Leave of Absence (LOA) Specialist

at  GA Partners

Overview:
For over 25 years, G&A Partners has been helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses, take better care of their employees, and enjoy a higher quality of life by providing proven HR solutions and technology. A growing, Houston-based professional services firm, G&A Partners is currently seeking a Leave of Absence (LOA) Specialist to join its team at the G&A satellite office located in Provo, UT.
A competitive compensation and benefits package is available to include health benefits and 401(k), recognition awards and bonuses and the opportunity to work for a highly respected and award-winning company.

SUMMARY

This position administers the coordination and execution of leaves of absence administration in support of the HR Services department. This includes all aspects of supporting clients and worksite employees with federal, state, personal, and employer-provided leaves of absence.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree required. College and experience will be considered for commensurate education.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• At least 5 years of experience in HR
• Experience with FMLA required; leave experience in New York and other Northeast states required.
• Experience with ADA administration preferred.
• Experience or ability to have direct and/or conversations about sensitive topics, including the ability to deny requests.
• Strong written and verbal skills.
• Must be process oriented, able to drive to completion.
• Must be able to navigate and problem solve situations that may not easily fit in a regimented process. Critical thinking through complex problems is required.
• Strong customer service and compliance perspectives needed.
• Ability to juggle multiple short- and long-term deadlines
• Ability to work efficiently to meet volume and pace expectations.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

• HRIS experience
• Proficiency in MS Suite.

OTHER DUTIES:

• Completes state verifications or letters as necessary to confirm worksite employee’s leave of absence.
• Follows up to ensure return of completed documentation, communicate deadlines, extensions, consequences of failure to provide required documentation within all required timelines.
• Proactively manages leaves by reaching out to employees prior to their scheduled return from leave to help mitigate unapproved leave or abuse of time off. Communicates with client to remind them to inform G&A if the employee returns prior to expected return, as well as the need for accommodations or extensions they are making, including changing duration of leave.
• Acts as an escalation point to LOA Administrators.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

• Analyzes LOA requests for federal and state leave protected eligibility.
• Using independent discretion and decision making, evaluates leave requests to determine eligibility for all leave types and if multiple leaves can run concurrently or consecutively. Advises employers of options regarding leave designation and coordination. Assists them in implementing best practices, offering compliant leave options while considering, to the extent allowed under the law, their business needs.
• Approves or denies and communicates leave designations with worksite employees and client contacts proactively in writing, including multiple leave protections and how these will be applied in their specific situation.
• Provides necessary paperwork and documentation as required by applicable law (federal, state, and/or local) and G&A policy and client policy or practice. Works to avoid requesting duplicate or additional documentation being required of employee or healthcare provider by reviewing all documents and only requesting what is necessary.
• Advises employees and clients regarding various state wage replacement programs. Directs employees to resources to apply for as appropriate. Coordinates with other Benefits to facilitate ancillary offerings such as short-term and long-term insurance programs.
• Using independent discretion and decision-making skills, reviews paperwork from healthcare providers, employees, and client management to determine approval or designation of leave. Provides timely communication to all parties regarding appropriate designation
• Administers leave of absences in all appropriate systems (Prism, LOA admin) and informs other departments or G&A employees who are assigned to the client team about worksite employee’s leave status. Coordinates with Payroll, Benefits, and Risk departments for any intersecting activities relating to pay, benefits, and/or workers compensation.
• Advises clients in administering their paid or unpaid leave programs (personal, parental, maternity bereavement, etc.).
• Tracks time spent on client-facing tasks in company’s database.
• Documents work concurrently on LOA’s in a manner that would allow others to pick up the process seamlessly.
• Advises and educates clients on LOA practices and requirements. Obtain approval from client before denying any leave request. Be prepared to offer options and general practices to resolve unique requests.
• Escalates ADA, local (city/county), public health emergency or complicated leaves to Advisor