The Leave Administrator will act as a subject matter expert on all state and national leave programs. This role will be the main point of contact to oversee and administer leave requests and accommodations requiring specialized attention, particularly those arising under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), state and local leave laws, and short-term or long-term disability plans. Operating with the highest integrity and confidentiality, this individual is a trusted resource for HR and employees and a confident subject-matter expert in human resources leave administration.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Implement and oversee a comprehensive compliance program that adheres to all relevant state and federal laws regarding leaves of absence, including but not limited to FMLA, ADA, and various state law leaves.
- Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of the comprehensive process for employee leaves and accommodations, prioritizing seamless employee experiences.
- Communicate with employees regarding their needs for leave and/or modified work schedules. Ensures that employees know their responsibilities and any documentation and notice required to qualify for and take leave.
- Maintains reasonable communication with HR partners and employees on leave to facilitate a smooth and timely return to work. Also, relay communication between employees and their managers during leave within reason for scheduling purposes.
- Acts as a liaison between the Leave Management provider and the employee from the employee’s initial notice of the need for leave to the return to work. This includes knowledge of gathering and completing all required paperwork, determining leave eligibility, designating leave as FMLA-qualifying, and accounting for intermittent and reduced scheduled leave use.
- Advises managers and employees on the interaction of leave laws with paid time off, short-term and long-term disability benefits.
- Oversees the return-to-work process for employees returning from extended FMLA, paid parental leave, or other leave(s).
- Partners with Human Resource Professionals and the employee to facilitate other leave requests, which may include accommodation requests under the ADA.
- Drafts and/or recommends revisions to company leave policies to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
- Maintains complete and accurate records of leave and accommodation requests by specified legal requirements and documentation of best practices.
- Preserves confidentiality of employee medical documentation and files.
- Maintains knowledge of all applicable leave and accommodation laws, including the FMLA, ADA, and state and local laws.
- Direct the development and delivery of educational resources to employees, HR, and management about leave of absence protocols by promoting a culture of awareness and understanding.
- Conduct regular audits of leave cases to ensure compliance and accuracy.
- Develop and maintain reports and metrics related to leave of absence.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications, Skills, and Attributes
- Extensive knowledge of the leave requirements and other legal protections afforded by the FMLA, ADA, and other applicable laws.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Proficient in HRIS systems (UKG-Ready) Preferred
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or similar software.
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field, or equivalent work experience.
- Minimum two years of experience administering leave of absences, disability benefits, and accommodations in a multi-state environment.
- SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP preferred.
