Disability analyst

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Benesch is proud to announce the opening for a Sr. Disability, Leaves & Accommodations Analyst in our Chicago office! This position is hybrid and has work from home flexibility.

Position Summary:

Do you consider yourself an expert in all things relating to disability management, leaves of absence and accommodations? Do you have a strong working knowledge of FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, ERISA, workers' compensation and disability programs? Are you looking for an opportunity to focus on these areas to provide white glove service in a professional organization? Then you may find our Sr. Disability, Leaves & Accommodations Analyst position to be the next career step you've been looking to move toward. This role is perfect for the professional who is a "know-it-all" and looking to own the process from start to finish.

The Sr. Disability, Leaves & Accommodations Analyst serves as the Firm's subject matter expert on all leave of absence, disability, and workplace accommodation matters. This role is responsible for managing the employee experience throughout the leave and accommodations lifecycle, partnering with the Firm's outsourced leave administrator, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. The Analyst acts as a liaison between employees, managers, Payroll, HR, and external vendors to provide seamless support while maintaining confidentiality and compliance in a high-touch, professional services environment.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Leave of Absence & Disability Management

• Serves as the firm's primary subject matter expert on disability and leave programs, including FMLA, state leave laws, paid family leave, and short- and long-term disability.
• Partners with the outsourced leave administrator to ensure accurate and timely case management.
• Reviews escalations from the third-party administrator and provides resolution or guidance to employees and managers.
• Creates and presents case timelines to HR leadership for escalation as requested.
• Tracks and monitors employee leave status, return-to-work dates, and completion of leave process steps.
• Ensures leave policies are consistently applied in alignment with firm practices and legal requirements.

Accommodations

• Manages the interactive process for employees requesting workplace accommodations under the ADA or similar state/local regulations.
• Collaborates with employees, managers, practice leaders, and HR to identify reasonable accommodations that balance employee needs with business requirements.
• Maintains accurate documentation of accommodation requests, determinations, discussions, and follow-up actions.

Compliance & Policy Administration

• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local leave and disability laws.
• Partners with Legal and HR leadership to update policies and procedures as regulations change.
• Maintains confidential records and reporting consistent with firm standards and privacy laws.
• Ensures required documentation is maintained in employees' medical files and in the leave administrator's recordkeeping.

Employee & Manager Support

• Provides compassionate, confidential, and knowledgeable support to employees navigating leave or accommodations.
• Educates managers on their roles and responsibilities in supporting employees before, during, and after leave.
• Develops and delivers training and resources to promote awareness of leave and accommodations programs.
• Refers employees to appropriate clinical management programs such as case management, health care navigation, and second opinion services.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Acts as the primary liaison with the outsourced leave administration vendor to monitor performance, escalate issues, and ensure service-level compliance.
• Collaborates with Benefits, HR, Payroll, and Finance to ensure smooth processes across functions.

QUALIFICATIONS

The Sr. Disability, Leaves & Accommodations Analyst will have a bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience) and at least eight years of expertise in leave of absence, disability management, and accommodations, preferably in a large or complex organization; professional services or law firm experience is a plus. Strong knowledge of federal and state leave laws (FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, ERISA, workers' compensation, disability programs) and experience managing outsourced leave vendors is essential. The role requires excellent communication, discretion, and interpersonal skills, strong organizational ability in fast-paced settings, and proficiency in Microsoft Office and HRIS systems. The Senior Analyst must demonstrate confidentiality, collaboration with internal and external partners, effective problem-solving, regulatory expertise, and a commitment to balancing employee well-being with organizational needs.

The salary range for this position is $85K to $115K.

Please note that quoted salary ranges are based on Benesch's good faith belief at the time of the job posting and are not a guarantee of what final salary offers may be. Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Base pay is only one part of the Total Rewards that Benesch provides to compensate and recognize our staff professionals for their work. Full-time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benesch is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability (where applicant is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations), medical condition, protected veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require special assistance or an accommodation during the process due to a disability should contact the Benesch Human Resources Department by phone at 216-363-4578 or email at [email protected].

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities