Absence Management Perspectives

Crossing Boundaries: Why More Employers Are Addressing Sleep Disorders

If the thought of discussing sleep hygiene at work sounds foreign, listen in to this episode to hear why more employers are discussing sleep disorders to ensure team safety and productivity. Gage Koeller, senior research analyst at MDGuidelines, and Matt Thiese, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Utah, share startling statistics on costs as well as ideas for what you can do to improve employee health. Find additional insights and research from our guests in their column Why Should Employers Care About Rising Sleep Disorder Rates? The column was published in DMEC's @Work magazine, and we've unlocked it for listeners. Find the link below. Resources: 1. Why Should Employers Care About Rising Sleep Disorder Rates? [https://dmec.org/resources/work-magazine/why-should-employers-care-about-rising-sleep-disorder-rates/] 2. FMLA/ADA Training for Supervisors & Managers [https://dmec.org/certification-and-training/fmla-ada-training-for-supervisors-and-managers/] 3. Join the DMEC membership community [https://dmec.org/membership/benefits-of-membership/]

What Can Improv Teach You? DMEC Explores the Power of Fun

Joel Zeff, work culture expert, improvisational humorist, and author, gives a sneak peek into his 2026 DMEC Compliance Conference keynote presentation. It focuses on the value of investing in fun at work and how that helps organizations of all sizes and industries become more productive. Listen in for details and a story you won't forget about a magic harmonica, and join us for the 2026 DMEC Compliance Conference April 13-16 in St. Louis, Mo., for four days of educational sessions, networking, and fun that will set your whole team up for success! Register your teams today: https://dmec.org/compliance-conference/registration/ Resources: * 2026 DMEC Compliance Conference [https://dmec.org/conferences-and-webinars/compliance-conference/] * FMLA/ADA Training for Supervisors & Managers [https://dmec.org/certification-and-training/fmla-ada-training-for-supervisors-and-managers/] * DMEC Membership [https://dmec.org/membership/benefits-of-membership/]

Is Upskilling an Employee Perk or an Expectation?

Hear insights on education trends that set employers up for greater success, including a shift toward competency-based analyses that ensure employees have a clear roadmap for growth that aligns with employer expectations and leads to smarter hiring choices for employers, more focused development, and stronger performance management. Get the inside scoop from DMEC Education gurus Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP, Director, Education Programs, and Laura Boll, CLMS, Experiential Learning Manager. Resources: 1. Certification & Training resources [https://dmec.org/certification-and-training/] 2. Certified Leave Management Specialist Certification: Expanded and Redesigned [https://dmec.org/certification-and-training/clms-certification/] 3. Building a Return-to-Work Microcredential Course [https://dmec.org/certification-and-training/microcredential-courses/ada-fmla-and-rtw-courses] 4. Bridging the Upskilling Belief Gap Report [https://skillswave.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/SkillsWave_UpskillingBeliefGapReport.pdf], SkillsWave 5. 2025 DMEC AI Think Tank White Paper: Defining Ethical and Effective Workforce Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Leave and Accommodation Management [https://dmec.org/resources/white-papers/2025-dmec-ai-think-tank-white-paper/] Become a DMEC member today to access high-quality, laser-focused education and training employees need to ensure compliance. Learn more and join our community of workplace accommodation and leave management professionals [https://dmec.org/membership/] today! Mentioned in this episode: Are Leave Management Specialists Asking the Right Questions? Increase Your Professional Value. Become a Certified Leave Management Specialist Today: https://dmec.org/certification-and-training/clms-certification/ DMEC [https://dmec-absence-management-perspectives.captivate.fm/dmec-org]

“House-on-Fire Moments” Employers Are Missing

Parental leave may serve as a signal for how organizations treat employees. Would yours be green, yellow, or red? Listen in to this episode with Allison Whalen, cofounder, CEO, Parentaly, who shares recent data findings and insights into how employers benefit from a strategic plan for parental leave. Resources: * Can Managers Make or Break the Parental Leave Experience for Employees? [https://dmec.org/resources/work-magazine/can-managers-make-or-break-the-parental-leave-experience-for-employees/] * DMEC [www.dmec.org] * Benefits of DMEC Membership [https://dmec.org/membership/benefits-of-membership/] * FMLA/ADA Training for Supervisors and Managers [https://dmec.org/certification-and-training/fmla-ada-training-for-supervisors-and-managers/]training

Transcending Stigma to Embrace Innovative Mental Health Therapies

Ditching the word psychedelic is helping employers embrace therapies that show "groundbreaking results" including faster recovery and more productive employees, explains Sherry Rais, CEO and co-founder of Enthea, in this episode. In addition to health improvements, these therapies can lead to lower healthcare costs and lower disability costs. Hear more about psychedelic-assisted therapies that can be effective with treatment-resistant patients, studies underway in this episode of the DMEC podcast. Resources: * DMEC [https://dmec.org/] * From Counterculture to Clinical Treatment [https://dmec.org/resources/work-magazine/from-counterculture-to-clinical-treatment-the-potential-of-psychedelic-assisted-therapy/] * What Role Should Health Equity Have in Benefit Discussions? [https://dmec.org/resources/work-magazine/what-role-should-health-equity-have-in-benefit-discussions/] * How Can Employers Prepare for Psychedelics? [https://dmec.org/resources/work-magazine/how-can-employers-prepare-for-psychedelics/]