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From Compliance to Care: Transforming Disability Support at Work
Episode 1318
Saturday, 8 August, 2026
Cristina Gutierrez, co-founder of Lotus Disability, a membership platform and vetted marketplace built around one core idea: navigating life with a serious health condition shouldn't be a full-time job on top of everything else joins eHealth Radio and the Health News Channel. Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels & guest Cristina Gutierrez discuss the following: Why is disability management so complicated today? Many organizations believe they have a strong disability-inclusion strategy, yet most disabilities remain undisclosed. Why do you think that gap exists, and what can employers do to build enough trust that employees feel comfortable asking for support? You've worked in HR and now lead a company helping employers navigate disability support. What is the biggest misconception employers have about disability management/benefits? How can they shift from a compliance mindset to one focused on employee success? Disability affects far more employees and caregivers than many organizations realize. How can employers better recognize the hidden impact disability has on productivity, retention, and engagement before it turns into burnout or turnover? As benefits packages continue to evolve, where do you think traditional health plans and employee-assistance programs fall short in supporting employees with disabilities and caregivers, and how can employers close those gaps? If you could give every CEO or CHRO one piece of advice about building a workplace where employees with disabilities can truly thrive, what would it be, and why is that investment good for both people and business performance? Cristina Gutierrez is Co-Founder of Lotus Disability, a membership platform and vetted marketplace built around one core idea: navigating life with a serious health condition shouldn't be a full-time job on top of everything else. Cristina and her co-founder, Emily Stanislaus, started Lotus after seeing firsthand how much time, money, and energy gets absorbed by what they call the "disability tax," the constant work of finding the right equipment, the right benefit, or the right person who can actually help. Lotus connects members directly to vetted vendors and resources across the areas that matter most, from adaptive equipment to personal care to legal and financial navigation, so members can spend less time searching and more time living their lives. Cristina brings over a decade of Fortune 500 HR leadership to that mission, having worked at American Express, Kabbage, Marriott International, and McKinsey & Company. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Agnes Scott College and a Master's in Industrial Organizational Psychology from the University of West Florida, a combination that shapes how she approaches Lotus: less about building another platform and more about understanding people well enough to build something that meets them where they are. Outside of work, Cristina is happiest outside and on the move enjoying life with her wife and cofounder, and their two boys. Website: lotusdisability.com People also listened to this: Shedding Light on Lipedema, offering insight into how to recognize it and treatment options
