Employee Accommodations Specialist at Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. dba Upbring in

Employee Accommodations Specialist

Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. dba Upbring Equal Employment Opportunity/M/F/disability/protected veteran status. Upbring Overview

At Upbring, our team is united by a shared mission: to break the cycle of child abuse and advance the wellbeing of children, families and communities, empowering them to thrive. As servant-leaders, we lead by example, working passionately to create a brighter future for those we serve. Every day, we strive to embody our core values:

• We are Warriors: Fierce, resilient, and courageous, we face challenges head-on with unwavering loyalty and passion.
• We are Servants: We dedicate ourselves to serving others, empowering those around us to thrive.
• We are Family: We work together as a supportive, caring community, creating a sense of belonging and strength.

Joining Upbring means becoming part of a family of passionate individuals who are fearless in their pursuit of lasting change. Together, we are making a difference, one life at a time.

Your Mission in Action

The Employee Accommodations Specialist supports employees and leaders through workplace accommodations, injury-related processes, return-to-work coordination, and employee wellbeing initiatives. This role helps mitigate organizational risk while ensuring a compassionate, compliant, and employee-centered experience. This position partners across departments to administer accommodation requests, including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) requests; support workers' compensation reporting and follow-up; coordinate return-to-work and stay-at-work efforts; and contribute to employee wellbeing programs. The role contributes to a proactive, prevention-focused approach to employee wellbeing, safety, and workforce sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for workplace accommodations and return-to-work inquiries, providing timely, accurate, and employee-centered support
• Manage the interactive process for accommodation requests (e.g., ADA, PWFA), including engaging stakeholders, determining reasonable accommodations, and documenting outcomes
• Maintain accurate, complete, and audit-ready documentation for accommodation cases in compliance with applicable laws and organizational standards
• Provide guidance to leaders on accommodation processes, expectations, and compliance requirements
• Support workers' compensation administration, including injury reporting, claim follow-up, and coordination with internal and external partners
• Coordinate return-to-work and stay-at-work efforts, including transitional or modified duty assignments
• Track case progress, ensuring timely follow-up, communication, and resolution of employee matters
• Monitor and track workplace injuries, near misses, and trends; escalate risks and identify improvement opportunities
• Partner cross-functionally to support safety initiatives, training needs, and prevention-focused strategies
• Maintain compliance with applicable regulations (e.g., ADA, PWFA, HIPAA), ensuring proper handling of PHI (Protected Health Information) and sensitive employee information
• Maintain accurate records within Human Resources Information System (HRIS), case management systems, and documentation tools
• Support employee wellbeing programs, initiatives, and engagement efforts, including events and emergency loan support
• Collaborate with Employee Relations, Payroll, Finance, brokers, and vendors to ensure consistent practices and effective case management
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, compliance, and employee experience

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Two (2) years of experience in Human Resources, employee support, case management, leave administration, workers' compensation support, accommodations support, or a closely related function
• General knowledge of workplace accommodations, workers' compensation processes, and employee-centered case coordination
• Experience supporting employee inquiries and handling sensitive situations in a responsive, confidential, and employee-centered environment
• Working knowledge of HR practices, documentation standards, and compliance-related follow-up; ability to learn and apply applicable accommodation, leave, and workers' compensation requirements
• Hands-on experience with HRIS, case management systems, and documentation tools, with strong attention to detail and data accuracy
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to research issues, make recommendations, and escalate as appropriate
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders
• High level of professionalism, confidentiality, and sound judgment when handling sensitive employee information, including PHI
• Highly proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field
• Human Resources certification (SHRM-CP, PHR)
• Human Resources generalist experience with employee relations, leave, accommodations, benefits, or workers' compensation exposure
• Experience managing or coordinating employee cases, including documentation, follow-up, and communication with employees, leaders, and cross-functional partners
• Experience supporting workplace accommodations and the interactive process, including ADA and PWFA
• Experience supporting workers' compensation, injury reporting, safety programs, or claim follow-up
• Experience supporting return-to-work and stay-at-work programs, including transitional or modified duty coordination
• Experience supporting employee relations activities, including documentation or investigations
• Bilingual Spanish speaking/writing

Travel

• This position may be required to travel up to 10%

Perks at Upbring

• Competitive PTO & paid holidays
• Health, dental, vision insurance & more
• 403(b) Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discounted Gym Memberships

Physical Demands & Work Conditions

• This position requires sitting and looking and using a computer for long periods of time
• Position may have exposure to children
• Position requires frequent standing, walking and occasional travel that requires hours of mobility
• Lift, push, pull, move up to 25 lbs.

The physical requirements for this position with or without reasonable accommodation are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. While performing this position the employee with or without reasonable accommodation should have the ability to walk, stand, sit, kneel, speak, and hear with aid, see, read, reach with arms and hands, lift and/or move up to specified weight, and use equipment that is essential to performing the job, such as a computer, copier, fax machine, telephone, and automobile, if applicable. Specific vision requirements of this position may include color vision, seeing things close up, and the ability to adjust focus.

Upbring is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.