Meeting/Event Information

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Delaware's new Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program launches in January 2026, marking a significant milestone for employers and employees across the state. Join us for an essential briefing as we welcome Christopher Counihan, Director of the Division of Paid Leave at the Delaware Department of Labor, for an in-depth look at what HR professionals need to know.

This interactive session will provide a comprehensive overview of Delaware's Paid Family and Medical Leave program, including eligibility requirements, benefit structures, employer obligations, and key implementation timelines. Christopher will walk attendees through the employer portal, and all the things an employer needs to know, ensuring your organization is ready for the January launch.

Whether you're finalizing your internal policies, preparing employee communications, or simply want to understand how this program will impact your workplace, this session will equip you with practical knowledge and actionable insights. Ample time will be reserved for Q&A, allowing you to get answers to your specific questions directly from the program's director.

Ideal for HR professionals, benefits administrators, payroll specialists, and business leaders seeking to ensure compliance and support their workforce through this new benefit.

Earn 1 SHRM/HRCI credit for attending. Light breakfast, coffee, and tea will be provided.

Speaker: 

Christopher Counihan 
Director, Division of Paid Leave Delaware Department of Labor

Christopher Counihan, Ph.D. has had convoluted career path that has taken him from public service to international insurance to academia and entrepreneurialism, then back into the public sector.  After a stint as a Congressional Aide for a U.S. Representative in Philadelphia, he worked for a decade doing group employee benefits for expatriate workers, first as an underwriter, then rising to be the Operations Managers responsible for launching Allianz’s expatriate coverage in Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States.  After 9/11, he left insurance to complete his dissertation on Highly Skilled Migration and taught at the University of Delaware, St. Joseph’s University, and elsewhere for fifteen years.  During that time, he ran (twice) for Delaware State Senate, coming in a strong second, received a patent on a method of data visualization and created a stock index simulation model and start-up, BullMarketFinder.com, based upon it, and served as Managing Partner for a local Venture Capital firm, InfoVest.  Prior to the pandemic, he became the Legislative Aide to New Castle County Councilwoman Dee Durham, serving constituents and drafting Ordinances on EV-Ready Homes, Solar-Ready Rooftops, ESC Investing, Redevelopment Incentives, and the like.  A few years ago, he brought this wide-ranging experience to the State of Delaware where he now serves as Director of the Division of Paid Leave at the Delaware Department of Labor, where he is responsible for implementing Delaware's Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program—the largest expansion of the state's social safety net in modern history.

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