Leave Specialist

Driven Brands Inc. • United States of America - Remote NC, NC

2d • $79,200 - $141,500 • Remote

About The Position

The Leave Specialist administers and manages leave of absence programs, including company-provided short- and long-term disability benefits and locally mandated programs in the United States and Canada, ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, provincial, and local regulations. The role manages leave cases from employees’ initial notice through their return to work, and leads ADA and ACA accommodation requests by facilitating the interactive process with employees and managers.

The Specialist communicates with employees and managers about leave needs, eligibility, required notices and documentation, and the relationship between leave laws, paid time off, workers’ compensation, and disability benefits. The role maintains accurate and confidential records, supports smooth returns to work, contributes to compliant leave policies, and collaborates with HR Business Partners, managers, payroll, and legal teams to provide timely, accurate support. Other related duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• Extensive knowledge of leave requirements and legal protections under FMLA, ADA, Canada Labour Code, ACA, and other applicable laws.
• At least 5 years of human resources experience managing centralized leaves and accommodations.
• Experience working in a geographically dispersed organization with an employee population of at least 5,000.
• Experience with leave and absence tracking within an HRIS system.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

• Specialized certification or training in FMLA or leave administration.
• Experience using a digital workflow case management system to manage leaves and accommodations; ServiceNow Leave Management experience is preferred.
• Workday experience.

Responsibilities

• Communicate with employees about leave needs or modified work schedules and explain their responsibilities, required documentation, and notice requirements.
• Manage leave administration from initial notice through return to work, including paperwork, eligibility determinations, FMLA designation, medical certification requests, and tracking intermittent or reduced-schedule leave.
• Maintain reasonable communication with employees on leave to facilitate timely returns to work and, as appropriate, relay information between employees and managers.
• Advise managers and employees on how leave laws interact with paid time off, workers’ compensation, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Oversee return-to-work processes following extended FMLA, workers’ compensation, or other leaves.
• Facilitate other leave requests, including accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act or Accessible Canada Act.
• Draft or recommend revisions to company leave policies to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Maintain complete and accurate records of leave and accommodation requests in accordance with legal requirements and documentation best practices.
• Protect the confidentiality of employee medical documentation and files.
• Maintain knowledge of applicable leave and accommodation laws, including FMLA, ADA, Canada Labour Code, ACA, and state, provincial, and local laws.
• Collaborate with HR Business Partners, managers, payroll, and legal teams to provide timely, accurate, and high-quality support.
• Lead ADA and ACA accommodation requests by facilitating the interactive process with employees and managers.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health and wellness benefits.
• Paid time off.
• Holiday pay.
• Early access to 50% of earned wages at any time through the myFlexPay program.
• Supplemental pay may include commissions or bonus incentives, depending on the role.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed