Leave of Absence Specialist

Location: Remote available to US-based candidates who currently reside in any one of the following states: IL, WA, MO, AZ, TX, FL, OR, IN, MD, CO, VA

The Leave of Absence Specialist is responsible for administering leave of absence programs, workplace accommodations, and workers’ compensation claims across all Guitar Center business channels. This role ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while delivering a positive and supportive employee experience. The specialist will serve as the primary point of contact for employees and managers regarding leave and accommodation processes, providing guidance, tracking, and case management to support both business continuity and employee well-being.

Leave & Accommodation Administration

• Administer the full cycle of leaves of absence, including FMLA, state-specific leaves, ADA accommodations, personal leaves, and other company-sponsored programs.
• Partner with employees, managers, and HR Business Partners to provide guidance on leave eligibility, process requirements, and return-to-work transitions.
• Coordinate reasonable accommodations under ADA, working closely with employees, leadership, and legal as needed.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure timely documentation and communication throughout the leave process.

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local leave laws, including FMLA, ADA, state paid family leave programs, and workers’ compensation regulations.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive employee information and ensure adherence to HIPAA and data privacy requirements.
• Generate reports and dashboards on leave trends, utilization, and compliance metrics for HR and business leaders.

Employee Experience & Service Delivery

• Provide exceptional customer service and empathetic support to employees navigating leaves and accommodations.
• Serve as a resource for managers to ensure business continuity while supporting employee needs.
• Continuously improve processes and resources to enhance efficiency and the employee experience.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 2–4 years of experience administering leaves of absence, accommodations, preferably in a multi-state environment.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state leave laws, and ADA regulations
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and case management skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• Experience with HRIS and leave administration systems

Preferred Qualifications:

• HR or leave management certification (e.g., CLMS, SHRM-CP, SPHR).
• Experience working in a multi-unit, nationwide organization with complex leave and accommodation needs.

Why Guitar Center? Here's just some of the rewards:

For our employees who are musicians we offer the unique opportunity of gig leave--take time off to share your music with the world and return to your job after your tour! Guitar Center offers robust benefits and perks, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K plus company match, mental health support, paid sick/holiday/vacation time, employee discount program, and tuition reimbursement options.

Pay Rate: $70,000 - $76,000/yr depending on background and experience.

This position is eligible to participate in the Guitar Center Company bonus program based on Company performance.

The job posting is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee, which is always dependent on actual experience, education, and other factors. The pay range(s) listed are provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different in other locations. 

About Guitar Center

Guitar Center embodies the world of creativity and music by encouraging our teammates to find their own individual sound. We strive to craft lifelong musicians and make a difference in the world by enabling musicians and non-musicians alike to experience the almost indescribable happiness that comes from playing an instrument. We believe in putting our customers first, engaging with respect and integrity and fulfilling our mission with passion.

Why join us?

With a career at Guitar Center, you become part of the world's largest multichannel musical instrument retailer. Whether at our Stores, Contact Centers, Distribution Centers, or Support Center, Guitar Center employees have a common goal: to help people find their sound and fill the world with more music.

Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides fair and equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job‐related requirements.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening. You can request reasonable accommodation by calling 1‐818-735-8800 ext. 2862 or by sending an email to [email protected].