Benefits Specialist

Benefits Specialist

Dykema Gossett PLLC, a leading national law firm, is seeking to hire a Benefits Specialist. The Benefits Specialist is responsible for administering health & welfare benefits, including life events for new and existing employees and members, annual open enrollment, workers compensation and departures. The Benefits Specialist also oversees the firm-wide leave of absence and disability programs, and ADA accommodation requests. This position is open to our San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Detroit, and Chicago offices.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Health & Welfare Benefits Processes:

• Responsible for retiree communications during the year and at open enrollment. Works with third-party administrator on retiree health program and billing service. Processes all retiree benefit elections and trouble-shoots any enrollment or claims issues. Maintains records and processes claims on retiree life insurance coverage.
• Responsible for government reporting, benefit processing and claims issues.
• Assists with the annual health & welfare open enrollment process. Advises Compensation/HRIS Analyst of system changes and updated benefit language, tests online enrollment processes for accurate enrollment functionality and assists with proofing enrollment/payroll information. Provides Compensation/HRIS Analyst information to update the Life Events portal for the new plan year.
• Coordinates open enrollment communications and processes for COBRA participants.
• Collaborates with Compensation and HRIS Analyst to set up benefit/payroll information processes in UKG, and to submit direct-feed applications to insurance companies. Troubleshoots system transmission errors with insurance vendors.
• Provides back-up support for the processing and reconciliation of monthly benefit insurance payments. Utilizes the HR/Payroll software to calculate premiums and update reports.
• Maintains records and processes claims on retiree life insurance coverage.
• Back-up responsibility for new-hire UKG imports to Payroll, new-hire processes and questions.
• Processes insurance conversion/portability paperwork to terminating employees and retirees, as necessary. Reviews and updates Benefit Departure memos and posts to termination team site. Provides updated information to office administrators and the Professional Personnel Department. Process Member/Senior Counsel departures on termination team site.
• Assists with the member IDI LTD mandated insurance program and works with HRIS Analyst of self-administered Life and LTD report processes.
• Assists Benefits Manager with the preparation of the insurance budget accounts, filings for Form 5500 and ACA, and review of insurance policies and employee handbooks.
• Files all Worker's Compensation claims with carrier, maintains files and prepares annual OSHA reports. Researches changes in laws by state, and advises of any updates needed to policies, etc.
• Updates the Dykema Dygest Benefits Page and Wellness Page and maintains the DG Wellness Outlook inbox and HR Benefits Outlook inbox.
• Works with insurance carriers in resolving employee claim problems and assists employees with other routine benefit questions.
• Back-up for most of Compensation and HRIS Analyst's health and welfare benefits responsibilities.
• Assists with special projects as needed.

FMLA/ADA Accommodations:

• Oversees firm leave of absence and disability management program; communicates with personnel regarding leaves of absence and/or modified work schedules, ensuring required medical documentation and notice requirements are met.
• Coordinates with leave program vendor regarding the FMLA leave administration process, monitoring employee compliance and vendor performance.
• Manages non-FMLA leaves, including policy communications, approvals, and follow-up, as necessary.
• Maintains communication with personnel on leave to ensure timely return to work and ensures department leaders/practice group leaders, supervisors/Office Managers/Office Administrator are aware and kept updated about leave and return to work timelines.
• Advises personnel about paid time off and disability benefit policies.
• Oversees the return-to-work process. Reviews and responds to ADA requests facilitating the interactive process between employees, HR and firm management.
• Drafts and recommends revisions to firm HR and 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 legal requirements and best practices.
• Preserves confidentiality of medical records and files.
• Maintains knowledge of all applicable leave and accommodation laws including the FMLA, ADA and state and local laws, and stays abreast of statutory changes.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent of education, training and experience.
• Minimum 2 years of experience administering health benefits programs is required.
• Knowledge of FMLA, state laws, ADA and experience with leave…