Benefits & Leave of Absence Coordinator

The Role : The Benefits & Leave of Absence Coordinator manages employee benefits and leave of absences, including health, retirement, and disability plans. They oversee leave requests under FMLA, CFRA, PDL, ADA accommodations, and short- or long-term disability, ensuring compliance with regulations and accurate tracking of leave and pay. The coordinator serves as the primary point of contact for employees, communicates with vendors, supports open enrollment, and maintains reporting and records to improve processes and the overall employee experience.

Location(s) : Salinas, CA

Areas of Responsibility :

• Administer employee benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, life, disability insurance, HSA, FSA, 401(k), ESOP, and other benefits.
• Prepare and process the weekly / monthly / yearly benefits files. Including weekly changes in healthcare eligibility files, monthly healthcare eligibility files, weekly 401K remittance files, weekly demographic files, monthly ACA files, etc.
• Conduct regular audits of employee data to identify any discrepancies or errors.
• Generate reports and analyze data to identify trends and patterns, providing insights for decision-making and process improvement.
• Manage leave programs, including FMLA, CFRA, PDL, and company-specific leaves.
• Process ADA accommodation, and short-term and long-term disability requests.
• Maintain ongoing communication with employees on leave to facilitate a timely return.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local regulations.
• Serve as employee's primary point of contact regarding benefit questions, eligibility, and claims.
• Conduct benefit orientations for new hires.
• Maintain regular contact with benefits administrators, carriers, and financial institutions regarding claims, plan coverages, enrollments, records, and withdrawals.
• Act as the point of contact with third-party insurance vendors to handle day-to-day benefit-related questions.
• Collaborate closely with the payroll team to ensure leave payments are appropriately tracked and paid.
• Collaborate with IT to develop tools and resources that simplify benefit information access.
• Develop and deliver benefit training programs for HR staff, supervisors, and managers.
• Lead the open enrollment process, ensure all communications, vendor coordination, and compliance tasks are executed accurately and on schedule.
• Support HR initiatives, wellness programs, or benefits-related projects beyond routine administration.
• Maintain knowledge of trends, developments, and best practices in benefits administration.
• Work closely with the Benefits Manager to meet department goals and performance targets.
• Travel to company locations to provide on-site support, presentations, or escalated employee consultations
• Identify opportunities to streamline benefit processes and improve employee self-service options

Preferred Qualifications :

Ideal Candidate :

Job Posted by ApplicantPro