Karlene McNeal
Phoenix,AZ
Summary
Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills, strong work ethic, and exceptional interpersonal skills. Adept at working effectively unsupervised and quickly mastering new skills. Highly-motivated with desire to take on new challenges.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
HR Leave of Absence Intake Specialist
CommonSpirit Health
Phoenix, Arizona
09.2025 - Current
- Manage telephonic intake for all employee leave of absence requests using the Case Management system, ensuring accurate data capture and timely case creation.
- Clearly explain the Leave of Absence process, update and validate employee information, and issue all required eligibility notices in compliance with internal policies and regulations.
- Provide high-volume call center support by answering inbound calls and conducting outbound follow-ups, delivering consistent, high-quality service to employees and internal partners.
- Set up new and extended claims by determining eligibility, documenting case details, and utilizing full Case Management functionality, including notes, task creation, and corrections to personal or employment data.
- Perform follow-up on outstanding Case Management issues and initial Short-Term Disability (STD) intake requests, ensuring timely resolution and seamless case progression.
Leave & Benefits HR Analyst
Department of Emergency & Military Affairs
Phoenix, AZ
12.2023 - 12.2024
- Administer the agency’s leave of absence policies, ensuring compliance with FMLA, military leave, and unpaid leave regulations.
- Serve as the primary contact for leave-related inquiries, providing guidance and counsel to employees and managers on policies and procedures.
- Exercise independent judgment to coordinate and manage all aspects of employee leave, ensuring adherence to federal, state, and agency-specific regulations.
- Act as the Benefits Liaison, delivering information on state employee benefits, including health insurance, employee assistance programs (EAP), and wellness initiatives.
- Collaborate with management to enhance understanding of leave options and benefits, promoting informed decision-making among employees.
LOA Project Manager
Kaiser Permanente Hospital
Los Angeles, CA
11.2011 - 04.2022
- Managed full-cycle LOA cases for 1,500 employees (medical, maternity, workers’ comp, and personal leave) in compliance with policies and regulations.
- Process leaves extensions, returns through HRIS, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
- Serve as primary contact for employees and managers, providing guidance on LOA policies, eligibility, and procedures.
- Administer the Work Light Duty program, coordinating modified duty placements for workers' comp, medical, and maternity leaves.
- Ensure correct timecard coding for all leave types and maintain payroll accuracy.
- Track and updated leave of absence database
- Managed high-volume communications (phone, email, case management), providing status updates and resolving inquiries.
- Prioritized work queues to ensure timely processing and compliance with internal deadlines.
- Maintained confidentiality in handling sensitive medical leave information.
Skills
- Customer service excellence
- Problem-solving expertise
- FMLA and CFRA knowledge
- Pregnancy disability leave compliance
- ADA regulations understanding
- Case management proficiency
- Leave administration skills
- Effective communication strategies
- Empathic and oral communication
- HRIS management
Software
Google Workspace, Microsoft Excel, Word, Power Point, Outlook 365, Microsoft Teams, Adobe Acrobat Editor, ANSOS/OneStaff Scheduling, ADP, Kronos,
Timeline
HR Leave of Absence Intake Specialist
CommonSpirit Health
09.2025 - Current
Leave & Benefits HR Analyst
Department of Emergency & Military Affairs
12.2023 - 12.2024
LOA Project Manager
Kaiser Permanente Hospital
11.2011 - 04.2022