A Compensation or Benefits Analyst evaluates and works to maintain the pay structure and benefits program at an organization. Analyzes wage and salary data and trends, monitors market conditions; works with benefits vendors, processes benefit claims for employees; monitors government employment regulations. May focus specifically on job classifications and compensation or on benefits programs such as pensions.
Position Summary The Benefits & Leave of Absence Analyst acts as the subject matter expert and end-to-end owner of the organization's leave of absence program. This role is responsible for administering all short-term disability, long-term disability, paid family leave, personal leaves, and medical leaves while ensuring full compliance with FMLA, ADA, corporate policies, and federal, state, and local regulations.
Serve as the primary point of contact for employees, managers, and HR partners throughout the entire leave life cycle (intake, documentation, status updates, return-to-work, and accommodation).
Regulatory Compliance:
Maintain expert knowledge of FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, USERRA, worker's compensation, and state-specific leave laws (e.g., PFL/PFML programs). Ensure strict adherence to statutory timelines, notice requirements, and confidentiality guidelines (HIPAA).
Interactive Process & ADA Accommodations:
Facilitate the ADA interactive process for employees seeking workplace accommodations or leave extensions. Partner with HR Business Partners, Legal, and managers to assess requests, draft documentation, and determine reasonable accommodations.
Vendor & Claims Management:
Partner with third-party administrators (TPAs), disability carriers, and state agencies to process claims, track approvals/denials, and reconcile payroll integration for paid leave programs.
Payroll & Benefits Coordination:
Collaborate with Payroll to ensure accurate pay integration (STD, LTD, state benefits, PTO top-off) and coordinate benefit premium payments for employees on unpaid leave.
Process Improvement & Reporting:
Maintain leave data accuracy within the HRIS. Generate analytics on leave trends, duration, and return-to-work metrics to identify operational improvements and update policies.
Qualifications Experience:
Minimum of 3-5 years of dedicated experience managing end-to-end leaves of absence and ADA interactive processes within an HR or Total Rewards team.
Legal Knowledge:
Deep functional expertise in FMLA, ADA, and multi-state statutory leave mandates.
Systems:
Proficiency with HRIS platforms (e.g., UKG, ADP, Workday) and integrated leave tracking systems.
Skills:
Excellent dispute-resolution and communication skills, with a high degree of empathy and discretion when handling sensitive employee issues. Preferred Qualifications Certified Leave and Absence Management Specialist (CLMS) or Certified Disability Management Specialist (CDMS) credential. Experience managing multi-state leave programs in high-growth or distributed workforce environments. Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
