Your ImpactThe Return-to-Work Advisor provides high-level advocacy, coordination, and consultative support for associates navigating work-related injuries. Using extensive knowledge of the workers' compensation (WC), ADA, FMLA, disability programs, and Lowe's operations, this role ensures injured associates receive clear guidance, timely support, and equitable return-to-work (RTW) opportunities. The RTW Advisor manages escalated cases, facilitates temporary transitional duty placement, resolves complex benefit matters, and supports field leadership in navigating WC-related compliance issues. This role requires independent decision-making, strong communication skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively across Sedgwick, HR, medical case management, store leadership, and internal partners.
What You Will Do- Serve as the primary contact for escalated or complex associate issues requiring WC, ADA, FMLA or disability guidance.
- Provide immediate advocacy to newly out-of-work associates, identifying obstacles, and partnering with Sedgwick to resolve.
- Conduct WFA critical transition reviews at required intervals (60/90, 120, 240-day triggers).
- Deliver clear and empathetic communication throughout the claim lifecycle to reduce anxiety and encourage engagement.
- Manage alternative RTW referrals, placements, and Workday coding to reduce leakage.
- Intervene in RTW non-compliance cases, declined placements, or temporary duty terminations.
- Prepare temporary transitional duty letters and bona fide job offers for escalated matters.
- Partner with store operations, HR business partners, and nurse case managers to develop sustainable RTW plans.
- Coordinate RTW for out-of-state associates to ensure policy compliance and continuity.
- Collaborate with Sedgwick nurse case managers to resolve workflow issues and prevent treatment delays.
- Identify and escalate red flags, delays, or potential litigation risks.
- Respond to state WC agency inquiries and resolve escalated associate concerns.
- Resolve disputes related to medical treatment, scheduling, or service delivery.
- Provide guidance on WC, ADA, FMLA, and disability overlaps.
- Advise store leadership on temporary duty compliance.
- Consult on complex issues affecting RTW placements.
- Resolve no-pay escalations from nonprofit placement partners.
- Maintain dashboards tracking escalations, RTW compliance, temporary duty utilization, and cost impacts.
- Review ODG and NJWR compliance to identify workflow gaps.
- Provide insights to support continuous process refinement and program improvement.
- Monitor vendor performance and escalate service delivery issues as required.
Minimum Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in business, HR, risk management or related field or equivalent years of experience in lieu of education requirement, if applicable
- 5 years of general experience with at least 3 years in workers' compensation, RTW programs, disability/leave administration, or HR compliance
- Experience managing complex multi-state WC or RTW cases
- Strong communication, documentation, and case-coordination skills
Preferred Skills/Education- Experience with ODG guidelines, Workday, and Sedgwick systems
- Experience supporting a high-volume, multi-location organization
- CDMS - Certified Disability Management Specialist or coursework/certification in workers' compensation or ADA compliance
Pay Range: $74,600.00 - $124,500.00 annually
Starting rate of pay may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, position offered, location, education, training, and/or experience. For information regarding our benefit programs and eligibility, please visit our benefits page.
Lowe's hourly remote associates cannot reside in Alaska, California or Hawaii. Lowe's salaried remote associates cannot reside in Alaska or Hawaii.
