Data is the key resource needed to drive this change. During this session, we’ll look at what is hidden in our claims data and what questions we should be asking our claim service providers. From an operational viewpoint, we will examine cutting-edge techniques that automate the process of claims management and discuss some of the challenges that are being faced. While this is a significant change for the industry, it can be embraced as a unique opportunity to make claims management smarter and more efficient.

TRACK | EMPLOYER SUCCESS STORIES u


C5 TAKING THE PLUNGE: FIRST-TIME OUTSOURCERS SHARE STEPS TO SUCCESS As leave law complexity and regulations continue to grow, many employers are considering outsourcing their FMLA or disability programs for the first time to help avoid compliance issues and reduce the administrative burden on their HR departments. Learn how Michelin and Nissan made the “big” move to successful centralized outsourced models. What were their top concerns and the key factors in their decision to move to outsourcing? Hear first-hand how pre-implementation planning, project management, change management, training, reporting and data analytics, and partnership with internal and external technology organizations helped their transitions go smoothly. PANELISTS

Carla Pry

SPEAKERS

Disability Benefits Contract Liaison, Michelin North America

Jennifer Pardi, ALHC

Tonyia Ragland-Davis, RN, MSN, MBA/HCM, CPDM

Vice President of TPA Services, Professional Disability Associates

Ian Bridgman Executive Director, The Claim Lab



D5 A 360˚ VIEW: FROM STAY AT WORK TO RETURN TO WORK The disability claims experience begins long before a claim is filed. It begins with an employer’s corporate culture, and the interrelationships among the benefits team, the disability insurance company, and the claimant. During this session, you’ll hear from Dr. Feranmi Okanlami who will share his journey from a life-altering injury that left him paralyzed from the chest down, and the role that his disability coverage played in his recovery. You’ll also hear how the team at Mitel have built an environment that helps employees to remain at and return to work. You’ll also gather best practices for establishing job accommodation policies and procedures; identifying opportunities through analysis of claims patterns and ergonomic assessments; and improving claimant communication about available vocational rehabilitation services and support. SPEAKERS

Tammy Large, PHR, GBA, SHRM-CP

Behavioral Health/EAP & Disability Manager, Michelin North America

Director, Compensation and Benefits, Mitel

Kimberly Sharp Manager, Total Rewards, Nissan North America

Faculty Lead for Medical Student Success: Office for Health Equity and Inclusion, Michigan Medicine

MODERATOR

Cammie McAda, MS, LPC, CRC, CEAS, ADAA

Ryan Tamminga Senior Director, Professional Services, ReedGroup *Sponsored session


TRACK | THE PROGRESSIVE WORKFORCE

Feranmi Okanlami, MD, MS

Vocational Rehab Employer Services Leader, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America MODERATOR

Gene Lanzoni AVP, Group & Worksite Marketing, Thought Leadership, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE We want to capture your conference experience on video! Tell us why you decided to attend this year’s conference, key learnings you’ve picked up from sessions, and “aha” moments you’ve experienced. Stop by the video booth in the foyer or catch up with one of our roaming Videography sponsored by videographers. Videos will be shared with the larger DMEC community through the website and social media. 15


TRACK | BUILDING YOUR PROFESSIONAL BRAND u

MEETING ROOM 406

E5 LEVERAGE YOUR DISC PROFILE TO MAXIMIZE YOUR COMMUNICATION Working effectively with others is critical for your professional success. But what do you do when communication clashes make that feel impossible? Everyone has their own behavioral styles, but not everyone knows how to leverage this knowledge for their own success. This interactive session will utilize the DISC behavioral style model to help you gain key insights into your own work behaviors as well as how to “speed read” those around you. These skills will help you adjust your message to connect with your intended audience, helping you cut through the everyday “noise”. Improving your communication can help facilitate cooperation with others, build effective teams, and influence others, all of which can make or break your career. SPEAKER

Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP Continuing Education Manager, DMEC

