HR Generalist - Leave of Absence (LOA) Specialist

UHS•Temecula, CA

25d

About The Position

Southwest Healthcare is seeking a Full-Time HR Generalist - Leave of Absence (LOA) Specialist. This position will collaborate with staff across the SoCal region and serves as the primary point of contact for employees and managers regarding all aspects of leave administration. This role is responsible for the end-to-end processing of leave requests, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations (such as FMLA and CFRA) and company policies. The LOA Specialist is the "hands-on" coordinator ensuring day-to-day accuracy, timely communication, and seamless coordination for all active leaves. Duties include but not limited to:

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
Minimum of Two (2) years of professional HR experience, dedicated in leave administration.
Current CA Drivers License required
Demonstrates knowledge and ensures compliance with The Joint Commission and Title 22 standards and guidelines.
Demonstrates compliance with healthcare policies and procedures at all times.
Ability to set priorities and appropriately organize workload and complete assignments in a timely manner.
Demonstrates ability to relate to clinical personnel and medical staff, as well as ability to interact well with the public.
Must have knowledge of PC and applications.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and advanced experience with HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday, UKG, or Lawson).
Must maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
Demonstrate a high level of discretion and professionalism when handling confidential and sentisitve employment information.

Nice To Haves

Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or SHRM-CP certification preferred.
Completion of specialized leave management training (such as CLMS - Certified Leave Management Specialist) is a significant plus.

Responsibilities

Administator the end-to-end processing and monitoring of all leave of absence requests, including medical (FMLA/CFRA), personal, military (USERRA), and parental leaves.
Manage the ADA Interactive Process by engaging with employees to identify potential workplace accommodations; analyze medical restrictions against essential job functions and document all "good faith" efforts to accommodate.
Act as the liaison between the employee, department managers for Workers’ Compensation claims; ensure timely filing of DWC-1 forms and track "lost time" versus "restricted duty" status.
Serve as a subject matter expert to guide employees through the application process, explaining eligibility for state-specific benefits (e.g., CA SDI/PFL) and company-sponsored Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (STD/LTD).
Partner with Payroll to ensure accurate benefit integration (e.g., topping off SDI with sick/vacation time) and maintain real-time employee status accuracy within the designated timekeeping system.
Coordinate with the 3rd part vendor, the transition back to work by coordinating fitness-for-duty certifications and managing temporary or permanent work restrictions through collaborative "stay-at-work" or "light duty" programs.
Respond to government disability and leave reuqests, including inquiries and documentation requestrs from the Employment Development Department (EDD).
May travel to other facilities within the SoCal region as needed.
Perform other related duties as assigned by management.