Leave of Absence Specialist (Hybrid) - Somerset, NJ

About the position

This role responds to employee leave of absence pay inquiries with a focus on a positive employee experience, accurate, timely information while ensuring regulatory compliance. These activities include providing customer advisory and consultation services, resolving employee issues related to pay, benefits, and leave status, coordinating with payroll and ongoing maintenance of the leave of absence tracking system. This role informs employees of available state and RWJBH monetary benefits. Collaboration and establishment of positive relationships with Senior Leave Specialists, other members of the HR team, managers, payroll and benefits teams, and outside vendors and is critical to ensuring positive internal customer experiences. Also, a drive to deliver superior customer service, strong teamwork, and personal accountability to meet or exceed, SLAs, and individual goals and performance metrics is critical to success.

Responsibilities

• Manages leave pay and benefit inquiries from initiation through resolution by understanding and communicating with employees about leave policy, procedures, documentation requirements, coordination with payroll, state and RWJBH monetary benefits and federal and state leave laws.
• Uses knowledge of policies and leave laws to assess and make appropriate decisions to resolve leave cases and inquiries related to pay, benefits, and leave status.
• Supports the administration of the ADA leave process including, but not limited reviewing and sending requests to site HR.
• Ability to develop a strong rapport with the customer by listening and questioning in a non-judgmental manner to create an open, safe space for the employee to discuss their leave, then respond in a way that is easiest for the employee to understand.
• Leverages policies, procedures, and technology to meet/exceed SLAs, personal goals and deliver a positive customer experience.
• Collaborates and partners with external vendors, payroll, benefits, and other members of HR teams to ensure positive customer experience and efficient and effective execution of leave operations.
• Conducts data audits and update information in HRIS systems as needed.
• Completes verification requests from NJ State Disability and STD & LTD carriers.
• Understands processes and protocols for when to escalate inquiries or concerns on matters related to leave administration, ADA and customer experience.
• Leverages feedback and looks for process improvement opportunities to improve personal and operational effectiveness and customer experience. Proposes recommendations to the Director Leave Administration, as applicable.
• Participates as a team member to ensure a customer-focused, high-performance, and inclusive work environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree
• 1-3 years of relevant Human resources, Benefits, Leave Administration/Management or related work experience required or equivalent education and experience required
• Familiar with general leave of absence process, Federal & State laws and regulations.
• Strong desire and ability to provide excellent customer service to internal and external customers by holding oneself accountable to providing timely, accurate and consistent responses.
• Demonstrated technological acuity and ability to manage competing priorities and tasks in a fast-paced environment to meet deadlines while ensuring a positive customer experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including ability to alter communication styles to deliver information to the audience in the easiest manner for them to understand.
• Ability to think critically to provide optimal solutions and next steps, while managing employee expectations for issue resolution.
• Ability to use interpersonal savvy to develop productive, collaborative, trust-based working relationships and ensure a safe space for employee communication about leave.
• Initiative and drive to deliver results by ensuring positive internal and external customer experience while meeting SLAs and individual goals.

Nice-to-haves

• Healthcare industry preferred, but not required.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Retirement Plans
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Life & Accidental Death Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Wellness Programs
• Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Pet Insurance)
• Discounts Through our Partners such as NJ Devils, NJ PAC, Verizon, and more!