Leave of Absence & Payroll Specialist, US

Job Title:Leave of Absence & Payroll Specialist, US

Summary:Join our dynamic US Pay & Benefits team as a Leave of Absence & Payroll Specialist. This role requires a deep understanding of LOA administration and the ability to serve as a backup for US payroll processing. If you are meticulous, enjoy working in a high-energy environment, and are keen to directly impact employee experience, this position may be perfect for you.
The LOA Benefit Specialist provides consultation and mentoring regarding claims matters to managers and employees, ensuring ADA/FMLA and company policy compliance with regard to employee leaves, job accommodation requests and the return to work process. The LOA Benefit Specialist will have an understanding of federal and state leave of absence policies and laws, in addition to understanding job accommodation and interactive processes. In addition, the ideal candidate is a person that works well collaborating within a matrixed team environment and will display outstanding communication and organizational skills, attention to detail, process-management thinking, an ability to prioritize in a rapidly changing environment, and a customer service focus. Key to the candidate’s success is the ability to design a properly controlled process, and then implement and maintain it.

Responsibilities Include:

Leave Administration:

• Oversee over 100 active Leave of Absence (LOA) cases for US employees, covering many situations, including FMLA (continuous and intermittent), PFL, short-term and long-term disability, workers’ compensation, and other unpaid leaves. Ensure these cases comply with all relevant policies, procedures, and state & federal laws.

• Serve as the primary contact for all LOA inquiries and support

• Work closely with People Operations to identify and address employees' needs for leave or adjusted work schedules, ensuring employees understand their rights, responsibilities, and the documentation required for leave.

• Assist People Operations Leaders in managing requests for accommodations under the ADA or similar needs, overseeing the process from start to finish.

• Manage and maintain all documentation for LOAs, ensuring accurate processing, completion, and retention in line with company policies and legal requirements.

• Liaise with external vendors to guarantee seamless communication and service for employees and their leaders.

• Continuously evaluate and improve LOA processes for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

• Engage in reviews with departmental heads, management, or vendors regarding LOA, Workers’ Compensation, and ADA matters as needed.

• Administer and monitor workers' compensation claims, facilitating communication between carriers, legal advisors, case managers, and employees.

• Stay current with legislative changes affecting LOAs, providing recommendations for compliance.

Payroll Activities:

• Act as a backup for the US Payroll Analyst.

• Manage instances of overpayment during employee leaves.

• Manage Intermittent leaves through the Kronos Time & Attendance system.

• Work with the US Payroll Analyst to complete any special pay programs.

Qualifications:

The following are required for the role

• Associate degree in a relevant field.

• Experience: 1-3 years in HR, payroll, or benefits administration, focusing on leave management.

• Skills in payroll and time/attendance systems are a must.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality.

• Self-starter, able to work autonomously and meet strict deadlines within a structured team framework.

• Capable of managing complex projects and multitasking efficiently.

• Outstanding organizational, communicative, and time-management abilities.

• Exceptional focus on detail and the skill to prioritize tasks in an evolving environment.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

The following are preferred for this role

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.

• Strong project management experience.

• Experience with a union workforce.

• Solid grasp of Microsoft Office/Excel and familiarity with Kronos (time reporting), Workday (HRIS/payroll), and Alight (benefits eligibility & enrollment) systems.

• Knowledgeable in workers’ compensation reserving practices.

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What We Offer:Base Pay Range: $59,100 - $86,680

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