4:00-4:15 PM

BREAK

4:15-5:15 pm




A6 FROM TRAINING TO GAMING: APPROACHES PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH AT WORK As employers look for ways to promote mental health in the workplace, more programs and products become available each day. During this session, we’ll highlight an array of options available to employers — from the latest in employee assistance program (EAP) services to awareness and stigma reduction programs to artificial intelligence and gaming options — that will help you tackle the challenges associated with promoting mental health in your organization. SPEAKERS

Jenny Haykin, MA, CRC Integrated Leaves & Accommodations Program Manager, Puget Sound Energy

Michiel Rauws CEO & Founder, X2AI

TRACK | THE PROGRESSIVE WORKFORCE u

MEETING ROOM 402

B6 DISABILITY AND FITNESS FOR DUTY IN TRANSGENDER EMPLOYEES Employees have diverse gender identities and expressions, which may impact their ability to perform the essential functions of their jobs. Both transgender and cisgender employees are at heightened risk of experiencing an inability to perform job functions. During this session, you will be introduced to the concepts of gender identity and gender expression, and the implications of determining ability to perform workplace tasks in employees who may identify as transgender. You’ll explore model transgender employment policies; best practices in the administrative approach to fitness-for-duty evaluations; considerations for disability insurers; and forensic assessments and how they can best take into account gender identity, gender expression, and gender dysphoria. You’ll also learn how to accurately assess impairment and support the workplace performance of employees who identify as transgender. SPEAKER

Brian Hurley, MD, MBA, DFASAM Contracted Network Provider, PsyBar, LLC

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C6 FRISCO SCHOOL DISTRICT: LEADING LEAVE COMPLIANCE IN TEXAS Leave management is a challenge for HR managers nationwide. However, for the large and growing school district of Frisco ISD in Texas, there were unique leave management challenges that required a redesign of their processes. With over 8,200 employees distributed over 64 schools, Frisco manages a dispersed workforce in a sector that sees above-average leave requests, all while ensuring there are teachers on the job to instruct the students. During this session, you’ll hear how Frisco made the decision to revamp their leave management with a full review of their policies, best practices, and technology, and you’ll see the extraordinary results in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and compliance. You’ll also gather valuable insights that will help you put your leave management house in order.



D6 IMPLEMENTATION DONE RIGHT Even the best designed absence management programs can fall short if follow through is lacking. Implementation of new programs and periodic re-implementation of mature programs is critical, yet we often see it overlooked or underestimated. Although it may be one of the most time-consuming aspects of absence management programs, implementation is your opportunity to set the stage for success at a company, manager, and employee level. Implementation done right can lead to easier administration for your organization, increased satisfaction with the process, and higher engagement overall. During this session, we will cover the “ins and outs” of successful program implementation (and reimplementation), including a dive into quantitative and qualitative survey data, specific employer case studies, and a roadmap you can take to move forward.

Jessica Gilbert, CLMS, CPDM Leave Specialist, Frisco Independent School District

Brenna Rose Benefits Manager, Frisco Independent School District MODERATOR

David Glickman CEO, Presagia

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MEETING ROOM 406

E6 GET EXPLICIT ABOUT IMPLICIT BIAS USING COMPASSIONATE DIALOGUE No matter how positive our intentions are to be free of prejudice, we all have implicit biases that can have a serious impact on our work and in our organizations. During this session, we will explore the concept of implicit bias and the nuanced behavior that is a product of our unconsciousness. As we engage on this topic, you will have opportunities to reflect upon how your own implicit biases may be impacting your work as well as your personal life. You’ll have the opportunity to interactively practice compassionate communication and learn skills for “interrupting” implicit bias behaviors, internally and interpersonally. We’ll cover how to create action plans that not only address how to become aware about implicit bias, but also actions that interrupt it. SPEAKER

SPEAKERS

SPEAKERS

TRACK | BUILDING YOUR PROFESSIONAL BRAND


TRACK | EMPLOYER SUCCESS STORIES

Nancy Dome, EdD

Misty Harper Manager, Leave Administration and Accommodations, North America, Business Services Group

CEO, Epoch Education, Inc

Kevin Kelleher, MBA, CBP, CCP, CPDM Manager Compensation, Absence Management, and HR Analytics, The University of Vermont Medical Center

Karen English, CPCU, ARM, MBA Partner, Spring Consulting Group

Teri Weber, ACI, PMP Partner, Spring Consulting Group *Sponsored session

AUSTIN LIVE!

