Leave of Absence and Accommodation Specialist, Central NJ Region

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.

About the role

The Leave of Absence and Accommodation Specialist engages with team members and/or leave vendors in the interactive process when an employee requests an accommodation related to a temporary or permanent work restriction (for ADA requests, leaves of absence, worker's compensation, NJ Safe Act, religion, etc.). This position operates at a network level scope and conducts a systematic and in-depth review of job requirements with the employee's leader on the request for the accommodation in accordance with federal and state laws and internal policies and procedures. This position identifies changes or modifications to the work or work environment with the leader that will allow the employee to perform the essential job duties free from workplace obstacles, when a reasonable accommodation exists. This position determines, in collaboration with department leaders and Legal, if a reasonable accommodation exists. This position maintains consistent contact and timely follow up with the team member, leadership, leave vendor, and Team Health. This position is responsible for staying current with changes to State and Federal regulations and laws related to accommodations to ensure compliance.

This is a hybrid position that may require travel onsite a couple of times a month for meetings, trainings, etc. The position covers Central Region facilities including JFK, Carrier Clinic, Raritan Bay, Old Bridge, and EMS.

Responsibilities

• Plan and supervise all aspects of the ADA/ADAAA interactive process network-wide for all team members and leaders.
• Initiate and manage all documentation of ADA/ADAAA claims.
• Act as liaison between team members, Leave of Absence providers, department leaders, and Team Health.
• Coordinate and facilitate the return-to-work process, including updating team member leave status.
• Coordinate all ADA/ADAAA accommodation requests across the network and collaborate with leaders, team members, physicians, Occupational Health, and LOA vendors to collect, review, and determine appropriate accommodations (e.g., alternate schedules, extension of leaves, reassignments).
• Partner with leaders to identify reasonable and effective accommodations that do not impose an undue hardship on the employer.
• Coordinate and determine outcomes on hardship requests in partnership with TMR Leadership and Legal Council as appropriate.
• Ensure the interactive accommodation process is flexible and suited to the employee's and employer's situations.
• Manage and navigate highly complex assessments to ensure compliance with regulatory ADA/ADAAA requirements.
• Act as a liaison between team members, leaders, and vendors when ergonomic assessments are recommended or requested.
• Coordinate review of assessment recommendations and work with internal partners to determine appropriate accommodation.
• Act as a liaison between Employee Health on post-offer and fit-for-duty accommodation requests and assessments.
• Participate actively on appropriate committees, workgroups, or meetings to support initiatives for a proactive and positive team member and leader experience in the ADA/ADAAA process.
• Effectively interact and participate with other departments in the accomplishment of interdepartmental and institutional LOA and ADA/ADAAA goals.
• Review ADA/ADAAA parking requests.
• Review and recommend policies and procedures for ADA/ADAAA programs and processes.
• Oversee new projects as assigned by the Director or as needed by regulatory bodies.
• Adhere to the policies, procedures, and standards identified and established by HMH.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 4 years of professional experience in Human Resources, demonstrating a working knowledge of federal and state laws as related to ADA, leaves, and the interactive process.
• Proven ability to confidently deliver key messages to all levels of the organization, identify solutions to complex employee issues, exercise influence, work independently within established guidelines utilizing sound judgment, and build trusting and collaborative working relationships within a large organization.
• Experience with both union and non-union employees.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Effective communication skills—both verbal and written.
• Proven ability to identify and implement effective process improvements and change management techniques.
• Working knowledge of software support products (Google Suite or equivalent) and HR systems of record.

Qualifications

Preferred:

• Prior direct experience managing Leave of Absence and Interactive ADAAA Accommodations process in a healthcare setting.
• Leave Management Specialist certification.

Pay

The minimum rate of pay for this role is $97,011.20 annually. The starting rate of pay is provided for informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of a specific offer. Posted rates may vary based on labor market data, experience, education, certifications, skills, geographic location, internal equity, budget, and grant funding. Some positions may also be eligible for performance-based incentives, bonuses, commissions, or shift differentials for work performed on evening, night, or weekend shifts.

Benefits

In addition to competitive compensation, HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) job positions, including:

• Health, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• Retirement benefits