Employee Leave Specialist

Requisition 38229: B3 - Employee Leave Specialist

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Job Summary: The Employee Leave Specialist will play a crucial role in administering employee leave programs, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, and providing guidance and support to employees and managers regarding leave policies. This position specializes in leave requests that include Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Paid Parental Leave Program, Vacation Program, Vacation Purchase Program, Holiday Program, and short-term or long-term disability plans and polices.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Leave Administration:
   
   
   
   • Administer all aspects of employee leave programs, including Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), state-specific leave laws, disability leave, and other company-sponsored leave policies and programs.
   • Review and process leave requests, ensuring accurate documentation and compliance with company policies, programs and legal requirements.
   • Maintain leave records and documentation, ensuring confidentiality and data accuracy.
   • Serve as a liaison for plan vendors and third-party administrators.
   
   
   
   
2. Compliance and Policy Implementation:
   
   
   
   • Stay up-to-date with federal and state leave laws and regulations, ensuring the company's policies and practices are in compliance.
   • Assist with developing, updating, and communicating leave policies and procedures to employees and managers.
   • Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to ensure adherence to all relevant laws and regulations including Internal Revenue Code, FMLA, HIPPA, ADA, and ERISA.
   
   
   
   
3. Employee Support:
   
   
   
   • Serve as a primary point of contact for employees and managers seeking information and guidance on leave-related matters.
   • Assist employees in completing leave requests, coordinating required documentation, and explaining their rights and responsibilities during leaves of absence.
   • Provide ongoing support to employees on leave, including communication and coordination of return-to-work processes.
   • Oversees the return-to-work (RTW) process for employees returning from short-term disability, or other leaves.
   
   
   
   
4. Reporting and Data Analysis:
   
   
   
   • Generate regular reports on leave utilization, trends, and compliance metrics.
   • Analyze leave data to identify patterns and opportunities for improvement.
   • Collaborate with HR teams to provide insights and recommendations for enhancing leave programs.
   
   
   
   
5. Documentation and Recordkeeping:
   
   
   
   • Maintain accurate and organized records of all leave-related communications, forms, and approvals.
   • Ensure that all required documentation is complete and filed appropriately.
   
   
   
   

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 2+ years of experience in leave administration or a similar HR role.
• Knowledge of federal and state leave laws, including FMLA.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Familiarity with HRIS systems and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Qualifications (not required):

• Professional certification in HR (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR).
• Experience in a transportation or railroad industry setting.
• Familiarity with relevant industry-specific regulations.

This is a hybrid position. The individual can expect to work in our Midtown Atlanta, GA HQ at least 2 days per week.

Company Overview

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.

At Norfolk Southern, we believe in celebrating our individuality. By leveraging the unique backgrounds and viewpoints of our employees, we can create a culture of innovation, respect, and inclusion. We know that employees thrive in a workplace where differing viewpoints, ideas, and experiences are freely shared and valued. As such, we encourage all employees to contribute their distinctive skills and capabilities to our organization.

Equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Together, we power progress.