8:00-11:00 PM | SPEAKEASY

“CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES … COME ON!” We’re in the homestretch, and there’s no better way to let loose and relax after several busy days of new ideas than to join your fellow conference attendees at our popular Wednesday Night Party. Enjoy one of Austin’s own dance bands along with light refreshments and networking opportunities galore. Come for an hour or stay the whole evening. Everyone’s invited — so come on!

• D MEC attendees must show their DMEC name badge at the door to gain access to the event.

Sponsored by

• D MEC’s shuttles pick up on 5th Street starting at 7:50 pm. • C ontinuous transportation provided approximately every 20 minutes.

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THURSDAY GENERAL SESSIONS

MEETING LOCATIONS BREAKFAST/BREAK/ GENERAL SESSION Governor’s Ballroom Salons CDE

7:30-8:30 AM

BREAKFAST 8:30-9:30 AM

ASK THE EXPERTS: PRESENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES IN OUR INDUSTRY Our popular “Ask the Experts” session allows conference attendees to submit their most challenging questions to our panel of distinguished absence and leave management experts. You provide the uncensored questions, and they provide the unfiltered answers. This interactive discussion between attendees and panelists allows audience members to have their “real-world” questions answered by the specialists. Come prepared with your toughest questions and the most perplexing challenges faced by your company. And best of all, there will be no consulting fees incurred! PANELISTS

Bryon Bass SVP, Disability and Absence Practice & Compliance, Sedgwick

Phil Bruen Vice President Group Life and Disability Products, MetLife

Karen English, CPCU, ARM, MBA Senior Vice President, Spring Consulting Group

Michelle C. Jackson, MSW, CLMS Asst. Vice President Sales Acceleration, Unum

9:30-9:45 AM

10:45-11:45 AM

COFFEE & CONVERSATION BREAK

A JOURNEY FROM DISABILITY TO CAPABILITY: RETURNING TO WORK AND REMOVING THE DISABILITY STIGMA

9:45-10:45 AM

PAID PARENTAL LEAVE: A FOCUS ON FATHERHOOD As the national conversation around parental leave continues to grow, attitudes toward fathers taking paternity leave are shifting. Once considered taboo, there is growing acceptance — and even promotion — in many industries of the practice of men and other “secondary caregivers” taking leave after a new child joins the family. However, stigma still exists in many organizations, reflecting the ongoing action needed to continue the evolution of paid parental leave programs. Join the conversation as we explore paternity leave with several employers of varying sizes and industries. We will highlight the various plans these employers have implemented in their organizations, and their reasons for adoption. From the startling diversity and inclusion statistics for dads taking leave, to humorous experiences with implementing paid leave programs, our employer panel will share a wealth of experience. PANELISTS

Marianna Hegyi People Team Manager, Limeade

PANELISTS

Janet Labreck, MEd Former Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services Administration, Owner, Janet L. Labreck Consulting, LLC

David Healy Senior Vice President, Group Benefits, Sun Life Financial *Sponsored session

11:45 AM-12:00 PM

CLOSING REMARKS AND GRAND PRIZE DRAWING Grand Prize sponsored by

Kimberly Hullander, SPHR, SHRM-SCP HR Manager, Duke Energy Corporation

Dan Larsen

MODERATOR

VP and Associate General Counsel, TOMS Shoes

Terri Rhodes, CCMP, CLMS, CPDM, MBA

Tyler Amell, PhD, MSc, BSc

Chief Executive Officer, DMEC

Janet Labreck was appointed by Barack Obama in 2013 as Commissioner of the RSA, an organization within the U.S. Department of Education. Janet became completely blind as a child and worked hard to overcome adversity and achieve great success as a disability advocate and D.C. insider, who has played an instrumental role in disability policy. Janet will share her inspirational story, followed by a fireside chat with David Healy of Sun Life Financial who will talk about what it means for someone when they go on disability, and how providers and employers can work together to achieve better return-to-work outcomes and address the stigma of disability.

