Specialist - Leave Administration (Human Resources)

FreshPet • Ennis, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

At Freshpet, our goal is to change the way people nourish their pets forever. We strive to strengthen the bond between people and our pets so that we both live longer, healthier, and happier lives while being kind to the planet. We believe that if we can create fresh, real foods that pets love and help them live healthier lives that their pet parents will also enjoy the many benefits of a rich life shared with a pet. We started off with a mission to change the way pet parents feed dogs and cats, but we also wanted to be a company that had a thoughtful approach to how we operate. We wanted to do things differently, make great products but be gentle to the planet, good to the people who touch our business, and leave a positive impact with everything we do. We work hard every day to ensure that the original vision is met, starting with making the highest quality foods in our kitchens to running our business with integrity, transparency, and social and environmental responsibility. IT’S AMAZING WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU START COMPLETELY FRESH! What You Will Do The Leave Administration Specialist manages all leave of absence programs, including FMLA, non-medical leave, paid parental leave, military leave, short-term disability, long-term disability, and state-specific programs. This role partners closely with Payroll and Prudential (disability carrier) to ensure accurate pay during leave and compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws. This role will serve as the primary point of contact for employees requesting leave or modified work schedules, ensuring they understand the requirements, documentation, and responsibilities involved. You will oversee the full FMLA process from the initial request through the employee’s return to work, coordinating with Prudential and handling eligibility determinations, medical certifications, and intermittent or reduced schedule leave arrangements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources related field required.
• Five years of professional human resource administration, experience in manufacturing preferred
• 3+ years managing FMLA and ADA processes
• Thorough understanding of local, state, and federal laws concerning leave administration
• Strong critical skills, analytical skills and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all team members and people leaders
• Authentic, effective, and professional communication style including the ability to communicate effectively in person, by email, by phone, or in writing
• Excellent reading and written communication skills. Ability to use time effectively and efficiently while managing multiple priorities
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and SharePoint

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual/fluency in Spanish
• Bi-lingual highly preferred?

Responsibilities

• Communicates with employees regarding their needs for leave and/or modified work schedules; ensures that employees are aware of their responsibilities and of any documentation and notice required to qualify for and to take leave
• Works with Prudential to oversee the FMLA leave administration process from the employees’ initial notice of the need for leave to the return to work including gathering and completing all required paperwork (as needed), initiates and prepares leave of absence response letters, determining leave eligibility (outside of Prudential processes), designating ADA leaves (as needed), requesting medical certifications (as needed), and confirming intermittent and reduced schedule leave use
• Maintains communication with employees on leave to facilitate smooth and timely return to work; relays communication between team members and their HRBP and managers/supervisors during leave within reason
• Advises managers/supervisors and team members on the interaction of leave laws with paid time off, and short-term and long-term disability benefits
• Oversee the return-to-work process for employees returning from extended FMLA, workers compensation, or other leave(s). Partner with Safety team regarding work-related restrictions. Facilitates other leave requests, which may include accommodation requests under the ADA
• Administers other company time-off programs as assigned in accordance with internal policy and applicable laws
• Prepares and/or recommends revisions to company leave policies to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations
• Maintains complete and accurate records of leave and accommodation requests in accordance with specified legal requirements and documentation of best practices
• Preserves confidentiality of employee medical documentation and files
• Maintains knowledge of all applicable leave and accommodation laws including the FMLA, ADA, and state and local laws
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Benefits

• At Freshpet, we offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance, basic and optional life insurance, short- and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts, and a 401(k) plan with company match, paid parental leave, pet insurance, tuition assistance, a generous PTO plan and so much more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees