Episode 46: Vetoed No More – Virginia’s New Paid Leave Landscape

Episode 46: Vetoed No More – Virginia’s New Paid Leave Landscape

In the first episode of 2026, Take It Or Leave It host Josh Seidman is joined by Dillon Clair of the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) to unpack the latest developments shaping the paid leave landscape. Together, they explore how Virginia emerged as a focal point this year, enacting both paid family medical leave and paid sick and safe leave laws after years of legislative momentum and prior vetoes. The conversation dives into key provisions of Virginia’s new laws, including timelines, employer compliance considerations, and evolving definitions of “family member”—a critical issue for multi-state employers. Josh and Dillon also preview other states to watch in 2026, offering practical insights to help employers stay proactive amid an increasingly complex and rapidly shifting regulatory environment. Read the full transcript here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/Take-It-or-Leave-It-Episode-46.pdf

Episode 45: AI Meets Leave Management: An Innovative Approach to Leaves Administration

AI’s growth continues unabated, with AI agents embedding in workplaces and seeking to make life easier across industries. To explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping leaves of absence and disability administration, host Josh Seidman sits down with Angie Brown, Strategic Sales Director at Ushur. Together, they navigate the evolution of technology in this space and discuss how new solutions can become part of the administrative process for employers, carriers, and TPAs. Their conversation dives into Ushur’s two flagship tools, including agentic AI, and how certain organizations are leveraging these tools to navigate different aspects of leaves of absence – collecting sensitive personal data, communications with employees, medical certifications, return to work, etc. – within their workforce or for their customers. They also explore additional practical applications for this type of software, and take a look ahead to what’s on the horizon for AI-driven leave management. Read the full transcript of this episode here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/TIOLI_Episode45.pdf

Episode 44: AI and Absences: Ethics and Boundaries in Leaves and Accommodations

For this forward-looking episode, host Josh Seidman continues the conversation with Bryon Bass, CEO of the Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC), focusing on the ethical and regulatory dimensions of AI in the world of leave management and workplace accommodations. Together, they explore the importance of establishing guardrails to ensure AI technologies are used responsibly, transparently, and with employee well-being at the forefront. Josh and Bryon also discuss the potential risks of unchecked automation, key considerations for employers partnering with third-party vendors, and emerging guidance from federal, state, and localgovernment agencies. The episode offers an inside look at the DMEC’s AI Think Tank, its recent findings, and why continued vigilance and collaboration across the industry are essential as AI adoption accelerates. Read the full transcript of the episode here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/TIOLI_Episode44.pdf

Episode 43: AI and Absences: The Future of Leave Management

In this episode of Take It or Leave It, host Josh Seidman kicks off a two-part series exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and management of leaves of absence and accommodations. He’s joined by Bryon Bass, CEO of the Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC), for a timely and thought-provoking conversation about how AI is already reshaping – and will continue to reshape – the landscape of workplace leaves and accommodations. During this initial discussion, Josh and Bryon unpack the fundamentals – defining what AI really is (and isn’t) in this context and key differences between two interrelated but distinct topics, AI and automation. They then explore how professionals in the field are currently leveraging AI, what challenges remain, and where the technology might take us next. Whether you're an HR professional, leave administrator, or simply curious about how AI is changing the workplace, this episode offers valuable insights and a preview of what’s on the horizon. Read the full transcript of this episode here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/TIOLI_Episode43.pdf

Episode 42: Enhancing Leave and Accommodation Policies for the Realities of Today’s Workforce

In this episode of Take It or Leave It, host Josh Seidman sits down again with Jim Jantz from Marsh McLennan Agency to explore how lawmakers and employers are expanding their leave requirements and offerings to go beyond the status-quo to provide more benefits that meet the needs of today’s workforce. From state and local statutory developments like paid leave laws that cover pregnancy loss, or educational-related absences, to new federal laws like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Josh and Jim break down how evolving regulations are responding to the changing demands of the workforce. The conversation also highlights how related considerations are fueling momentum around special use leaves – including bereavement, prenatal care, and school-related absences - and what this means for employers and employees alike. Beyond the regulatory developments, Josh and Jim also look at how employers are proactively adjusting their own benefit offerings to better support the holistic needs of their employees – through caregiver leave, flexible schedules, floating holidays, and more. They share practical guidance for employers assessing their current leave and accommodation policies through a lens of increasing inclusivity, including where to start and how to identify meaningful gaps. Read the full transcript of this episode here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/TIOLI_Episode42.pdf