Senior Analyst - FMLA and Leave Management

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab's (LBNL) Environmental Health & Safety Division is seeking a highly skilled Senior IDAM Analyst to join our team. This role focuses on managing disability and leave cases, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, and providing guidance to employees, managers, and HR. The Senior IDAM Analyst plays a key role in strategic planning to reduce Workers' Compensation injuries, manage leave-related costs, and improve program efficiency. Key responsibilities include case management for leaves and accommodations, Workers' Compensation claims oversight, and participation in safety and claims reviews. The position also involves data analysis, program improvements, and collaboration with multiple stakeholders to achieve organizational goals.

What You Will Do:

Leave and Salary Continuation Case Management:

• Interprets and administers all leave of absence policies and programs in accordance with federal and state employment laws, company policies, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Serves as a confidential resource for employees, managers and Human Resources Division Partners regarding leaves of absence, disability options, policies, procedures, and related issues.
• Approves or denying leave cases based on medical or required documentation and maintaining accurate records in claims systems.
• Tracks leave timelines, usage, and entitlement limits, and communicating clearly with employees about leave details.
• Engages with employees, health services, and medical providers to obtain necessary documentation and facilitate return-to-work options.
• Ensures HIPAA compliance in managing medical information and involving HR or legal experts as needed for complex cases.
• Verifies employee eligibility for Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (STD/LTD) plans and facilitates claim initiation and monitoring throughout the leave process. Communicates Sick Leave, Vacation, and Paid Time Off balances and integrates these with STD, LTD, or Workers' Compensation plans.
• Provides accurate leave status and pay coordination details to payroll, timekeepers, and supervisors.
• Reports benefit premium billing eligibility information to Health & Welfare benefit plan administrators.

Job Accommodation & Transitional Return to Work:

• Serves as the primary contact for employees seeking reasonable accommodations, managing the Interactive Process in compliance with ADA/FEHA and federal/state guidelines.
• Oversees the development and execution of accommodation plans, including transitional work programs, assessing employee functional capacity and identifying effective solutions through case management.
• Facilitates reassignments and re-employment for employees unable to perform essential duties and oversees the Medical Separation process, ensuring compliance with regulations and policies.
• Develops and manages the Medical Separation process by reviewing requests, analyzing compliance with regulations and Lab policies, and providing appropriate recommendations.
• Partners with program stakeholders (Human Resources, Employee/ Labor Relations, Office of General Counsel and Health Services) and management to effect creative solutions to resolve a variety of complex accommodation cases.
• Participates in Disability Management/Rehabilitation Meetings to discuss trends, recent ADA/FEHA court cases, Workers' Compensation updates impacting the provision of services to employees with disabilities.
• Develop and maintain accommodation case records to ensure compliance, accuracy and documentation of efforts.

Workers Compensation Claims Management:

• Acts as the first point of notification and contact for employees regarding any incident or injury/illness that could, or has resulted, in a Workers' Compensation claim. Serves as an employee advocate.
• Coordinates with supervisors and department managers to ensure prompt and accurate reporting of Workers' Compensation claims.
• Works closely and coordinates with the Worker's Comp Case Manager to:




• Ensure timely and accurate verbal and established written communication with Third Party Administrators (TPA), consultants, managers, medical providers, supervisors and employees ensuring timely claim filing and consistent case management.
• Enter and maintain incident, claim and first aid data in appropriate information systems; Processes all claim related forms within legally required timeframes; Distributes all relevant documentation regarding work related incidents to Safety, Health Services, and TPA to assist with compensability determinations and ensure regulatory requirements are met.
• Monitor all claim and case management activities; Assess the medical status, vocational, and behavioral needs of an injured employee.
• Ensure that the Worker's Comp Case Manager has up to date and accurate case information to enable collaborations with TPA claims adjusters and attorneys in the management and settlement of cases before the California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB).
• Participates in strategic planning aimed at reducing the incidence rate of worker's compensation related injuries and associated financial risk.
• Coordinates claim resolution with vocational rehabilitation counselors, medical specialists, Human Resources specialists, safety specialists and divisions/departments.
• Provides expert-witness testimony at the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) on Workers' Compensation cases and accommodation activities.

What is Required:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience and a minimum of 8 years relevant experience.
• Minimum of 8 years experience in Human Resources, Disability Management, Human Resources Compliance or related compliance work experience.
• Experience interpreting and communicating policy provisions Demonstrated through work experience content expert knowledge of state and federal disability laws to include: ADA, FEHA, FMLA, CFRA, PDL and Workers' Compensation.
• Demonstrated through work experience content expert knowledge and ability managing cases involving the interactive process (Americans with Disabilities Act and California's Fair Employment & Housing Act) Demonstrated through work experience content managing Workers' Compensation cases/claims involving claim filing and case management.
• Ability to consult regarding confidential and complex issues.
• Effective written and verbal communication, consulting, interpersonal and presentation skills, with the ability to create and facilitate collaboration amongst diverse groups, people and professional disciplines.
• Must be able to work in a Labor/Management environment.
• Knowledge of the state and federal leave laws (Family Medical Leave Act, California Family Rights Act, and Pregnancy Disability Leave etc) and other statutory mandated leave plans.
• Intermediate knowledge of Salary Continuance plans (Statutory Disability, Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability, Sick Leave, Vacation, Paid Time-Off, and Workers' Compensation).
• Must have intermediate knowledge of civil rights laws relating to disability discrimination (Americans with Disabilities Act, California's Fair Employment & Housing Act) and California's Workers' Compensation system.
• Basic working knowledge of vocational rehabilitation and return-to-work principles, theories and practices and strong relevant consulting, counseling, case management and communication skills.
• Ability to independently establish priorities, perform multiple projects simultaneously with short deadlines and frequent interruptions, and complete assignments to meet Lab objectives.

Desired Qualifications:

• Certified Professional Disability Manager (C.P.D.M),)or Worker's Compensation Certification preferred.
• Experience handling confidential data with demonstrated proficiency generating reports, conducting data analytics, and program trending and analysis.

Notes:

• This is a full-time career appointment, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.
• This position is expected to pay $133,000.00-$148,000.00, which fits within the full salary range of $118,272.00-$199,608.00. Salary for this position will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualification and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications, and aligned with the internal peer group.
• This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule - a combination of teleworking and performing work on site at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. Work schedules are dependent on business needs. Individuals working a hybrid schedule must reside within 150 miles of Berkeley Lab.

Learn About Us:

Berkeley Lab (LBNL) addresses the world's most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab's scientific expertise has been recognized with 16 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

Working at Berkeley Lab has many rewards including a competitive compensation program, excellent health and welfare programs, a retirement program that is second to none, and outstanding development opportunities. To view information about the many rewards that are offered at Berkeley Lab- Click Here.

Berkeley Lab is committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) and strives to continue building community with these shared values and commitments.

Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We heartily welcome applications from women, minorities, veterans, and all who would contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, inclusion, and professionalism. In support of our diverse global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

Equal Opportunity and IDEA Information Links:

Know your rights, click here for the supplement: "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law" and the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision under 41 CFR 60-1.4.