Chief Relationship Officer, CoreHealth Technologies MODERATOR

Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP Continuing Education Manager, DMEC

FINAL DAY REMINDERS!

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• C heck out is at 12:00 pm. You may request a late check out at hotel registration, or check your luggage with Guest Services prior to the start of the morning sessions. You are also welcome to bring your luggage with you to store in the back of the meeting room. • C EU forms (including tracking forms) will be signed at DMEC registration until 12:30 pm. • Don’t forget! Complete your session and post-conference evaluation forms on the DMEC mobile app or through our online evaluation link.

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AbsenceSoft

BOOTH 311

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ALEX by Jellyvision

www.jellyvision.com Jellyvision, maker of interactive communications software ALEX, helps more than 1,200 companies with over 18 million employees. Using simple explanations, behavioral science, and a splash of humor, ALEX talks people through complicated life decisions, like choosing an insurance plan, saving for retirement, or navigating a leave of absence. BOOTH 105

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Allsup

www.allsup.com Allsup is the premier provider of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) advocacy services for individuals with disabilities. Founded in 1984 as the first nationwide advocacy firm, Allsup now employs over 500 professionals and is proud to have successfully secured over 300,000 SSDI awards for our deserving customers. BOOTH 508

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Anthem Life

www.anthem.com Anthem Life Insurance Company, part of the nation’s second largest health insurance company, Anthem Inc., has the financial stability and products to help keep your employees healthy and productive. Visit our booth to learn how we provide group life, disability, integrated health & absence management solutions! BOOTH 202

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ATI Worksite Solutions

www.atiworksitesolutions.com ATI Worksite Solutions offers a wide array of onsite occupational services, offering a comprehensive approach to injury prevention and early intervention. Our focus is being remarkably efficient at preventing injuries, but you can also feel confident that if an injury does occur, we will expedite recovery and return to work. BOOTH 405

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Beacon Health Options

www.beaconhealthoptions.com Beacon is a health improvement company serving 40M individuals. We specialize in employee assistance, behavioral health, substance abuse disorder, and wellness services for all industries globally. We ensure full-spectrum, high-quality care for a wide range of partners: employers; health plans; and federal, state, and local governments. BOOTH 201/203

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Broadspire Services Inc

www.choosebroadspire.com/global Broadspire is Crawford’s Third-Party Administrator (TPA) specializing in servicing the claims needs of corporations, brokers and insurers who wish to take greater control over the claims process, indemnity spend, data capture, and to access meaningful management information. DMEC National Platinum Sponsor BOOTH 408

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CareWorks Absence Management

www.careworksabsence.com CareWorks Absence Management is a national leader in FMLA administration and total absence management. Our outcome-focused programs are customized to ensure benefits are administered according to our customers’ values, philosophies and policies. Our approach delivers consistent claims handling, effective cost control and regulatory compliance. BOOTH 305

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Cigna

www.cigna.com Cigna is a global health services company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. We offer an integrated suite of medical and dental benefits, as well as group life, accident and disability insurance, serving 85 million customer relationships throughout the United States and around the world. DMEC National Platinum Sponsor

BOOTH 413

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ClaimVantage

www.claimvantage.com ClaimVantage is a leading international provider of Life, Health and Absence claim management software solutions to insurance carriers, TPAs, and employers. DMEC National Gold Sponsor BOOTH 114

Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC) www.ccmcertification.org CCMC® is the largest nationally accredited organization that certifies more than 45,000 professional case managers and over 2,600 disability management specialists. The Commission is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that oversees the process of both case manager certification with its CCM® credential and the disability management specialist certification with its CDMS® credential. BOOTH 212

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DMEC

www.dmec.org The Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) is the only association dedicated to providing focused education, knowledge, and networking for absence and disability professionals. Stop by the DMEC booth for information on membership, certification programs, educational opportunities, resources and tools, and much more. BOOTH 411

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Empire SUITE

www.empiresuite.com WSG Systems Corp develops time off management and resource scheduling applications for firms needing absence and return to work management solutions. Our Empire TIME OFF application allows users to manage time off using web, email and mobile platforms and our seamlessly integrated Empire RESOURCE solution ensures everyone is kept informed. BOOTH 505

