Job Summary: The Leave of Absence Specialist will be responsible for the end-to-end management of employee leave requests, including Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), California Family Rights Act (CFRA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations, workers' compensation, and other state and federal leave programs. This role requires the ability to handle high volumes of leave cases in a fast-paced environment while maintaining exceptional communication and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws.
Key Responsibilities:
Administer and manage the full leave of absence process for a high volume of employees, ensuring compliance with FMLA, CFRA, ADA, and other state and federal leave laws.
Serve as the primary point of contact for employees and managers regarding LOA policies, procedures, and eligibility.
Collaborate with third-party vendors, managers, HR, payroll, and benefits teams to ensure seamless leave administration and accurate tracking of time off.
Communicate regularly with employees on their leave status, return-to-work timelines, and responsibilities, ensuring understanding of all necessary paperwork and processes.
Monitor, track, and maintain accurate records of all leaves, including notifications, certifications, and employee communications, using the company's HRIS system.
Provide guidance on ADA accommodations and the interactive process, coordinating with managers to facilitate appropriate accommodations.
Coordinate workers' compensation leaves, including integration with other LOA programs, such as FMLA.
Stay updated on changes to state and federal leave laws and ensure company policies and practices remain compliant.
Educate and train managers and employees on leave processes and ensure adherence to company policies and legal requirements.
Generate and maintain reports on LOA cases, leave trends, and compliance metrics for management review.
Proactively identify opportunities for process improvements and operational efficiencies in leave administration.
Qualifications:
3-5 years of experience in leave of absence administration, preferably in a high-volume environment.
Strong knowledge of FMLA, CFRA, ADA, workers' compensation, and other state and federal leave laws.
Experience managing complex leave cases, including ADA accommodations and workers' compensation integration.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive employee matters with empathy and professionalism.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple cases and deadlines.
Proficiency in HRIS systems and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook).
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.