20/03/2024, 14:13 Leave it to HR!

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HR Brain Pickings Posts Leave it to HR! 📅

Leave it to HR!
Mariam Mushtaq
📅
March 19, 2024

Happy Tuesday! 🌞
Hi there! Mariam Mushtaq from HR Brain Pickings here with the second issue of this week’s
newsletter. 😌
In this issue, we're diving into a topic that almost all HRs may have dealt with at some point in
their career: figuring out leave policies and leave management. 📅
Keeping up with the latest in leave policy trends can be crucial for meeting legal requirements
and matching the expectations of today's workforce. 🚀

How often should companies review and update their leave

policies to stay aligned with current laws and workforce needs?

Every month
Once a year
Every 5 years
As needed, with no set schedule

In our world of HR, effective leave management policies are a win-win. 🌟

They empower employees by providing clarity on their leave balances, ensuring they can plan
their time off 📆

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For us on the HR side, it helps in maintaining employee productivity while staying on the right
side of legal compliance. ⚖️

Did you know?

- The average American worker gets only 11 days of paid vacation per year.
🤯
- Only 4% of companies offer unlimited PTO in the U.S. 😮
- 28 million Americans don’t get any paid vacation holidays. 😳
Read more stats on PTO in the US vs. other countries

Tips for HRs | Effective Leave Management

Navigating leave management can be a breeze with the right strategies in place. Here are a
few best practices to optimize your leave management process, ensuring everyone benefits
from well-deserved time off. 🏝️

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1. Take Advantage of Technology
Adopt a Leave Management Software

Feeling swamped? Leave management software can be a lifesaver, automating the tracking
and calculation of PTO while accommodating state-specific regulations. 🔄
This tech solution frees you up to focus on broader HR responsibilities.

Track the Leaves

Accurate leave records can not only clarify remaining balances for your employees but also
highlight if anyone's not fully utilizing their PTO—a missed opportunity for boosting productivity.
📊
Leverage Automation

From sending out PTO reminders to alerting managers about pending time-off requests,
automation ensures no detail is overlooked. These features not only save time but also keep
your operations running smoothly. ✅
2. Consistency is Key

Stick to your leave policy without making exceptions. Bending rules might seem harmless at
first but can lead to perceptions of favoritism and disrupt your company culture.

Aim for a policy that's generous enough to satisfy majority of the employee needs from the get-
go. 🎯
3. Communicate Policy Changes Clearly

Wait, our leaves DON’T get carried over? Make sure you announce any changes widely and
consider holding a meeting for open discussion. Transparency is crucial when updating
policies. 👥
Also, listening to employee feedback is vital; if a significant number oppose the new policy, it
might be time to rethink your approach. 🤔
Source

What's trending in leave benefits now?

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According to this NFP report, some employers in the US have started offering special
leave benefits such as:

Grandparental leave: More people are now working into their 70s, and many of them
would enjoy leave to bond with new grandchildren. Only 8% of employers offer
"grandternity leave", but 38% are considering it.

Menopause leave: 11% of women aged 45 to 60 have missed work due to

menopause-related symptoms. That's a good reason to offer menopausal leave, which
is currently only available from 4% of employers, although 34% of companies plan to
offer it in the next few years.

IVF and pregnancy bereavement leave: Around 28% of employers offer

bereavement leave in respect of pregnancy loss or failed IVF. This type of family
relationship is also specified in the Illinois bereavement leave law.

Source

Inspiration from the Best ✨

As we work to improve our leave policies, it can help to look towards companies that are
leading the way in this space. 🚀
Here are examples of organizations that stand out for their progressive leave policies:

Microsoft sets the bar high with 12 weeks of paid parental leave for all parents,
alongside 4 weeks of paid caregiver leave for immediate family members facing
serious health issues.
They also offer up to 4 weeks of bereavement leave, not to mention flexible work
arrangements and personal leave options. ⏳
Patagonia goes above and beyond with 16 weeks of paid family leave for new
births or adoptions, and 12 weeks for caregiving or personal medical leave.
Employees also benefit from up to 2 weeks of paid bereavement leave, with
additional options for unpaid personal leave. 🌿
Salesforce champions family support with 26 weeks of paid parental leave for
both parents and up to 6 weeks for caring for a family member with a serious
illness.
They provide up to 3 days of paid bereavement leave, plus provisions for unpaid
personal leave. 💼
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Drawing from their examples, it's clear that a thoughtful leave policy must balance both the
needs of your team and the standards of your industry. ⚖️
Source

Let's Hear From You!

We're curious: What is the leave policy at your workplace? Do you face any challenges
when it comes to leave management? Share with us.

Leave Policy at Springworks 🤝

At Springworks, we understand the significance of leaves and personal time off. We believe
that providing ample leave opportunities is not only a perk but an essential element in fostering
a positive and productive work culture. 💪
Here's what we do:

✅ 30 Leaves (18 x Casual Leaves + 12 x Personal Time Off) + 4 Floater Leaves (OP) per
year.

✅ Auto-Approval of all Casual Leaves and PTOs without any reason required.
✅ We strictly believe in the fact that "Your Leaves are Yours".
We're hiring adults, and it's always good (and obvious?) to treat them like one! Keep your
leave policy flexible enough to alter as per employee requirements and make sure your
employees don't feel guilty in taking what's already theirs. 🤗

Read more about our culture

Trivia | Feature Highlight 💡

Virtual Water Cooler: Bring back the buzz of office banter with online coffee breaks and

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☕️
Leave it to HR!

sparking lighthearted conversations.

Learn More about Trivia

Free Template: Leave Policy (India)

Have you been tasked with creating a leave policy and you are not sure where to start? We got
your back, download this template to get started. 🙂

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Download Free Template

Join our Slack Community! 🧑‍💼

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Looking for your next gig? Check out some of the recent job listings for HRs shared in The
Shape of Work Community. ✨
Signing up only takes a few seconds!

Join the Community

Today’s Reads
Take a look at these crazy stats on how many employees are working from home
vs remote vs hybrid - take a wild guess which one is in the highest percentage!
📊 Read the article.
“Accounting clerk, data management associate, inventory management clerk, and
digital marketing specialist are all examples of roles suited to many
neurodivergent people.” 🧠 Read this Guide on Supporting Workers with Autism.
Are you trying to figure out how to leverage People Analytics in your current HR
role? 💡 Learn how to use it for Recruitment and Payroll management.

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