We are seeking a detail-oriented and empathetic Leave of Absence and Benefits Coordinator to manage leave programs and benefits administration while ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. In this role, you will serve as a trusted resource for team members, providing clear guidance and communication throughout leave and benefits processes. Join our team and help create a positive, inclusive workplace experience for all team members.
• Leader in food safety solutions for both contract sanitation and chemistry in the food processing industry.
• Over 10,000 dedicated team members across North America.
• Corporate headquarters in Atlanta, GA with team members working in over 250 plants throughout North America.
• Over 50 years of experience in creating long-lasting partnerships.
OUR MISSION:
We protect the food supply by eliminating risks so families everywhere can eat without fear.
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Protect What Matters: We are in service of safety at every step, ensuring the health of everyone is central to all we do -- from plant team members to consumers.
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Deliver On Our Promises : We speak honestly and are dedicated to doing the right thing by upholding ethical standards and following through on our commitments to our teams, our customers, and our business.
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Win as a Team: We believe in the power of collaboration, uniting our diverse strengths while working hand-in-hand with our team members and customers to unlock potential and achieve stronger results together.
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Advance a Safer Future: We are committed to innovating more effective, sustainable, and cost-efficient food safety solutions to develop a safer world for all.
The Leave of Absence and Benefits Coordinator will manage and process team member leave requests and benefits administration, ensuring compliance with company policies and legal requirements. This role involves coordinating with team members and managers to facilitate smooth transitions, timely communication, and accurate benefits administration. Job duties include:
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Manage the full FMLA leave administration process, including eligibility determinations, required paperwork, medical certifications, intermittent leave tracking, and return-to-work coordination.
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Collaborate with legal counsel on complex leave requests.
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Administer state Paid Family Leave (PFL) and sick pay programs, including eligibility determinations, claims coordination, and proactive communication with team members about available state benefits and how they interact with company leave policies.
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Communicate proactively with team members and managers --- by phone, email, and written correspondence --- to guide team members through leave and benefits processes and resolve issues in a timely manner.
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Administer and maintain accurate benefits and leave records, including enrollments, terminations, beneficiary updates, QMCSOs, and related compliance reporting.
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Advise managers and team members on the interaction of leave laws, ADA accommodations, paid time off, workers' compensation, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
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Assist with Annual Open Enrollment and partner cross-functionally with HR to uphold benefits and leave compliance standards.
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Maintain confidentiality of team member medical and benefits information and preserve complete records in accordance with legal requirements and best practices.
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Use company approved AI tools as part of daily workflow for drafting leave correspondence, summarizing case files, and flagging compliance deadlines --- to work more efficiently and accurately.
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Other duties as assigned.
YOUR MUST HAVES:
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• Must be 18 years of age or older.
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High School Diploma or General Education Degree ("GED").
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2 or more years of experience with leave of absence administration and other legal protections afforded by the FMLA, ADA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA and other applicable laws; 1 or more years of experience in benefits administration also required.
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3 to 5 years of experience working with benefits carriers, vendors, and HR Information Systems.
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Excellent oral and written communication skills --- this role requires making regular phone calls to team members and managers; strong verbal communication and a professional phone presence are essential.
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Proficient with computer/technology including Microsoft Office and Adobe programs.
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Self-starter mentality --- You take initiative, manage your workload independently, and don't wait to be told what needs to be done.
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High integrity --- You handle sensitive team member information with discretion, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to doing the right thing.
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Compliance orientation --- You understand that details matter in leave and benefits administration and take regulations, deadlines, and accuracy seriously.
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Genuine care for people --- You see team members as whole people, not just cases to process, and are willing to pick up the phone to make sure they feel heard and supported.
WHAT WE PREFER YOU HAVE:
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Associate or Bachelor's degree in business with human resources emphasis.
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Bilingual (Spanish) skills to include written and verbal translations.
OUR ENVIRONMENT:
This is a fully remote or a hybrid role, partially based at the Corporate Headquarters, combining time in a traditional office setting with remote work from your professional home office. You will be expected to work on-site at minimum three days a week. The position requires sitting for extended periods of time while working on a computer.
• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Basic Life Insurance
• Short-term Disability
• Long-term Disability
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Holidays (Varies by Location)
• Paid Vacation
• Employee Assistance Program ("EAP")
• Training & Development Opportunities
Fortrex and Safe Foods, a division of Fortrex, are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, creed, sex, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, uniform service member status, veteran status, age, genetic information, disability, or any other protected status, in accordance with all applicable federal state, and local laws. Fortrex and Safe Foods are committed to complying with the laws protecting qualified individuals with disabilities.
Fortrex and Safe Foods will provide a reasonable accommodation for any known physical or mental disability of a qualified individual with a disability to the extent required by law, provided the requested accommodation does not create an undue hardship for the Company and/or does not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others in the workplace and/or to the individual. If a team member requires an accommodation, they must notify the site manager or the Corporate Human Resources Department. If an applicant requires an accommodation, they must notify the hiring manager and/or the Recruiter hiring for the position.