Leave of Absence Specialist

Benefits and Leave of Absence Specialist

Bloomington, MN

Base pay range

$70,000.00/yr - $87,500.00/yr

Ziegler CAT is looking for a highly organized and detail‑oriented Benefits and Leave of Absence Specialist to join our Human Resources team. In this role, you will be responsible for managing and administering the leave process for our employees and serve as the main point of contact for employees seeking FMLA/leave of absence, ensuring compliance with company policies and legal requirements.

The position is based out of our corporate office in Bloomington, MN and is an onsite position.

• Serve as the primary contact for employees requesting leave of absence, providing guidance, and explaining the process to ensure understanding of their rights and responsibilities.
• Receive and review leave of absence requests, ensuring complete and accurate documentation is provided by employees and managers.
• Assess and determine eligibility for leaves, considering factors such as medical certifications, duration of leave requested and applicable laws and regulations.
• Coordinate and communicate with employees and managers to facilitate the timely and smooth processing of leave requests.
• Review and evaluate requests for accommodation using the interactive process to ensure best‑practice compliance with ADA.
• Maintain accurate leave of absence records and coordinate paid‑time‑off and paid leaves by accurately coding leave types and status within Workday to ensure timely and accurate employee pay.
• Communicate with employees on leave regarding status of claims, expected return‑to‑work dates, providing updated medical documentation, etc.
• Liaise with third‑party vendor regarding employee eligibility and medical certification approval.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with leave vendors.
• Communicate absence, accommodation and return‑to‑work information as appropriate to employees and relevant supervisors/ managers.
• Assist with administration of various employee benefits programs, primarily focused on disability, life insurance, and leave administration, but also help support group health, flexible spending accounts, dental and vision, wellness, and retirement.
• Assist employees with health, dental, life and other related benefit claims.
• Coordinate and administer COBRA insurance, ensuring timely and accurate processing of information according to procedures.

• Previous experience in HR service/contact center supporting HR, payroll and/or benefits.
• Bachelor or Associate Degree preferred.
• Experience with Workday time and attendance or comparable HCM software.
• Familiarity with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

• 1–3+ years working in an HR services organization, preferably in leave of absence and accommodation administration.
• High school diploma or GED and 2 years of experience in employee benefits/leave administration.
• Proficiency with MS Office suite of software (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel).
• Organized with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to multi‑task and demonstrate strong follow‑through.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective problem‑solving skills through active listening, troubleshooting and critical thinking.

• Standing, walking, sitting, using hands, talking, hearing.

• Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
• 15 days of PTO your first year, accrual starts day 1
• 9 paid holidays
• 401(k) plan with company contribution and match
• HSA (Health Savings Account), Ziegler contributes up to $1,000 tax‑free each year
• Short‑Term and Long‑Term Disability Insurance, FSA & EAP
• Paid Parental Leave & Funeral Leave
• Fitness membership discount
• Education Assistance

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. Ziegler Inc. will reasonably accommodate the known disabilities of qualified disabled individuals.

At Ziegler Inc. we’re committed to equal opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.