Leave it to HR! 📅

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. 🚀

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 📆

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

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. 🏝️

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. 🤔

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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. 💼

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. ⚖️

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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. 🤗 

Trivia | Feature Highlight 💡

Virtual Water Cooler: Bring back the buzz of office banter with online coffee breaks and sparking lighthearted conversations. ☕️ 

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. 🙂

Join our Slack Community! 🧑‍💼 

Looking for your next gig? Check out some of the recent job listings for HRs shared in The Shape of Work Community. ✨ 

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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.

Missed the last newsletter? Catch up here.