Leave Administrator

Position summary The Leave Administrator is responsible for managing and administering the Firm's employee leave of absence and workplace accommodation programs, including FMLA, state and local statutory leaves, short- and long-term disability, parental leave, personal leave, USERRA, and ADA accommodation requests. The role independently manages leave cases from initiation through return to work, evaluates complex leave and accommodation matters, interprets applicable policies and regulatory requirements, and advises employees, managers, and HR Business Partners regarding appropriate courses of action.

The position exercises judgment in resolving complex or sensitive cases and escalates matters presenting significant legal, employee relations, or policy considerations as appropriate. Job duties and responsibilities Case Management:
Serve as the primary subject matter expert and point of contact for employees requesting or currently on a leave of absence. Guide employees through options, rights, responsibilities, and application processes. Evaluate individual circumstances, determine applicable leave programs and requirements, and advise employees and managers regarding available options, responsibilities, documentation requirements, and return-to-work considerations. Compliance & Legal Adherence:
Interpret and administer Firm leave programs in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including FMLA, ADA, USERRA, and state and local leave laws. Monitor regulatory developments, assess potential impacts to existing practices, and recommend updates to policies, procedures, communications, and administrative processes as appropriate. Interactive Accommodation Process:
Facilitate the workplace accommodation interactive process in partnership with employees, managers, HR Business Partners, and other appropriate stakeholders. Review and evaluate supporting documentation, identify potential accommodation options, assess operational considerations, and make recommendations regarding appropriate next steps, escalating complex or high-risk matters as appropriate.

Analyze complex or non-routine leave and accommodation cases involving overlapping federal, state, and local requirements, conflicting documentation, intermittent leave, return-to-work restrictions, or other unusual circumstances; determine appropriate next steps within established authority and escalate significant legal or employee relations matters as appropriate. Vendor & Claims Coordination:
Collaborate with the third-party administrator, insurance carriers, and healthcare providers to resolve discrepancies promptly. Payroll & Benefits Integration:
Partner closely with Payroll to ensure accurate pay continuation (PTO, disability pay, top-up programs), benefit premium collection, and job-restoration tracking. Manager Consultation & Training:
Advise managers and HR Business Partners regarding leave and accommodation requirements, policy interpretation, return-to-work considerations, employee communications, and appropriate handling of sensitive or complex situations. Develop and deliver training and guidance as needed. Reporting & Analytics:
Maintain accurate leave and accommodation records in applicable HR systems. Analyze leave utilization, trends, return-to-work activity, and compliance metrics; identify potential issues or patterns and provide findings and recommendations to HR and Benefits leadership. General Benefits Support:
Provide general health and welfare benefits administration support, including assistance with open enrollment and employee inquiries, as needed and secondary to the position's primary leave and accommodation responsibilities. Job duties and responsibilities included are not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. Reed Smith reserves the right to revise or modify job duties and responsibilities at any time. Requirements

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).

Experience:

Four to seven years of dedicated HR experience with a strong focus on leave administration, FMLA, disability programs, and ADA accommodations.

Skills:

Proficiency with HRIS platforms (i.e., People Soft and Workday) Additional information

Supervisory responsibilities:

None. Equipment used:
Personal computer and other office equipment such as telephone, calculator, copier, scanner, etc. Essential job functions Ability to sit or stand for extended periods and…