Hybrid Leave & Accommodation Specialist bei Gillette Children's

The Leave and Accommodation Specialist serves as a compassionate partner to employees navigating leave and workplace accommodations. This role is responsible for fostering a supportive environment by managing and administering all employee leave of absence programs for staff, including medical, family, and personal leaves, as well as accommodation processes. This position plays a critical role in guiding employees through the leave and return to work process while ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations, labor laws, and organizational policies. The ideal incumbent will be a trusted resource, highly organized, knowledgeable in leave legislation (FMLA, ADA, MNPFL, etc.), and experienced working with employees at all levels in the organization through the full cycle leave process and accommodation journey.

This is a primarily remote opportunity; however, the selected candidate must reside in Minnesota or Wisconsin and have the ability to work onsite in St Paul, MN at minimum 3 days per month and as needed for the role. Relocation assistance is not offered for this position. 

Compensation & Benefits

The hourly wage for this opportunity is $26.16/hour to $39.26/hour, with a median wage of $32.71/hour.  Pay is dependent on several factors including relevant work experience, education, certification & licensure, and internal equity. Hourly pay is just one part of the compensation package for employees. Gillette supports career progression and offers a competitive benefits package that includes a retirement savings match, tuition and certification reimbursement, paid time off, and health and wellness benefits for .5 FTE and above.

Primary Job Responsibilities

• Full-Cycle Leave of Absence (LOA) Administration
  • Administer and manage leave of absence programs (FMLA, ADA, STD, LTD, MNPFL, Workers’ Compensation, Military Leave, etc.).
  • Act as a trusted resource and serves as the primary contact for all  employees regarding leave of absence requests, including FMLA, ADA, Workers’ Compensation, parental leave, military leave, short-term disability (STD), long-term disability (LTD) and Minnesota Paid Family Leave, offering guidance and clarity during a potentially stressful time
  • Coordinate with third-party leave administrators, department leaders, HR Partners, benefits, and payroll, to ensure proper communication and transition before, during, and after leaves.
  • Serve as a liaison between employees, administrators, HR staff, and others to ensure compassionate and coordinate communication.
  • Monitor and track all leave cases and certifications using HRIS systems and maintain accurate documentation.
  • Process leaves timecards on a bi-weekly basis, including but not limited to short-term disability, PTO, MNPFL, Paid Parental Leave, and unpaid time.
  • Proactively check in with employees on extended leaves to maintain connection and support their transition back to work.

• Accommodation Management (ADA and Return-to-Work)
  • Facilitate the interactive process for ADA accommodation requests.
  • Working with the department leader, assess medical documentation to determine whether accommodation is reasonable
  • Facilitate Fitness for Duty evaluations with vendor and external third parties.
  • Support smooth return-to-work transitions, including after extended leaves or workers’ comp claims
  • Partner with legal counsel for complex or escalated leave cases.

• Leave and Accommodation Program Management
  • Provide education and guidance to employees and leadership on leave policies and procedures and best practices for accommodations.
  • Ensure inclusive practices in leave and accommodation processes
  • Collaborate with Employee Resource Groups and others to design and implement initiatives that support employee wellbeing and return-to-work options
  • Track and analyze employee satisfaction with leave and accommodation processes.
  • Prepare detailed reports and metrics on leave trends and compliance risks for HR leadership and recommend opportunities for improvement.

Qualifications

Required

• Associate degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or related field or equivalent experience
• 2+ years of experience in full cycle leave administration and accommodations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Deep knowledge of FMLA, ADA, MNPFL, HIPAA, and applicable state and federal leave regulations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to explain complex policies in a clear, supportive way.
• Ability to handle sensitive matters with empathy, discretion, and professionalism.
• Proficiency in HRIS systems (e.g., UKG, Kronos) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage a high volume of leave cases, and with varying levels of complexity.
• Skilled in identifying compliant solutions that balance organizational needs with individual employee circumstances.
• Familiar with basic medical terminology
• Ability to work with leaders and HR Partners to objectively interpret medical documentation related to accommodation requests

Preferred

• Experience working in a hospital or healthcare system.
• Familiarity with UKG or similar HR systems.
• Familiarity with Lincoln, or similar leave carriers
• HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR)
• ADA training Certification
• Certified Leave Management Specialist

At Gillette Children’s, we foster a culture where every team member feels a sense of belonging and purpose. We are dedicated to building an environment where all feel welcomed, respected, and supported. Our values are embedded at the heart of our culture. We act first from love, embrace the bigger picture, and work side-by-side with our patients, families, and colleagues to help every child create their own story. Together, we work to ensure patients of all backgrounds and abilities reach their full potential.

Gillette Children's is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of an individual's race, color, creed, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation or gender identity, military status or any other class protected by federal, state or local laws.

Gillette Children’s is a global beacon of care for patients with brain, bone and movement conditions that start in childhood. Our research, treatment and supportive technologies enable every child to lead a full life defined by their dreams, not their diagnoses.

To learn more about working at Gillette Children's, please visit https://www.gillettechildrens.org/careers.

Gillette Children's participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) E-Verify program which is an internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Gillette will give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS or the Social Security Administration (SSA) to resolve the issue before Gillette takes any further action. Please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/ for further details regarding e-verify.