LOA & Benefits Specialist

Baldwin Richardson Foods•Macedon, NY

34d•Onsite

About The Position

Baldwin Richardson Foods is focused on enriching the flavor of life. As a full-service liquid products supplier and strategic partner to the food and beverage industry, Baldwin Richardson Foods combines its formulation expertise and unique packaging options with robust processing capabilities to produce high-quality sauces, toppings, syrups, fillings, and shelf-stable beverages for the world's most iconic Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brands, and food service companies. Its state-of-the-art Innovation & Culinary Center transforms trends and culinary inspiration into legendary products through an award-winning commercialization process. The company also manufactures and markets Mrs. Richardson's dessert sauces and Nance's mustards/condiments in addition to producing finished goods for the private label sector. BRF maintains its headquarters and a manufacturing facility in Macedon, New York; with a Culinary Innovation Center in Westmont, Illinois; and offices and manufacturing facilities in Williamson, New York; Pennsauken, New Jersey; and Corona, California. This role reports into our Macedon, New York heaquarters. The Leave of Absence (LOA) and Benefits Specialist is responsible for processing and tracking all leave of absence cases, as well as processing and supporting benefit enrollments, changes, and employee requests and education. This role also acts as a backup to the payroll lead. This role ensures compliance with federal and state employment laws, provides exemplary customer service, and supports associates, executives, and HR business partners.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) from four-year College or university preferred.
Three (3) years of experience in Human Resources directly supporting leave administration and benefits administration.
Strong knowledge of legal requirements within a multi-state operation related to leave and benefits.

Nice To Haves

Manufacturing, production, or related (multiple shifts and locations) highly desired.

Responsibilities

Serve as a subject matter expert for leave and workers’ compensation programs and accommodation requests.
Interprets and administers leave programs and policies in accordance with applicable federal and state employment laws (FMLA, ADA, USERRA, Pregnancy Discrimination Act, etc.).
Administers all aspects of leave programs, including case management and tracking and program compliance.
Supports Manager HR Benefits & Compliance to conduct investigations into reported claims.
Works closely with the Manager, HR Benefits & Compliance and 3rd party leave administration vendor who approves or denies leave cases based on relevant medical or other information.
Coordinates, organizes, and retains all medical information, in collaboration as necessary with our 3rd party leave administration vendor, ensuring HIPAA, Employee Privacy and retention guidelines are followed.
Maintains communication with employees prior to and while on leave to facilitate a smooth and timely return to work.
Communicates to employees in advance of their leave their responsibilities regarding continuation of benefit payments, makes arrangements for collection of monthly payments in advance, and collaborates with payroll.
Updates HCM in a timely fashion to change Active and Leave status to ensure timely coordination with payroll.
Supports Manager HR Benefits & Compliance to advise managers on the interaction of leave laws with paid time off, workers’ compensation, and short-term and long-term disability benefits.
Helps to coordinate the return-to-work process for employees returning from extended leave.
Supports annual open enrollment, new hire, and life event benefit enrollment processes and programs.
Processes all benefit enrollments, changes, and terminations in a timely manner.
Reviews and ensures COBRA and other post-employment benefits are processed.
Ensures 401(k) employee enrollments and changes are processed.
Ensures all new hire and benefit programs comply with federal and state regulations.
Provides support to employees enterprise-wide to answer questions and assist in issue resolution related to benefits. Provides excellent customer service.
Participates in employee information sessions, workshops, company screening programs, and educational presentations for employees to educate and offer opportunities for our benefit programs. May require shifting hours at times to support multi-plant, multi-shift operations.
Completes HCM system tasks and workflows actions, audits benefits data, reviews and prepares reports. Ensures accuracy and compliance.
Collaborates with benefit, insurance, and HCM vendors to ensure smooth operations.
Ability to engage at all levels in the organization and available to support 24/7, multi-plant, multi-state operation.
Acts as back-up to payroll lead/specialist to process payroll when coverage is required and supports end of year processes.
Partners with payroll specialist to reconcile monthly benefits invoices and reconcile payroll and benefits owed by the employee related to leaves of absence.
Responsible for leading the NEO I9 and wage form compliance process in partnership with the Employee Experience team and HRBPs enterprise wide.
Supports compliance requirements related to documentation, employee notices, and reporting.