Leave & Benefit Specialist
: Job Details :

Overview

*Chesterton is looking for a Leave & Benefits Specialist to support our HR team here in Groveland, MA! This is a hybrid based position, requiring at least 4 days of on-site work and 1 day of remote work.*

For over 140 years, A.W. Chesterton has been an innovator and a knowledge provider for our industrial partners around the globe. From our ground-breaking split seal technologies, to our cutting-edge packing and lubricant solutions, we are continually focused on new ways to bring solutions to our customers, while also celebrating our own rich history and our unique place in the sealing industry.

HR at Chesterton is not your typical human resources group. Of course, they function as a strategic partner to the business in all the usual HR areas – recruiting, employee relations, HRIS, Compensation and benefits. But what distinguishes the group is their emphasis on programs designed to grow and develop our employees. From specialized workgroups designed to recommend improvements across the company, to formal and informal mentorship programs, to scholarship programs for employees' children, HR at Chesterton values taking care of our number one asset – our people! Come grow your own career while working with a fun, collaborative and flexible group of HR professionals

Our benefits offering include:

• “Work Today, get paid tomorrow” - withdraw up to 50% of your earned daily wages the next day after you work rather than waiting for pay day!
• Chesterton Student Loan Repayment Program
• BCBS Medical Coverage
• Delta Dental
• 401K savings plan with a Chesterton contribution
• PTO including vacation sick, time, 12 paid holidays, and paid to time off to volunteer for causes
• Extra vacation day purchase program
• Vision insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Short-term disability and long-term disability insurance
• HSA & FSA options to cover additional medical costs
• Parental leave for moms and dads to be
• Hiring referral bonuses (up to $3,000 for select roles)
• A host of other fringe benefits including legal services, pet insurance, Chesterton relief fund for employees in need, and more!

Check out our formal job description below:

Job Summary:

The Leave and Benefit Specialist assists in administering leave and benefit programs for all employees, coordinating and managing the process from initiation to closure. This includes managing all relevant communications and updates to employees' HR records. In this role, you will be responsible for communicating with employees and medical professionals regarding leave matters. You will provide guidance and interpretation of our benefit plans, helping employees navigate the process of filing for or claiming benefits.

Additionally, you will play a crucial role in benefit administration, offering guidance, counseling, and support to employees in understanding their benefit and leave plans. This encompasses assisting new employees with benefit enrollment. You will also be involved in introductory vendor management and employee program oversight.

Your responsibilities as a Leave and Benefit Specialist are essential to ensuring that our employees receive the support and information they need for their leave and benefit programs. Your expertise will contribute to a seamless and efficient process that aligns with our commitment to employee well-being and satisfaction.

Job Model: Hybrid

All fully remote positions will require you to travel on site 2-4 times per month depending upon business needs at your own expense.

Hybrid positions will require employees to work both on-site and remote each week under a schedule that has been determined and agreed upon by you and your manager.

On-Site positions will require employees to work on-site for each of their scheduled shifts.

Responsibilities:

Leave Management

• • Communicate effectively with employees, medical providers, and managers to gather information regarding leave eligibility and benefit authorization.

• • Assess, adjudicate, track, and monitor all leave of absence requests to ensure compliance with company policy and applicable laws (FMLA, ADA, state leave programs).

• • Serve as the primary contact for leave-related inquiries from employees and supervisors, providing clear guidance and support throughout the leave process.

• • Review employee claims for eligibility, accuracy, and completeness; document all leave activities in the leave management system.

• • Authorize and coordinate return-to-work arrangements based on physician documentation, job requirements, and departmental capabilities.

• • Track weekly benefit deductions for employees on unpaid leave and follow up on outstanding balances.

• • Maintain strict confidentiality and ensure protection of sensitive employee information in all leave-related activities.

Benefits Administration

• • Provide guidance and assistance to employees regarding their benefit plans, including new hire enrollment, life event changes, and terminations.

• • Serve as the primary contact for benefits-related inquiries from employees and supervisors, ensuring accurate and timely responses.

• • Develop and deliver training to drive employee awareness and understanding of benefit programs, including leave and wellness initiatives.

• • Conduct regular audits of benefit enrollment data in HRIS and vendor systems to ensure accuracy of deductions, eligibility, and enrollment records.

• • Assist in administering annual open enrollment and ongoing benefits processes; support the Benefits Manager with projects as needed.

• • Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements for benefits and leave programs.

• • Provide superior customer service by rendering benefit determinations within expected timeframes and maintaining proactive communication with employees.

General HR Support

• • Log all interactions and maintain detailed case documentation in HRIS and leave management systems.

• • Support employee well-being by assisting with return-to-work planning and ensuring employees receive appropriate benefits in accordance with company policies and legal requirements.

• • Provide general administrative and project support to the HR department as assigned.

Complexity of Duties:

• Works under supervision. Will receive guidance from supervisors in regard to claims decision-making process

• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

• Contacts are both internal and external across all employee levels within the organization.

Essential Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Requires strong communication skills, good writing skills, strong customer service and analytical skills.

• Adept user of Microsoft office suite, especially excel.

• Ability to effectively communicate in potentially stressful situations.

• Demonstrated ability to gather and analyze information, determine a course of action and implement the selected course of action.

• Ability to quickly learn company policies, procedures and benefit offerings.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor's degree preferred.

• 2-4 years' experience working in benefits administration, data analysis, or related HR or administrative field.

• Experience and knowledge of short-term disability and FMLA claim processes is a plus

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.

• Able to communicate effectively via phone.

• Strong presentation skills.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Employees assigned to certain tasks within this job may be required to participate in our Medical Surveillance Program.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, talk or hear and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. Moderate noise (i.e.; computer printers, traffic) exists daily in the work environment.

Disclaimer:

A.W. CHESTERTON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This role is a U.S. based role. If the candidate resides in the desired location of the role, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will be discussed with the candidate before they are formally invited to interview.

Targeted pay range: $62,000 - $65,000/yr. depending on your experience

Chesterton is committed to paying all its employees in a fair and equitable manner. The pay range associated with this position ($62,000 - $65,000/yr. DOE) is Chesterton's good-faith salary estimate for the presently available position. Several roles at Chesterton are considered “leveled” positions and as such, the company reserves the right to advertise and or hire for this position at appropriate level depending on applicant's skillset/experience. If the salary range to be offered for a “leveled” based position (I, II, III, etc.) is different than what was advertised on any posting, that range will be discussed with the candidate before they are formally invited to interview.

Hired applicants may be eligible for additional incentive compensation depending on the level and or function of the position which will be discussed with the candidate prior to formal interview. Payments under these programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company's performance.

Please note that the final salary offered for any position will be based on many factors, including but not limited to: candidate qualifications such as education and experience, internal equity, geographical location, and budget. Please note, it is not the company's usual practice to hire near or at the top of a pay range for any position that is available.

Chesterton anticipates the application window closing approximately 45 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require Chesterton to shorten or extend the application window.

All of A.W. Chesterton Company employment is contingent upon successfully passing a background check and the respective medical surveillance requirements. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Chesterton is an equal opportunity employer M/F/V/D

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