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ESIS Inc

www.esis.com With 65 years of experience, ESIS provides one of the industry’s broadest selections of risk management solutions. ESIS’ customized approach to program design and integration helps clients achieve better results. Our single-source absence solutions streamline processes, create efficiencies, mitigate costs, and promote a productive work environment. BOOTH 309

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FINEOS Corporation

www.FINEOS.com FINEOS is a global software company providing modern customer-centric core software to the life, accident and health industry. We help our customers move on from outdated legacy administration systems to our modern customer-centric core product-suite, FINEOS AdminSuite for Billing, Claims, Absence and Policy Administration. DMEC National Gold Sponsor BOOTH 401/403

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Genex Services

www.genexservices.com Genex’s Disability and Absence Management Services provide high-quality, customizable services driven by specialized disability management expertise to help payers reduce claims costs, improve processing efficiency and comply with regulatory requirements. DMEC National Gold Sponsor BOOTH 511

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Human Resource Executive Magazine

www.HRExecutive.com Human Resource Executive® was established in 1987 and continues today as the premier publication focused on strategic issues in HR. Written for vice presidents and directors of human resources. HRExecutive.com is an interactive resource designed specifically for directors and vice presidents of HR to deliver users breaking news, unique insights and extensive reference materials. BOOTH 502

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Insurance Educational Association (IEA)

www.ieatraining.com Insurance Educational Association (IEA) is a leading nonprofit provider of professional education. We create and provide the highest quality professional development and continuing education programs in disability and risk management. IEA serves more than 4,000 students annually with a wide variety of live classroom and webinar courses.

BOOTH 208

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Jackson Lewis PC

www.jacksonlewis.com Jackson Lewis P.C. is a law firm with more than 850 attorneys in major cities nationwide. Having built its reputation on providing premier workplace law representation to management, the firm has grown to include leading practices in the areas of government relations, healthcare and sports law. BOOTH 210

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Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

www.AskJAN.org The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a free national service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, US Department of Labor, that offers job accommodation consultation and ADA compliance assistance. BOOTH 410

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LeaveLogic Inc

www.leavelogic.com LeaveLogic revolutionizes how employees and companies manage the family leave process. Our solutions empower employees to confidentially navigate and plan the best leave scenario for their unique situation, while saving companies time, money and effort. BOOTH 308/310

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BOOTH 312

www.absencesoft.com AbsenceSoft has one simple goal-to create best in-class software for companies to manage ADA Accommodations, FMLA, Disability and other leaves of absence, easily, efficiently, compliantly and cost effectively. Our proprietary software, AbsenceTracker, provides organizations with the tools to improve productivity, increase compliance and reduce costs. DMEC National Platinum Sponsor

Lincoln Financial Group

www.lincolnfinancial.com Lincoln Financial Group provides advice and solutions that help empower Americans to take charge of their financial lives with confidence and optimism. Lincoln Financial is a leader in the group insurance industry and offers term life, disability, absence management, dental, accident, critical illness, and vision insurance. Learn more at: www. LincolnFinancial.com. DMEC National Diamond Sponsor BOOTH 503

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Medata Inc

www.medata.com Medata is the premier provider of cost containment and document management software and service solutions in the workers’ compensation and auto liability industries. Our proprietary bill review software serves as the central hub to your program, while the document management solution allows you to process and organize all claim-related documents. BOOTH 108

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Medical Consultants Network

www.mcn.com For 33 years MCN has brought measurable quality to the Independent Medical Exam and Review process. As the largest fully-integrated national URAC-accredited Independent Review Organization, MCN leverages a provider network of 24,000 options nationwide to provide a full range of IMEs, Peer Reviews, and internal and external review services. BOOTH 300/302

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MetLife

www.metlife.com MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates (“MetLife”), is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. MetLife has operations in more than 40 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com. DMEC National Diamond Sponsor BOOTH 402/404

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Morneau Shepell

www.us.morneaushepell.com Morneau Shepell is a North American company with global reach offering an integrative approach to absence and leave management, health, benefits, retirement, and employee assistance needs. BOOTH 500

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ODG by MCG Health

www.mcg.com/odg ODG provides unbiased, evidence-based guidelines and claims data analytics that unite payors, providers and employers in the effort to confidently and effectively return employees to health.

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BOOTH 205

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Pacific Resources

www.pacresbenefits.com Pacific Resources provides independent, customer-focused advice and specialized expertise to help large employers identify strategic benefit solutions. Our evidence-based approach allows us to significantly reduce the overall costs of our clients’ benefit programs. In 2014, Pacific Resources became part of the Brown & Brown family of insurance brokerage. DMEC National Gold Sponsor BOOTH 509

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Pfizer Inc

www.pfizer.com At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety, and value in the discovery, development, and manufacture of health care products. BOOTH 409

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Presagia

www.presagia.com Presagia, leader in cloud-based absence management solutions, enables organizations to be more efficient, control lost time and risk, and strengthen compliance. Covering 450+ federal, state and municipal leave and accommodation laws across the U.S., employers rely on Presagia to simplify their absence management processes. BOOTH 513

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PsyBar LLC

www.psybar.com PsyBar is one of the largest specialty providers of behavioral health assessment services, including IMEs & file reviews for employers and insurers. Services include Fitness For Duty, Disability, Workers’ Compensation Evaluations, & Risk Assessments. You can rely on our network of doctors in 1800 locations to provide clinically sound, credible assessments. BOOTH 100

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Qcera Inc

www.qcera.com Qcera specializes in offering leave management software and services for FMLA/State regulations and company leave policies. Qcera is positioned as the boutique provider of best-in-class software and service for FMLA administration using LeaveSource, a feature-rich decision support tool for the complex issues surrounding leave of absence management. BOOTH 101/103

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R3 Continuum

www.r3continuum.com R3 Continuum (R3) is an organization that serves insurance carriers, third party administrators, employers, and employee assistance programs to help them navigate the complexities of behavioral health absence management. A recognized leader in providing comprehensive solutions for complex disability and workers’ compensation claims and disruptive workplace situations, R3’s services are focused on accelerating employee recovery and return to work outcomes. BOOTH 304

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ReedGroup

www.reedgroup.com ReedGroup is the trusted provider of clinical content, leading edge software, absence management outsourcing services and data analytics to employers, insurers and healthcare organizations. We serve our 3000 clients across multiple sites in our global footprint, many Fortune 100 companies among them. We are the largest exclusive provider of absence management. DMEC National Platinum Sponsor BOOTH 109/111

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Reliance Standard / Matrix

www.reliancestandard.com Reliance Standard is a leading insurance carrier specializing in innovative and flexible employee benefits solutions including disability income and group term life insurance, a suite of voluntary (employee paid) coverage options and fully integrated absence management. Matrix Absence Management delivers high-quality service and industry-leading technology to our clients. Our services have been designed to improve both bottom-line financial results and employee relations through superior service and expertise in leave and disability management. Together, Reliance Standard and Matrix are members of The Tokio Marine Group, one of the world’s largest and most respected insurance groups. DMEC National Gold Sponsor

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BOOTH 510

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SaaSafras LLC

www.saasafras.com A global developer of cloud based business applications with two well-known SaaS products in market: Boomerang for maximizing the efficiency and cost savings potential of RTW programs, and Javelin for easily managing nonoccupational leave of absence (LOA) claims. BOOTH 301/303

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Sedgwick

www.sedgwick.com Sedgwick is a leading global provider of technologyenabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions. Our 21,000 colleagues, located in 65 countries, offer services designed to keep pace with the evolving needs of our clients and consumers. We strive to remove complexity from the process, making it easy and effective for everyone involved. DMEC National Diamond Sponsor BOOTH 209

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Shaw HR Consulting

www.shawhrconsulting.com Shaw HR Consulting works with organizations to develop, implement and manage disability compliance programs to comply with the Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As the leader in the industry, Shaw HR Consulting help employers and employees manage the interconnected roles of human resources, workers’ compensation and disability compliance. BOOTH 113

