Specialist/Sr Specialist, Absence Management (Dallas, TX, US)

American Airlines • Dallas, TX

76d

About The Position

This role is a member of the Absence Management team within the People/HR Division. You will take ownership of end-to-end leave processes across federal, state, and local levels, ensuring regulatory compliance, partnering with key stakeholders such as Case Managers, Operations, HR, and Legal, and guiding employees through their leave journey. You will play a key role in enhancing leave management systems and processes, maintaining up-to-date policies and documentation, and driving clear, proactive communication across the organization. Additionally, you will assist with implementing new leave-related policies and processes aimed at driving companywide efficiencies and streamlining team member experience during the leave process.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration, or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in HR, FMLA administration, or absence management.
• Strong presentation and writing skills with ability to explain complex leave policies and understand how to adjust communications to the audience.

Nice To Haves

• Strong knowledge of FMLA regulations and other applicable leave laws.
• Proficiency in HRIS and leave management systems.
• Previous transportation industry experience.
• Prior experience with represented team members/unions.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to enhance leave management systems and drive continuous improvement in leave-related processes, ensuring alignment with business needs and compliance requirements.
• Lead training initiatives on FMLA, state, and local leave policies and processes, ensuring consistent understanding and application across the organization.
• Oversee FMLA administration in alignment with company policies and regulatory requirements, serving as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholders on complex leave matters.
• Provide clear, actionable guidance to operations teams on employee leave rights, responsibilities, documentation, and deadlines.
• Maintain accurate, compliant records of all FMLA cases, and conduct periodic audits of FMLA files to ensure compliance with legal standards.
• Stay current on evolving federal, state, and local leave regulations, providing updates to stakeholders as necessary.
• Partner with HR, Payroll, and Operations to coordinate leave of absence processes and resolve any issues related to leave and benefits.
• Review and verify medical documentation for complex leave requests to determine eligibility and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Support additional leave processes as needed, including short-term and long-term disability, ADA accommodations and other company leave policies.
• Analyze leave data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for process improvement.

Benefits

• Travel Perks: Access to 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across our global network.
• Health Benefits: Access to health, dental, prescription and vision benefits from day one.
• Wellness Programs: Tools, resources, and support to help you be the best version of yourself.
• 401(k) Program: Available upon hire with employer contributions after one year.
• Additional Benefits: Employee Assistance Program, pet insurance, and discounts on hotels, cars, cruises and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Air Transportation
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees