Leave of Absence Administrator

Thompson Coburn, a large full-service law firm with offices in eight (8) cities across the U.S., is in search of a full-time exempt Leave of Absence Administrator to join our Chicago, Dallas, or St. Louis office. With over 400 attorneys and experience in 50 areas of law, Thompson Coburn is regularly recognized for providing clients with outstanding value and service. Driven by our core values of integrity, innovation and diversity, we collaborate and work in a welcoming, fast-paced, and inclusive environment.

The Leave of Absence Administrator plays a critical role in supporting the firm’s most valuable asset, its people. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Human Resources, this position is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the firm’s leave of absence programs, including FMLA, parental leave, disability benefits, and workers’ compensation. This position provides an important service to the Firm and all team members by coordinating a seamless leave of absence experience for team members during pivotal moments in their lives. This role requires regulatory knowledge, operational precision, and empathetic communication to help team members navigate their time away with clarity and confidence.

Key Responsibilities:

Leave of Absence Management:

• Administers and manages all firm-wide LOA programs (FMLA, personal leave, parental leave, etc.).
  
• Serves as the primary point of contact for team members and managers regarding leave policies and procedures.
  
• Ensures timely and accurate processing of leave requests and documentation.
  
• Maintains accurate records and ensures compliance with applicable laws and internal policies.
  
• Collaborates with Payroll to ensure proper coding of time sheets and leave types for payroll processing.
  
• Escalates complex or sensitive leave of absence cases to the Senior Manager of Human Resources for guidance and resolution, ensuring alignment with company policies and legal standards.
  

Disability Benefits Administration:

• Coordinates short-term and long-term disability (STD, LTD, IDI) claims with third-party administrators.
  
• Communicates with team members, healthcare providers, and insurance carriers to facilitate claims.
  
• Monitors claim status and ensures timely resolution and return-to-work planning.
  
• Assists the benefits department with annual individual disability income (IDI) renewal process, including reconciliation of current policies to budgeted partner income.
  
• Reviews applicable benefit plan documentation and internal policies to resolve discrepancies, suggest changes, and maintain alignment between firm intentions and practical application.
  

Workers’ Compensation:

• Manages workers� compensation claims from incident reporting through resolution.
  
• Effectively communicates leave processes, status updates, and next steps to team members in a clear and timely manner.
  
• Coordinates with Payroll to ensure accurate processing of employee compensation during workers� compensation leave, including appropriate pay adjustments and coding.
  
• Liaises with insurance carriers, medical providers, and internal stakeholders.
  
• Tracks incidents, maintains documentation, and ensures compliance with OSHA and state-specific regulations.
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Maintains in-depth knowledge of federal and state leave laws, including those in California, Missouri, Illinois, New York, Texas, Alabama, and Washington, D.C., and the ability to appropriately apply this knowledge.
  
• Ability to administer short-term and long-term disability plans and workers� compensation processes and ensure compliance.
  
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel for spreadsheet management.
  
• Must possess a high level of professionalism and interpersonal skills to work well with team members at all levels and maintain all information in the strictest confidence.
  
• Must have the ability to read, write, and communicate in fluent English; ability to compose documents in the appropriate business style using correct grammar and spelling; ability to communicate clearly using proper grammar and diction, including online video meetings, in-person discussions, and audio communications.
  
• Must possess attention to detail, the ability to balance multiple projects, and strong time management skills.
  
• Must have the ability to reason and apply common-sense understanding to situations encountered.
  
• Ability to process routine daily functions while resolving sensitive issues and complex assignments utilizing above-average critical thinking skills.
  
• This is a full-time position that requires working a minimum of 40 hours on a regular basis. May require working outside of normal business hours to ensure the completion of position requirements.
  
• Ability to travel as necessary.
  
• The physical demands of this position are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. These include being both mobile and stationary throughout the workday, having the ability to transport 15 pounds, and being able to operate a computer and other standard office equipment.
  

Education and Experience Qualifications:

• Bachelor�s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
  
• A minimum of 4 years of experience in LOA, disability, and workers� compensation administration required, preferably in a multi-state setting.
  
• Experience working in a professional services firm preferred.
  
• Experience with HRIS and leave management systems is a plus.
  

Compensation:

For applicants that meet the experience requirements for the role and are physically based in Chicago, IL, the expected salary range is $80,000 - $100,000 annually upon commencement of employment. Starting salary will be determined on an individualized basis with consideration to prior experience and additional qualifications. This is in addition to a comprehensive benefit package offered by the Firm.

Thompson Coburn LLP is a large, full service, multi-state firm with offices in Birmingham, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Southern Illinois, and Washington D.C. At Thompson Coburn, our behavior and the expectations we have of ourselves are guided by the values that we hold in the highest regard: integrity, a passion for excellence, a focus on serving the client, a value of diversity, innovation, creativity, trust, and loyalty. Within the Firm, we value each other as people and colleagues. In addition to the exceptional working environment and a competitive salary, Thompson Coburn provides the following benefit options to qualifying employees:

• Medical Insurance
  
• Vision Insurance
  
• Dental Insurance
  
• Life Insurance & ADD policies
  
• Short & Long Term Disability Insurance
  
• Paid Parental Leave
  
• 401(k) Profit Sharing plans
  
• Parking/Transportation Stipend
  
• Section 125 Plan (Pre-tax premiums, dependent care and medical reimbursement)
  
• Paid Holidays
  
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
  
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  
• Employee Wellness Program
  
• Tuition Reimbursement
  
• College Savings Plan Deductions (529 Plans)
  
• Long Term Care
  

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
  
• Dental insurance
  
• Employee assistance program
  
• Health insurance
  
• Health savings account
  
• Life insurance
  
• Paid time off
  
• Vision insurance
  

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Chicago, IL 60603