Benefits Specialist

Job Summary:

We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Benefits Specialist to oversee leave of absence administration, including FMLA, Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Workers' Compensation (WC) case coordination in partnership with external providers. This role requires a balance of compassion and compliance, ensuring employees receive the support they need while maintaining adherence to company policies and regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate is experienced in stakeholder management, able to collaborate effectively with employees, managers, HR partners, external vendors and legal teams to ensure smooth and compliant leave administration. This individual must have a strong understanding of federal and state leave laws, disability benefits, and workers' compensation processes.

Key Responsibilities:

Leave of Absence Administration:
• Administer and manage Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requests, ensuring compliance with federal, state and company policies.
• Coordinate Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) claims with the company's external disability provider.
• Ensure proper documentation and tracking of all leave requests and determine employee eligibility.
• Act as the primary point of contact for employees on leave, providing guidance and clear expectations regarding their rights, responsibilities and return-to-work procedures.
• Collaborate with HR Business Partners and managers to ensure appropriate leave coverage and minimize business disruption.
• Educate employees and managers on leave policies and best practices for compliance.

Workers' Compensation Coordination:
• Serve as the liaison between employees, managers and the company's workers' compensation provider to ensure timely and effective claim processing.
• Coordinate the documentation and reporting of workplace injuries, ensuring compliance with OSHA and state-specific workers' compensation regulations.
• Work closely with safety teams and HR to identify trends and suggest proactive measures to reduce workplace injuries.
• Support return-to-work programs by coordinating accommodations and working with employees, managers and medical professionals as needed.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management:
• Act as the primary contact for leave and workers' compensation inquiries from employees, managers, HR partners and external vendors.
• Maintain strong relationships with third-party administrators, ensuring timely processing of claims and compliance with contractual obligations.
• Partner with legal counsel, risk management and compliance teams to mitigate risks associated with leave and disability claims.

Compliance & Reporting:
• Ensure compliance with FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, ERISA and state leave laws, as well as company policies.
• Maintain and update leave tracking systems, ensuring accurate record-keeping and documentation.
• Support audits and regulatory reporting requirements.

Qualifications & Skills:
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3-5 years of experience in leave administration, disability benefits and workers' compensation coordination.
• Strong knowledge of FMLA, ADA, STD, LTD, workers' compensation laws and state-specific leave regulations.
• Experience managing relationships with third-party benefits administrators.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills to track multiple cases simultaneously.
• Compassionate yet firm approach, ensuring fairness while maintaining compliance.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with employees at all levels.
• Ability to handle sensitive employee situations with confidentiality and professionalism.
• Proficiency in HRIS and leave management systems (e.g., PeopleSoft, Workday, Dayforce or similar platforms).

Preferred Qualifications:
• Professional certification such as Certified Leave Management Specialist (CLMS), SHRM-CP, SPHR or CEBS (Certified Employee Benefits Specialist) is a plus.
• Experience with accommodation requests under the ADA.
• Background in occupational safety or risk management related to workers' compensation.

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