DMEC Annual Conference

DMEC Annual Conference
Location: Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Nashville, TN
Date: Aug. 3 – 6, 2026

We're proud to sponsor the DMEC 2026 Annual Conference, bringing together more than 700 leave, absence and workplace accommodation professionals and industry leaders to explore innovative strategies for building integrated, compliant absence and disability management programs.

We look forward to seeing you in Nashville!

Visit Our Booth

Visit Booth 428 to connect with our team and learn about our new parental leave resources. Developed in partnership with PERKY and the Center for Parental Leave Leadership, parental leave resources provide tools, guidance and ongoing support for employees and their managers before, during and after leave.

While at our booth, share your thoughts about what it takes to engage and retain working parents, pick up fun giveaways and learn how we can help support your leave management initiatives.

Support Strings for Hope

We’re proud to partner with DMEC as the Corporate Social Responsibility sponsor for Strings for Hope at the 2026 Annual Conference. This Nashville-based social enterprise transforms recycled guitar strings into beautiful, handcrafted jewelry while empowering women through employment, skills training and support as they rebuild their lives.

Throughout the conference, attendees can visit the Strings for Hope booth to meet members of the team, hear firsthand about the organization's impact and support its mission. Whether you're helping sort recycled guitar strings, purchasing custom jewelry or making a donation — every contribution helps.

We hope you'll stop by the expo and join us in supporting this incredible organization.

Attend Our Session

Beyond Compliance: Strengthening Job Protection in Employer Leave Programs

Date: Monday, Aug. 3
Time: 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Central

Speakers:

• Lincoln Dirks, JD, CEBS, National Practice Leader, Absence Management, The Standard
• Samantha Bradshaw, Absence Management Consultant, The Standard

As federal and state leave laws continue to evolve, navigating overlapping requirements across FMLA, ADA and an expanding patchwork of state paid family and medical leave programs has become increasingly complex. For large and multi‑state employers, keeping pace with frequent changes can be challenging — often increasing compliance risk while unintentionally impacting employees’ access to consistent job protection and benefits.

This session explores potential job protection gaps employers may be creating within their leave programs and outlines practical strategies to address them. Through real-world scenarios, speakers will highlight best‑practice considerations for evaluating existing leave policies and improving coordination of federal, state and company‑sponsored benefits.

Participants will leave better equipped to identify where gaps may exist, integrate overlapping leaves beyond minimum compliance requirements and strengthen job protection for employees during extended absences — supporting both regulatory confidence and a more positive, consistent employee experience.

Related Content

• Employer Trends & Resources
• Product Information: Absence Management Services
• Research & Insights: The Price Women Pay for Going on Leave