If you had an employee reach out to you about how much vacation time they had to use after their baby was born, what would you talk to them about?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
How to Answer
Answer Example

The interviewer is looking to see if you have any knowledge of things like qualifying life events (QLE) and FMLA. They also want to see if you are the type of employee who will only provide the answer to the question you are asked, or if you are someone who will anticipate future questions and provide those answers as well. Many times, employees do not understand their benefits or know what is available to them, so going the extra step and sharing the information with them is a key part of a Benefits job.

For this question, or one like it, think carefully through what elements of benefits might come into play. You want to include in your answer any information that might be helpful to the employee in their situation. Keep your answer brief, the interviewer doesn't need all of the details but make sure to touch on each of the benefit topics that are relevant.

"Whenever an employee reaches out to me with a benefits question, I take a moment to think through their situation and what benefit offerings they need to know about. In this case, if an employee were pregnant and asking about their vacation time, I would be thinking about FMLA, if they have company-paid Short Term Disability (STD), adding the baby to their insurance after the Qualifying Life Event (QLE), and even how they could use their FSA to pay for any birth expenses. I might even want to ask them if they've confirmed the facility they are planning to deliver at is in-network. I've found employees often don't realize what benefits are available to them and they can't ask questions about benefits they don't know about. So it is my job to share the information with them and to guide them on the right path."

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How to Answer: If you had an employee reach out to you about how much vacation time they had to use after their baby was born, what would you talk to them about?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Benefits Specialist job interview.

28. If you had an employee reach out to you about how much vacation time they had to use after their baby was born, what would you talk to them about?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

The interviewer is looking to see if you have any knowledge of things like qualifying life events (QLE) and FMLA. They also want to see if you are the type of employee who will only provide the answer to the question you are asked, or if you are someone who will anticipate future questions and provide those answers as well. Many times, employees do not understand their benefits or know what is available to them, so going the extra step and sharing the information with them is a key part of a Benefits job.

Written by Tiffany McPherson on May 16th, 2022

How to Answer

For this question, or one like it, think carefully through what elements of benefits might come into play. You want to include in your answer any information that might be helpful to the employee in their situation. Keep your answer brief, the interviewer doesn't need all of the details but make sure to touch on each of the benefit topics that are relevant.

Written by Tiffany McPherson on May 16th, 2022

Answer Example

"Whenever an employee reaches out to me with a benefits question, I take a moment to think through their situation and what benefit offerings they need to know about. In this case, if an employee were pregnant and asking about their vacation time, I would be thinking about FMLA, if they have company-paid Short Term Disability (STD), adding the baby to their insurance after the Qualifying Life Event (QLE), and even how they could use their FSA to pay for any birth expenses. I might even want to ask them if they've confirmed the facility they are planning to deliver at is in-network. I've found employees often don't realize what benefits are available to them and they can't ask questions about benefits they don't know about. So it is my job to share the information with them and to guide them on the right path."

Written by Tiffany McPherson on May 16th, 2022

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