Benefits Specialist, Absence & Accommodations

About the role

Morningstar's Global Benefits team seeks a Benefits Specialist, Absence & Accommodations to support leave of absence, disability, and workplace accommodation programs across the United States and Canada. This role supports employees navigating leaves and accommodation requests, ensuring a positive experience while maintaining compliance and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Support administration of U.S. and Canada leave programs, including parental, medical, personal, military, disability, and statutory leave programs.
• Monitor leave cases and facilitate communication between employees, managers, HR, Payroll, and third-party administrators.
• Aid employees in understanding eligibility, benefit continuation, pay implications, and return-to-work processes.
• Review leave administration outcomes for accuracy and escalate complex issues when necessary.
• Support implementation and ongoing administration of Morningstar's leave administration vendors and related processes.
• Coordinate accommodation requests and support the interactive process in partnership with employees, managers, HR Business Partners, Legal, and external providers.
• Track accommodation cases, required documentation, timelines, and follow-up activities.
• Ensure accommodation requests are handled consistently, confidentially, and in compliance with applicable laws and company policies.
• Partner with stakeholders to facilitate accommodation implementation and ongoing case monitoring.
• Assist with administration of programs subject to FMLA, ADA, PWFA, state leave laws, provincial requirements, disability regulations, and related employment laws.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation supporting leave and accommodation decisions.
• Support regulatory reporting, audits, policy updates, and compliance reviews.
• Monitor legislative developments and assist in implementing required process or policy changes.
• Serve as a liaison between Morningstar and third-party leave and accommodation vendors.
• Track service issues, escalations, processing errors, employee complaints, and operational trends.
• Support vendor meetings, reporting reviews, and issue resolution efforts.
• Identify opportunities to improve employee experience, reduce manual work, and strengthen operational controls.
• Respond to employee, manager, HR, and Payroll inquiries regarding leave and accommodation programs.
• Develop employee-facing communications, guides, FAQs, and process documentation.
• Provide thoughtful, customer-focused support during sensitive employee situations.
• Partner effectively across People & Culture, Legal, Payroll, Benefits, and external vendors.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in leave of absence, disability, accommodations, benefits administration, HR operations, or a related field.
• Knowledge of FMLA, ADA, disability administration, and U.S. leave regulations.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple cases and competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to confidentiality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred

• Bachelor's Degree.
• Experience administering leave and accommodation programs in both the United States and Canada.
• Experience working with third-party leave administrators and disability carriers.
• Experience supporting ADA accommodations and interactive process documentation.
• Experience with HRIS platforms such as Workday.
• CEBS, SHRM, PHR, or related professional certification.