Leave of Absence Analyst - GSC - US

FHLB Des Moines; Houston, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Sysco seeks a Leave of Absence Analyst – Regulatory & Appeals SME to lead LOA administration for colleagues across the U.S. You will review complex leave requests, apply FMLA and ADA/ADAAA requirements, and provide practical guidance to HR and business leaders.

Based in the Global Support Center at 1390 Enclave Pkwy, Houston, this hybrid role requires on-site presence 3–4 days per week. Strong regulatory knowledge and communication skills are essential to ensure compliant, equitable leave

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive LOA administration and HR compliance experience.
• FMLA and ADA/ADAAA knowledge demonstrated in employee cases.
• Strong knowledge of federal/state leave requirements and policy application.
• Experience reviewing complex LOA cases, escalations, and appeals.
• Ability to analyze facts and document conclusions independently.
• Experience translating regulatory guidance for non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Review and process corporate LOA requests with HR as main POC.
• Coordinate with leave administration vendor and payroll on time tracking and coding.
• Ensure compliance with FMLA, ADA/ADAAA and local laws.
• Provide reporting to HR and management on LOA trends.
• Serve as SME for complex LOA escalations and appeals.

Skills

LOA administration

HR compliance

Disability/absence management

Employee relations

Analytical skills

Regulatory interpretation

Communication skills

HRIS experience

Workday experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Professional certification (DMEC, SHRM-CP/ SCP, PHR/ SPHR)

Tools

Workday

Leave management software

HRIS

Job description

Company

Company: US6469 Sysco Payroll, Division of Sysco Resources Services, LLC Sales Territory: None Zip Code: 77077 Travel Percentage: Up to 25%

COMPENSATION INFORMATION

The pay range provided is not indicative of Sysco’s actual pay range but is merely algorithmic and provided for generalized comparison. Factors that may be used to determine rate of pay include specific skills, work location, work experience and other individualized factors

Job Description Summary

The Leave of Absence (LOA) Analyst – Regulatory & Appeals Subject Matter Expert (SME) serves as a key subject matter expert within the Leave of Absence Center of Excellence, providing advanced expertise and practical application of federal and state leave and accommodation requirements. This role is responsible for administering fully cycle leave requests for all corporate (GSC) assigned colleagues who are based throughout the U.S. This role will support the team by reviewing complex leave requests and claims, evaluating escalations and appeals, interpreting applicable regulations and company policies, and providing well-reasoned recommendations to ensure consistent, compliant, and equitable leave administration.

Location and Hybrid Position

Our Global Support Center/ Corporate Office is in the Energy Corridor- off I10 and N Eldridge. Address: 1390 Enclave Pkwy, Houston, TX 77077 This is a hybrid position requiring an on-site presence 3 to 4 days per week. Please note that the number of days on-site can increase based on business needs.

Job Summary

Job Summary: The Leave of Absence (LOA) Analyst – Regulatory & Appeals Subject Matter Expert (SME) serves as a key subject matter expert within the Leave of Absence Center of Excellence, providing advanced expertise and practical application of federal and state leave and accommodation requirements. This role is responsible for administering fully cycle leave requests for all corporate (GSC) assigned colleagues who are based throughout the U.S. This role will support the team by reviewing complex leave requests and claims, evaluating escalations and appeals, interpreting applicable regulations and company policies, and providing well-reasoned recommendations to ensure consistent, compliant, and equitable leave administration.

Key Responsibilities

• Leave Administration Review and support all corporate leave requests for eligibility and accurate processing. Work directly with the colleague and HR as the main POC throughout a leave of absence. Communicate with leave administration vendor as necessary to ensure smooth processing of internal systems, regulatory updates for system enhancements, accuracy and claim support. Partner and communicate with HR regarding LOA related claims and payments including coordinating and applying time o for a colleague throughout their leave of absence period. Collaborate with Payroll to ensure proper coding, time tracking, and compensation is applied for colleagues during leave. Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, and company-specific policies. Provide reporting to HR and management as needed.

Regulatory Subject Matter Expertise

Serve as a trusted SME on FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, and applicable federal and state statutory leave requirements. Interpret regulatory requirements and translate them into practical guidance for LOA Analysts, Field HR, and business leaders. Maintain working knowledge of evolving federal and state leave legislation and regulatory guidance. Review complex and sensitive LOA cases involving FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, statutory leaves, company leave policies and overlapping leave requirements.

Escalations & Appeals

Serve as a primary reviewer for complex LOA escalations, disputed determinations, employee concerns, and appeals. Develop clear recommendations for resolution and communicate the rationale to appropriate stakeholders. Partner with Legal, Employee Relations, Field HR, Benefits, and other functions on high-risk or highly sensitive cases.

Quality & Compliance Review

Identify trends, control gaps, and opportunities to improve case handling. Assist with internal audits, regulatory inquiries, and documentation requests as needed.

LOA Team SME Support

Serve as an escalation resource when analysts encounter unusual, high-risk, or diicult-to-interpret situations. Support the development of resources as needed.

Cross-Functional Partnership

Partner with Legal, Employee Relations, Field HR, Benefits, Payroll, HRIS, Total Rewards, Occupational Health, Risk Management, and other stakeholders on complex LOA matters. Support communication and training initiatives to improve understanding and consistent application of LOA requirements.

Reporting & Trend Analysis

Provide insights and recommendations to LOA leadership regarding compliance risks, process gaps, and opportunities for improvement.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in Leave of Absence administration, HR compliance, disability/absence management, employee relations, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated hands-on expertise administering and applying FMLA and ADA/ADAAA requirements in actual employee cases.
• Strong working knowledge of federal and state statutory leave requirements and their practical application.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing complex leave cases, escalations, appeals, medical documentation, intermittent leave, extensions, and return-towork situations.
• Ability to independently analyze complex facts and documentation and reach well-supported conclusions.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting regulations and translating them into practical operational guidance.
• Strong understanding of the interaction between FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, statutoryl eaves, company policies, and other benefit programs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain complex regulatory concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Experience working with HRIS and/or leave management systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting a large, complex, multi-state employer.
• Experience working in a centralized LOA Center of Excellence or similar operating model.
• Experience reviewing third-party leave administrator determinations.
• Experience with LOA appeals, quality audits, compliance reviews, or regulatory audits.
• Experience with Workday.
• Familiarity with leave management software.
• Experience supporting unionized or highly regulated employee populations.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Labor Relations, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Professional certification such as DMEC, SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR, or related leave/disability certification.

BENEFITS INFORMATION

For information on Sysco’s Benefits, please visit https://SyscoBenefits.com OVERVIEW: Sysco is the global leader in foodservice distribution. With over 71,000 colleagues and a fleet of over 13,000 vehicles, Sysco operates approximately 333 distribution facilities worldwide and serves more than 700,000 customer locations. We offer our colleagues the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, to contribute to the success of a dynamic organization, and to serve others in a manner that exceeds their expectations. We’re looking for talented, hard-working individuals to join our team. Come grow with us and let us show you why Sysco is at the heart of food and service.

Affirmative Action Statement

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affinitive Action employer, and consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law. This opportunity is available through Sysco Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates. Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 71,000 colleagues, the company operates 333 distribution facilities worldwide and serves approximately 700,000 customer locations. For fiscal year 2022 that ended July 2, 2022, the company generated sales of more than $68 billion. Information about our Sustainability program, including Sysco’s 2022 Sustainability Report and 2022 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report, can be found at www.sysco.com.