A HR Leader’s A to Z of Employee Leave
Long gone are the days where employee leave simply meant taking annual leave and sickness absence from work. Now, there’s a whole host of different types of leave out there – some aimed at wellbeing, others statutory entitlements, and some designed to give employees that extra time to deal with challenging life events.
In our latest eBook, A HR Leader’s A to Z of Leave Policies, we explore a different type of leave for every letter of the alphabet. Yes, every letter! To check out the complete list, download our eBook for free.
As well as exploring the extensive range of types of leave, we also discuss the benefits and challenges that organisations are presented with when looking to implement an attractive, cost effective, and comprehensive leave package.
What is employee leave?
Employee leave is the time that employees can take off work – for rest, holidays, recovery or other life events.
Employee leave can be broadly split into two categories: statutory leave – i.e. types of leave that are a legal entitlement for employees, and enhanced or complimentary leave – i.e. types of leave that aren’t legally mandated but are nevertheless provided by an employer, as part of an appealing benefits package.
Statutory employee leave, across most countries, includes things like annual leave, which is a minimum number of holiday or vacation days that an employee can take off in a year. It’s common practice for many organisations to offer more annual leave than the statutory minimum, in order to attract and retain talent amongst their competition and industry.
It also includes things like parental leave, maternity leave and sick leave and sick pay – which are legislated in many countries around the world, and again, employers are required to provide at least the minimum amount of time off for these types of leave.
Leave types that aren’t mandated but are common practice might include things like wellbeing leave, volunteering leave and birthday leave. Extra days off like these are a great way for organisations to help support their employees’ wellbeing, provide them with opportunities to give back to their communities and local charities, or enjoy an additional day off for their birthday.
What are the benefits of offering a comprehensive leave package?
According to one survey, 69% of employees said they would choose one job over another if it offered a better benefits package, so it pays to be as generous as possible when it comes to leave allowances.
The range of benefits associated with offering a comprehensive leave package include:
- Attracting and retaining top talent: A generous leave package is a major perk for employees, making your company more competitive in the job market. It demonstrates a commitment to employee wellbeing and work-life balance.
- Boosting employee morale and job satisfaction: Offering flexible and comprehensive leave options shows employees that their employer values their personal lives and overall wellbeing. This leads to increased job satisfaction and loyalty.
- Enhancing productivity and reduce burnout: Time away from work allows employees to recharge, reduce stress, and return to their jobs with renewed energy and focus. This ultimately leads to increased productivity and a healthier workforce.
- Building a positive company culture: A strong leave policy contributes to a positive company culture that prioritises employee wellbeing, where workers feel comfortable taking time off that they need and have earned through hard work.
- Complying with legal requirements: Many countries have specific laws regarding minimum leave entitlements. Offering a comprehensive leave package ensures compliance with these regulations and avoids potential legal issues.
How can edays help organisations to manage employee leave?
Whether you’re a growing organisation searching for a simple staff holiday planner, or a global company looking to manage complex leave entitlements across different locations – we can help.
With edays, manage all aspects of employee leave – from maternity to birthday leave, to ‘pawternity‘ and paternity leave.
With support for part-time and full-time employee entitlements, the ability to book time off work in hours or days, and the power to adapt templates to suit different countries that your organisation operates in, edays is the most comprehensive and flexible leave management system out there.
