Navigating Paid Leave and Health Care Benefits: Solutions for Complex HR Challenges

Rue Dooley, SHRM-SCP, is HR Knowledge Center Advisor at SHRM. With over 30 years of HR experience, Dooley has worked in the public sector, private sector, government contracting, and non-profits. Originally starting in accounting, he transitioned to HR in the 1990s and has spent the last 24 years as an HR Knowledge Advisor with SHRM, providing expert guidance on a wide range of workplace issues. As a recognized thought leader in HR compliance and best practices, he has helped countless professionals navigate complex topics like FMLA, benefits, and leave policies.

Catharine Mirabile, SHRM-SCP serves as the Senior Director of Membership Field Affiliate Community at SHRM, where she leads a national team dedicated to strengthening partnerships with SHRM’s state councils and professional chapters. With a strategic focus on empowering SHRM’s volunteer leader network, Mirabile works across internal teams to amplify SHRM’s impact and deliver value to HR professionals at every career stage. Prior to joining SHRM, Mirabile served as Chief Human Resources Officer and President of the HR Consulting Division at CGI Business Solutions. There, she oversaw a broad range of HR functions—including compliance, benefits administration, and consulting services—for a diverse portfolio of clients across industries such as banking, manufacturing, and technology. She has over 30 years of HR leadership experience and has long been an active SHRM volunteer.

James Reid is a Partner at Honigman. He is a labor and employment attorney who counsels business owners, entrepreneurs, C-suite executives, in-house counsel, and human resources directors to make strategic business decisions, from hiring to firing, while complying with the ever changing and overlapping laws, including the ADEA, FLSA, FMLA, NLRA, and Title VII. He brings a business focused and proactive approach to legal matters to help employers make strategic business decisions to minimize the potential for litigation and business disruption. His deep understanding of his clients' businesses enables him to deliver clear and concise counsel to meet each client's specific needs. If litigation is involved, he enforces restrictive covenants and defends employers against charges filed with the EEOC, state, and federal agencies. Reid regularly conducts audits and investigations into employers' wage and hour practices and claims of discrimination and harassment. He provides training and prepares employment documents, including employee handbooks, employment agreements, and separation agreements, to cover all aspects during the life cycle of an employee. Reid is also a sought after keynote and national speaker at conferences and events, including the PayrollOrg, SHRM, Tedx, Community Bankers of Michigan, iSIGMA, HRUnite!, HR Conference Cruise and HR Day.