Absence Advocate

Cox Automotive is currently seeking an Absence Advocate to join our team. Candidates must reside within the Eastern or Central time zones of the United States. Atlanta, GA is the preferred location and operates under a hybrid work arrangement. Candidates located elsewhere within the Eastern or Central time zones will be considered for remote employment.

Please note:

We are hiring three individuals for this position.

The Absence & Accommodations team provides compliant, consistent, and employee-centered leave, accommodation, and workers' compensation support across Cox Automotive (CAI) and its subsidiaries throughout North America.

The Absence Advocate provides day-to-day expertise in administering and coordinating absence and accommodation cases. This role partners with third-party administrators (TPAs), workers' compensation carriers, HR Business Partners, and business stakeholders to support timely, consistent, and compliant case management. This role supports the administration of FMLA, ADA, PWFA, Workers' Compensation, DOT/FMCSA administrative leave, military leave, return-to-work activities, and related benefits transitions.

• Manage and support approximately 100 active leave and accommodation cases concurrently, ensuring timely and accurate case progression in accordance with established service level agreements and deadlines.
• Exercise sound judgment within established guidelines to support triage, resolution, and outcome management for absence, accommodation, and workers' compensation cases, partnering with the Absence & Accommodations Business Partners, HR Business Partners, cross-functional operations, and business stakeholders; serve as the primary employee advocate throughout the case lifecycle.
• Support employee populations across the U.S. and Canada, applying jurisdictional/program requirements as applicable.
• Partner with TPAs in a shared administration model in which TPAs adjudicate and approve cases. Monitor activity, document actions, and coordinate next steps across stakeholders.
• Identify and elevate complex, risk-sensitive, or employee-impacting cases to the Absence & Accommodations Business Partners while supporting a consistent "moments that matter" employee experience.
• Handle escalated cases from the Employee Service Center for specific claims inquiries and activities.
• Monitor the FMLA lifecycle within internal systems and serve as a liaison for employees, leaders, and site inquiries, coordinating with TPAs to resolve gaps or delays.
• Manage inbound and outbound communications through phone, chat, and email in accordance with established service level expectations.
• De-escalate calls and determine appropriate next steps for resolution.
• Coordinate ADA accommodation cases using an interactive, well-documented approach; implement approved accommodations in partnership with HR Business Partners, business stakeholders, and cross- functional teams.
• Coordinate PWFA accommodations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; ensure timely outcomes and that leave is not required when another reasonable accommodation is available.
• Administer and track administrative leave statuses per Cox and CAI policy, ensuring accurate documentation, communications, and payroll alignment.
• Manage DOT/FMCSA unpaid administrative leave workflows and coordinate return-to-duty readiness and documentation with the CAI DOT teams.
• Coordinate concurrent leave programs (including FMLA and Workers' Compensation), ensuring accurate tracking and acting as the point of contact for Workers' Compensation leadership through claim handoffs and end-to-end lifecycle management.
• Coordinate return-to-work (RTW) confirmations, intermittent leave tracking, and transitions to other benefit programs using clear, documented handoffs.

• Compile and review claims activity data, identify trends, and provide operational insights that support continuous improvement efforts through operational insights.
• Perform reporting activities related to service levels, quality assurance, escalations, and operational performance to drive continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of Absence & Accommodations dashboards and reporting tools supporting U.S. and Canadian populations.
• Track and report TPA escalations to leadership to support vendor performance monitoring and visibility.
• Support audit readiness and reporting requirements through compliance, accurate record maintenance, and…