Inclusion, Wellbeing and Abilities Specialist

Career OpportunityRole TitleInclusion, Wellbeing and Abilities SpecialistPurpose of roleReporting to the AVP, Inclusion, Wellness, Pension & Benefits, the role is responsible for contributing to Foresters Inclusion, Diversity and Wellbeing roadmap and the execution of priorities within that roadmap. The role is also responsible for performing administrative, technical and consulting functions for effective disability management, including accommodations, for Canadian and U.S. employees. The role requires frequent interaction with HR Business Partners, business leaders, employees and vendors. This is a hybrid role, requiring a minimum of two (2) days per week working from the office.Job DescriptionKey ResponsibilitiesInclusion & WellbeingContribute to the design and day-to-day management of inclusion, diversity and wellbeing programsHelp execute Foresters inclusion and wellbeing strategy by planning, organizing and communicating wellbeing events and resources, through various initiatives, and showcasing and promoting inclusion and wellbeing events and resources, including the Employee and Family Assistance (EFAP) PlansProvide administrative oversight, structure, guidance and recognition to ERG Co-Chairs and Committee members with the objective of simplifying processes, increasing partnership across the ERGs and delivering tools and resources to support the goals of the ERG membersDisability ManagementServe as the subject matter expert for disability (short term sick leave, short term disability and long-term disability) and accommodations in alignment with Human Resources policies & procedures and under the terms of the relevant plans and legislation in Canada and the U.SInterpret and administer all aspects of disability and accommodation programs and policies with an inclusion and wellbeing lensMeet regularly with HR Business Partners and business units as required to review disability claims status, understand business needs and help develop a return-to-work plan and/or accommodation planCoordinate the annual U.S. Workers Compensation application and auditProvide consulting as needed on complex casesGeneralEmbed Inclusion and Diversity principles across all aspects of employee wellbeing and disability management, contributing to an inclusive environmentOptimize utilization, awareness and understanding of inclusion, wellbeing and disability programs and resources through ongoing promotion and education, including townhalls and employee orientation sessionsHelp develop and issue employee communications related to wellness, inclusion and benefit programs and ensure information is shared in North America and globally as requiredAct as inclusion, wellness, and disability management subject matter expert for HR Business Partners, providing information and advice on technical and employee relations mattersCreation and maintenance of SharePoint sites as needed and contribute to the simplification of HR communications to the organizationResearch innovative wellness and inclusion initiatives and disability legislation and marketplace trends/best practices, with consideration to the employee populationWorking with the AVP, Inclusion, Wellness, Pension & Benefits and in partnership with the Senior Manager, People Analytics, Policy & Controls, help develop an approach to measure and analyze engagement, utilization and ROI of wellbeing, ERG events and disability programs; present reports to various stakeholders and make recommendations as requiredAct as liaison with providers, and/or third-party administrators and help to ensure the effective utilization of plans and positive employee relationsPartner with Pension & Benefits team to ensure programs have embedded principles of Diversity & Inclusion, and promote existing programs such as mental health coverage and EFAPs to support overall wellbeing during open enrolment periods and throughout the year as appropriateTake inquiries from employees and business units and resolve issues, as necessaryContribute to the success of various projects, such as surveys, provider reviews and program design changesOperate under the general guidance of the AVP and with a strong ability to work independently and take initiativeKey Qualifications4+ years of experience in the wellness, disability management and inclusion and diversity fieldUniversity degree or college diploma is strongly preferredStrong analytical skills in reviewing market data, legislation, employee and plan metrics, etc.Strong customer service skills (requires ability to manage wide variety of cases with different issues and different outcomes/solutions)Strong planning and collaboration skills to work effectively with multiple stakeholdersExcellent written and verbal communication skillsUnderstanding of principles and application of HRIS (Workday) and SharePoint Specialized Knowledge Or Other Training/education RequirementsCertified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation is an assetMembership in a professional Human Resources association is strongly encouragedEqual Opportunity Employment and Inclusion – at Foresters Financial, we are committed to sustaining an equal opportunity environment for all job applicants. We embrace Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE) as a core strategic objective for building strong, innovative teams in which all our employees can show up wholly and authentically as themselves. Foresters Financial strives to provide an accessible candidate experience for prospective employees with different abilities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodations during the recruitment process, please email accommodations@foresters.com in advance of your appointment.Thank you for choosing Foresters. Only those candidates who will be selected for further consideration will be contacted by our Talent Acquisition Team.