Leave of Absence Analyst - GSC - US

Sysco•Houston, TX

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Leave of Absence (LOA) Analyst – Regulatory & Appeals Subject Matter Expert (SME) serves as a key subject matter expert within the Leave of Absence Center of Excellence, providing advanced expertise and practical application of federal and state leave and accommodation requirements. This role is responsible for administering fully cycle leave requests for all corporate (GSC) assigned colleagues who are based throughout the U.S. This role will support the team by reviewing complex leave requests and claims, evaluating escalations and appeals, interpreting applicable regulations and company policies, and providing well-reasoned recommendations to ensure consistent, compliant, and equitable leave administration. Our Global Support Center/ Corporate Office is in the Energy Corridor- off I10 and N Eldridge. Address: 1390 Enclave Pkwy, Houston, TX 77077 This is a hybrid position requiring an on-site presence 3 to 4 days per week. Please note that the number of days on-site can increase based on business needs.

Requirements

5+ years of progressive experience in Leave of Absence administration, HR compliance, disability/absence management, employee relations, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated hands-on expertise administering and applying FMLA and ADA/ADAAA requirements in actual employee cases.
Strong working knowledge of federal and state statutory leave requirements and their practical application.
Demonstrated experience reviewing complex leave cases, escalations, appeals, medical documentation, intermittent leave, extensions, and return-to-work situations.
Ability to independently analyze complex facts and documentation and reach well-supported conclusions.
Demonstrated experience interpreting regulations and translating them into practical operational guidance.
Strong understanding of the interaction between FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, statutory leaves, company policies, and other benefit programs.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain complex regulatory concepts to non-technical audiences.
Experience working with HRIS and/or leave management systems.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Supporting a large, complex, multi-state employer.
Working in a centralized LOA Center of Excellence or similar operating model.
Reviewing third-party leave administrator determinations.
Experience with LOA appeals, quality audits, compliance reviews, or regulatory audits.
Experience with Workday
Familiarity with leave management software
Supporting unionized or highly regulated employee populations.
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Labor Relations, or related field, or equivalent experience.
Professional certification such as DMEC, SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR, or related leave/disability certification.

Responsibilities

Review and support all corporate leave requests for eligibility and accurate processing.
Work directly with the colleague and HR as the main POC throughout a leave of absence.
Communicate with leave administration vendor as necessary to ensure smooth processing of internal systems, regulatory updates for system enhancements, accuracy and claim support.
Partner and communicate with HR regarding LOA related claims and payments including coordinating and applying time off for a colleague throughout their leave of absence period.
Collaborate with Payroll to ensure proper coding, time tracking, and compensation is applied for colleagues during leave.
Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, and company-specific policies.
Provide reporting to HR and management as needed.
Serve as a trusted SME on FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, and applicable federal and state statutory leave requirements.
Interpret regulatory requirements and translate them into practical guidance for LOA Analysts, Field HR, and business leaders.
Maintain working knowledge of evolving federal and state leave legislation and regulatory guidance.
Review complex and sensitive LOA cases involving FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, statutory leaves, company leave policies and overlapping leave requirements.
Serve as a primary reviewer for complex LOA escalations, disputed determinations, employee concerns, and appeals.
Develop clear recommendations for resolution and communicate the rationale to appropriate stakeholders.
Partner with Legal, Employee Relations, Field HR, Benefits, and other functions on high-risk or highly sensitive cases.
Identify trends, control gaps, and opportunities to improve case handling.
Assist with internal audits, regulatory inquiries, and documentation requests as needed.
Serve as an escalation resource when analysts encounter unusual, high-risk, or difficult-to-interpret situations.
Support the development of resources as needed.
Partner with Legal, Employee Relations, Field HR, Benefits, Payroll, HRIS, Total Rewards, Occupational Health, Risk Management, and other stakeholders on complex LOA matters.
Support communication and training initiatives to improve understanding and consistent application of LOA requirements.
Provide insights and recommendations to LOA leadership regarding compliance risks, process gaps, and opportunities for improvement.