April 2025 – At this year’s DMEC Compliance Conference, PERKY was proud to partner with the Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) to facilitate a forward-thinking roundtable discussion on the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in disability and absence management.
Held in Columbus, Ohio from April 14–17, the session brought together HR leaders, industry professionals, and compliance experts for a collaborative deep dive into the opportunities and challenges associated with AI adoption in leave management. The event was part of a broader initiative co-led by PERKY and DMEC to explore the responsible and effective use of AI in supporting today’s workforce.
Introducing the AI Think Tank
As part of this effort, PERKY and DMEC launched the AI Think Tank, an interdisciplinary group of experts and stakeholders from across the leave and benefits ecosystem. The goal is to develop a practical tool for employers and providers navigating the fast-changing AI landscape.
The Think Tank’s work focuses on key areas such as transparency, fairness, ethics, bias mitigation, system integration, and data privacy. Findings from the initiative, including insights from surveys, interviews, and government outreach, will be shared during the 2025 DMEC Annual Conference in Washington, DC, with a formal white paper publication to follow.
Insights from the Roundtable
The roundtable session at the Compliance Conference served as a critical touchpoint to validate early findings and spark conversation among attendees. Facilitators guided participants through focused breakout groups, each dedicated to a major challenge identified in recent DMEC survey results:
- System Integration
- Compliance Concerns
- Data Privacy
- Understanding the AI Algorithm
- Building Organizational Buy-In
Survey respondents cited barriers such as limited understanding of AI algorithms, system complexity, and employee resistance as top concerns in implementing AI tools for leave management. Participants were invited to share their own experiences, offering real-world perspectives that will help shape the final AI framework.
Stay tuned for updates from the AI Think Tank and the release of the official white paper later this year.
