Donna Vajko Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Aurora Illinois, United States

Support the day-to-day administration of U.S. company benefits and programs.- Serve as the primary contact for employee benefit questions. - Provide timely and accurate responses while ensuring the highest level of customer service.- Collaborate will all plant locations to ensure benefit elections are processed timely and accurately.- Assist during annual enrollment to ensure employees are prepared and supported.- Manage educational assistance program, tracking applications and processing reimbursements.- Validate qualifying life events processed by employees in UltiPro ensuring compliance with plan design.- Distribute compliance documents to employees such as summary plan descriptions.- Assist with data input and output utilizing the HRIS system.

Chicago Illinois, United States

Managed U.S. employee benefit programs to ensure the attraction, retention, and motivation of employees, including but not limited to all qualified and non-qualified defined contribution, pension, and health & welfare plans (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, FSA, HSA, EAP, wellness and voluntary programs).- Maintained strong relationships with HR Operations team and multiple third-party administrative vendors.- Developed and executed communication strategy to ensure all parties were fully informed of benefit plan changes and improved employee understanding, promoted consumerism and fostered appreciation of the value of all Company sponsored benefit programs.- Managed multiple third-party vendor relationships to ensure efficient and effective administration of all benefit plans.- Ensured compliance with statutory rules associated with benefit plans such as ERISA, FMLA, and HIPAA including timely and accurate filing of Form 5500 and ACA.- Assured all plan related documents were accurate and up to date.- Managed the benefits platform and file interfaces with third-party vendors.

Deerfield Illinois, United States

Provides on-going administration of all health & welfare programs and voluntary benefits within plan design and regulatory constraints. - Supports ongoing HRIS administration, ad hoc changes and reporting.- Validates qualifying life events processed by employees in Workday to ensure compliance with plan and legal requirements.- Serves as primary liaison for employees and third-party benefits providers.- Coordinates subsidized cobra with cobra administrator and finance.- Review, prepare, and process benefit plan invoices.- Assists with data input and output utilizing the HRIS system.- Performs benefit plan audits to ensure accuracy between internal and external systems.- Responds to benefit inquires relating to enrollments, plan changes, contributions, and claim issues.- Provides guidance to field HR personnel on processes and serves as Subject Matter Expert.- Manages Educational Assistance Program, tracking applications and processing reimbursements.- Collaborates with HRIS ensuring accuracy of file feeds, resolution of discrepancies and reconciliation of data files.- Processes all benefits invoices, collaborating with Accounts Payable on reconciliations and/or discrepancies.

Mount Prospect Illinois, United States

Managing the leave of absence processes in compliance with federal, state and/or local laws regarding Family Medical Leave, ADA, state disability and group STD/LTD plans.- Staying abreast of applicable leave laws and regulatory changes and provides recommendations for policy and process modifications (i.e. COVID Leave Management)- Ensuring highest level of customer service and support throughout the LOA process.- Ensuring quality and service delivery including accurate system updates, coordination for timely payments.- Maintaining LOA tracking system, including Workman’s compensation with FMLA.- Serving as the subject matter expert for the leave programs.- Facilitating communications between employees, management, and other HR functions as appropriate.- Providing support to supervisors/managers in evaluating protocols when employees do not adhere to LOA policy.- Collaborating with third party administrators, vendors, and Legal as needed.- Demonstrating respect, sensitivity and understanding for the employee’s circumstances while maintaining professionalism at all times.- Communicating clearly and concisely with all employees while educating them on leave policy.

Downers Grove, Il

(GPN is the parent company encompassing the ON, ABB, BSN, Isopure, Nutramino, think!/thinkThin, Amazing Grass, Body & Fit and Slim Fast brands).Managed all aspects of healthcare and retirement plans including Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA/FSA, Life Insurance, Short-Term (STD) and Long-Term (LTD) Disability, Cobra, Wellness Program, and 401k (qualified and non-qualified). Managed vendors for domestic and international benefits. Showcased ability by uncovering new methods to improve employee satisfaction through benefits programs.- Decreased company benefit costs over $2 million and significantly improved administration of plans by consolidating five business units’ specific plans and contributions into one core-benefits program.- Made recommendations for benefit plan changes and assisted with negotiation of contracts with benefit plan vendors for services and premiums.- Identified opportunities for process and system improvements within the benefits administration function and collaborated with HRIS Manager on system improvements.- Ensured compliance with applicable government regulations, including timely and accurate filing of Form 5500 and ACA.- Established company’s first international healthcare benefit plans in Canada and Brazil, collaborating with brokers uncovering best possible plans and options.- Partnered with and provided guidance to business partners as it related to employees leave of absences and reasonable accommodations.- Served as a business partner for mergers and acquisitions, ensuring all newly acquired employees integrated in system and enrolled in benefits.- Managed document processes for implementation of benefit plans, distributed compliance documents such as summary plan descriptions and supported employees for a successful enrollment.- Managed and administered the installation of a benefits portal platform.

Aurora, Il

Directed full spectrum of HR and payroll functions. Managed all benefits-related functions, including annual enrollment, provider billing, and regulatory compliance. Administered Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA/FSA, Life Insurance, Short-Term (STD) and Long-Term (LTD) Disability, Cobra, and 401k plans.- Built HR department from ground up coaching managers and employees on HR related functions..- Directly supported employees at all levels by responding to questions, policy interpretation, issue resolutions, and advising to resolve work-related issues.- Conducted investigations on complaints, documented information uncovered and partnered with management to remedy situations.- Constructed, implemented, and guided supervisory staff on policies and procedures and other HR topics.- Automated annual enrollment process, leading change during innovation from paper to system resulting in successful enrollment for all employees.- Reported data for government requirements, including EEO-1, VETS-100 and Affirmative Action Plan.- Processed multi-state payrolls timely and accurately in accordance with applicable state regulations.

Bolingbrook, Il