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Social Security Law Group

www.sslg.com The Social Security Law Group has been a leading provider of SSDI representation and overpayment recovery services to the LTD industry since 1994. Our attorneys are all employees and practice Social Security law exclusively. Coupled with our unrivaled claims management software, we consistently deliver industry-leading results and unsurpassed customer service. BOOTH 400

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Spring Consulting Group

www.springgroup.com Spring Consulting Group, LLC, An Alera Group Company, is an employee benefits, risk management and actuarial consulting firm. Spring has continuously been recognized for helping clients effectively navigate the complicated waters of employer health plans, employee disability, captive insurance, compliance and much more. Spring is based in Boston, but operates globally. DMEC National Platinum Sponsor BOOTH 200

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Sun Life Financial

www.sunlife.com/us Sun Life is your best partner for employee benefits, providing a broad range of solutions including group life, disability, absence management, dental and vision, voluntary and medical stop-loss insurance. Our purpose is to help our clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. DMEC National Platinum Sponsor BOOTH 204

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America www.guardianlife.com The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® offers workplace benefits life, disability, dental and vision insurance for businesses. Our focus is always on our customers and building a strong financial foundation. Our goal is to be a trusted mutual partner, delivering financial security how, when, and where our clients prefer. BOOTH 102/104

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The Hartford

www.thehartford.com/groupbenefits Founded in 1810, The Hartford is a leader in absence management, disability, life, workers’ compensation and voluntary benefits and is widely recognized for service excellence, trust and integrity. Employers not only need to provide paycheck protection to employees, but need a trusted partner to assist in overcoming challenges to return to work and providing creative solutions for reducing risk and improving productivity. Ethisphere Institute has named The Hartford one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 10th time. DMEC National Platinum Sponsor

BOOTH 501

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The Partners Group

www.thepartnersgroup.com As the largest independent employment benefits agency in the Northwest, we know your employees are your most valuable asset. For over 35 years, The Partners Group has been partnering with employers to design, implement and measure integrated disability and absence management strategies that focus on workforce health and productivity. DMEC National Platinum Sponsor BOOTH 313

The Prudential Insurance Company of America www.prudential.com Provider of group benefits and services since 1916, Prudential Group Insurance delivers benefit experiences that help create and protect financial wellness against the financial challenges of unavoidable risks. DMEC National Platinum Sponsor BOOTH 110/112

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The Standard

www.standard.com At The Standard, our highest priority is helping people achieve financial well-being and peace of mind. Our group insurance products, individual disability insurance and Absence Management Services are backed by financial strength and experienced professionals. With tools designed to help reduce your workload and a proactive approach to help you maintain a more productive and efficient workplace, we’re here to partner with you for the long term. Learn more by visiting us at the conference or online at workplacepossibilities.com. DMEC National Platinum Sponsor BOOTH 504

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Trion, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC

www.trion.com Trion, a leader in the employee benefits marketplace, develops innovative solutions that simplify benefits and risk management for local, regional, and Fortune 1000 companies. Our services focus on employee health and welfare benefits plans, large-employer disability and life programs, benefits administration, communications, and voluntary benefits. BOOTH 412

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Unum

www.unum.com/fmla At Unum, our belief that when employees have productive time off – time devoted to healing, caring and loving – they have more productive time “on the clock”. Our leave management and financial protection benefits provide individuals and their families with that support and security at the critical time in their life. DMEC National Platinum Sponsor BOOTH 512

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WorkPartners

www.workpartners.com WorkPartners is an all-encompassing human capital solutions provider, transforming the well-being of our client’s workforce with advanced analytic capabilities and comprehensive planning tools. Our four strategic lines of business provide an integrated approach to maximize employee engagement, lower healthcare costs, and improve overall employee health. BOOTH 211

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WorkWell Prevention & Care

www.workwell.com Helping employers reduce the cost and risk of soft tissue injuries through services conducted by licensed physical & occupational therapists. Services include Pre-Hire Screens, On-Site Prevention, Functional Job Descriptions and Return to Work services. BOOTH 213

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Zurich

www.zurichna.com Zurich Life and Absence Management solutions provides end-to-end offering helps make it easier to manage your employees’ absences and leaves, while also helping you align with increasing federal and state leave laws.

AFFILIATE PARTNER