Leave of Absence Specialist

Work Arrangement: This is a full-time position with a hybrid or fully remote position. Candidates based in California are preferred.

Fisher Phillips, a premier international labor and employment law firm, is seeking a skilled and experienced Leave of Absence Specialist to join our team. In this essential role, you will own the leave of absence life cycle for a high-volume desk, serving as the primary advisor to our employees through meticulous 50-state (and heavy California) compliance. This role exercises independent judgment, partners with HR and leadership on risk mitigation, and guides employees through sensitive or multifaceted leave and accommodation situations.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end leave process for a high-volume desk, including intake, eligibility determination, required certifications, and return-to-work coordination.
• Serve as the resident expert on California’s unique leave landscape, including the integration of PDL, CFRA, and FMLA, as well as SDI and PFL coordination.
• Lead the ADA interactive process for employees returning with restrictions or seeking accommodations, ensuring a collaborative and compliant outcome.
• Act as a consultant to managers on complex leave cases, intermittent FMLA usage, and “gray area” disability claims.
• Maintain complete and accurate records of leave and accommodation requests in accordance with appropriate requirements, ensuring required documentation is gathered and tracked in accordance with all leave of absence process steps and updated appropriately in the Firm’s leave management system and HRIS.
• Partner with Benefits, Payroll, and third-party administrators to ensure accurate benefit integration and pay coordination, ensuring employees are paid correctly while on leave.
• Monitor compliance, documentation standards, and legal risk exposure.
• Develop and generate tracking reports to identify and analyze leave data and trends.
• Identify process improvements to ensure the administration of the leave program is managed in an efficient and effective manner with a client-centric focus.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date knowledge on 50-state leave laws; proactively updating Firm policies and templates to reflect new statutory requirements.
• Educate managers on leave policies and compliance requirements through quarterly leave learning sessions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• CPDM, CLMS, SHRM, or PHR certification desired.
• Minimum 5 years of dedicated experience administering leaves for a multi-site organization.
• Minimum of three years of California-specific experience, including PDL, CFRA, SDI, PFL, and related programs, with knowledge of employment laws and regulations across all 50 states.
• Expert level understanding of applicable state and federal regulations associated with short-term disability, FMLA, ADA, and/or other state leave and disability programs.
• Proficiency in at least one enterprise-level leave tracking platform.
• Proven experience managing at least 100-150 active/pending cases simultaneously while delivering excellent client service to employees.
• Ability to prioritize effectively and think independently, while recognizing complex situations and when there is a need to escalate for effective resolution.
• Experience in a law firm or other billable environment is highly preferred.

Compensation

California Applicants
In accordance with California’s amended labor code as stated in Senate Bill 1162, the expected salary range for this California position is between $87,770 – $100,000. Actual base pay within this range will be determined by several components, including but not limited to relevant experience, internal equity, skills, qualifications, and other job-related factors permitted by law. This position is also eligible for a discretionary bonus of up to 5% of the annual salary (prorated the first year). The final bonus amount, which is based on your individual performance and other relevant factors, will be determined at the Firm's sole discretion.

All Other U.S. Locations
The salary range for this position is $80,000 – $92,000. Actual base pay within this range will be determined by several components, including but not limited to, relevant experience, internal equity, skills, qualifications, job location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. This position is also eligible for a discretionary bonus of up to 5% of the annual salary (prorated the first year). The final bonus amount, which is based on your individual performance and other relevant factors, will be determined at the Firm's sole discretion.

Equal Opportunity / FCA statement

Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with both the FCO and the California Fair Chance Act (FCA).

Equal Opportunity Employer

Fisher Phillips is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including related medical conditions), gender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, or any other protected status, in compliance with all applicable laws.

We use an automated tool as part of our hiring process to evaluate applicants. This tool compares work experience and skills relevant to the job description and requirements using machine learning or artificial intelligence. This is NOT an automated employment decision tool (‘AEDT’) and will not be used to make selection decisions. It is only used (occasionally) in addition to manual screening. If you are a candidate located in New York City and wish to request an alternative selection process or accommodation, please contact staffrecruiting@fisherphillips.com.

Why Join Us

At Fisher Phillips, exceptional talent is the foundation of our success. Joining our team means collaborating in a professional, dynamic environment leveraging cutting-edge technology. Our leadership fosters professional growth and provides opportunities to challenge yourself.

We believe in rewarding talent with more than just a competitive salary. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) with profit sharing, sick leave per Seattle law, and 15 days of paid time off and 10 paid holidays per benefit year. This position is also eligible for a discretionary bonus of up to 5% of the annual salary (prorated in the first year). The final bonus amount, which is based on your individual performance and other relevant factors, will be determined at the Firm's sole discretion.

Your well-being is our priority. We offer 24/7 telehealth services, a variety of wellness programs, and additional optional benefits designed to support your unique lifestyle. At Fisher Phillips, you’ll find a workplace that values your health, happiness, and continued professional development. To learn more about our firm, visit us at www.fisherphillips.com.

Additional Notes

The statements in this position description are not necessarily all-inclusive. Additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned, and requirements may vary from time to time.

Relocation costs are not covered. We are only accepting direct applicants; third-party recruiters or agencies will not be considered. No phone inquiries, please.