> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://human-resource-docs.ha-consultancy.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Leave Management

> Track leave entitlement, requests, and balances in BC — annual, sick, unpaid, and hourly leave with per-plan accrual rules and optional approval routing.

Track leave entitlement, requests, and balances. The system supports daily leave (annual, sick, unpaid, emergency, and any custom types you add), shorter hourly leave for early-departures, and per-work-type vacation rules.

## What you can do

* Define **leave categories** (Annual, Sick, Unpaid, Emergency, custom).
* Build a **leave plan** per category — how many days per year, probation rules, minimum/maximum consecutive days, eligibility waiting period.
* Optionally configure **salary deduction rules** — e.g. unpaid leave reduces accrual of certain salary components.
* Set **vacation entitlement** differently per work type (full-time vs. part-time vs. contractor).
* Submit leave **requests** with approval routing.
* Track **balances** per employee per category.
* Record **hourly leave** for short absences (e.g. left work 2 hours early).

## Before you start

* Set up your salary components in [payroll setup](/features/payroll-setup) if you want leave to affect specific allowances.
* Configure your approval workflow in [Approvals](/features/approvals) if leave needs sign-off.

## Walkthroughs

### Walkthrough 1 — Add a leave category

Set up a new type of leave (e.g. bereavement leave). You'll likely have the basics already from the demo data — annual, sick, unpaid, emergency.

1. Search for **Leave Config Type List**.
2. Click **New**. A blank row appears.
3. Fill in:
   * **Code** — a short identifier (e.g. `BEREAVE`).
   * **Type** — what the employee sees (e.g. `Bereavement Leave`).
   * **Description** — optional context.
   * **Has Deduction Rules** — leave unticked unless this leave type affects how some salary components accrue.
4. Press **Esc** to save.

The new category is now available for setting up a leave plan.

***

### Walkthrough 2 — Set up a leave plan

A leave plan defines the rules for a category — how many days per year, whether probation gates it, minimum and maximum consecutive days, and any salary impact.

1. Search for **Leave Config List**.
2. Click **New**. A blank plan card opens.
3. Fill in the header:
   * **Code** — short identifier (e.g. `ANN-21D`).
   * **Name** — display label (e.g. `Annual Leave — 21 days/year`).
   * **Balance Type** — *Normal* if accrued over time, *Contractual* if granted in full on hire.
   * **Allowed after probation** — tick if probation must complete first.
   * **Allowed after hiring** — number + unit (Day / Month / Year), if there's a waiting period.
   * **Min / Max Consecutive Days** — floor and cap on a single request.
4. (If the category has deduction rules) on the **Deduction Rule** section, list which salary components stop or change accrual during this leave.
5. Press **Esc** to save.

The plan is now ready to assign to employees.

***

### Walkthrough 3 — Assign a leave plan to an employee

1. Open the employee's card.
2. On the ribbon, click **Leaves**. The employee's leave plans open.
3. Click **New**.
4. Pick the leave plan code (e.g. `ANN-21D`).
5. Press **Esc** to save.

The current balance starts at 0 and accrues per the plan's rules.

***

### Walkthrough 4 — Submit a leave request

1. Open the employee's card → click **Leaves** on the ribbon.
2. Select the plan row for the relevant category (e.g. `ANN-21D`) and open its card.
3. Click **Request Leave** (or add a row in the request section).
4. Fill **From Date** and **To Date** (inclusive).
5. Save.

If the plan requires approval, the request routes through your approval workflow ([Approvals](/features/approvals)). Otherwise the balance is decremented immediately.

<Tip>Employees can submit the same request from their company mobile app or self-service portal if your company has one.</Tip>

***

### Walkthrough 5 — Set vacation entitlement per work type

If you want full-time and part-time staff to accrue vacation at different rates, configure them here.

1. Search for **Vacation Time Setup List**.
2. Click **New**.
3. Fill in **Work Type** (Full-time / Part-time / Contractor), days per year, accrual cadence.
4. Press **Esc** to save.

The leave engine applies these rules when calculating entitlement for an employee on that work type.

***

### Walkthrough 6 — Record an hour or two of leave

For shorter absences (early leave for an appointment, e.g.), record them in hours rather than full days.

1. Search for **Hourly Leave Journal**.
2. Click **New**.
3. Fill in employee, date, hours, and a note.
4. Press **Esc** to save.

The hours appear on the employee's running hourly balance and are netted off salary at month end.

## Related features

* [Approvals](/features/approvals) — leave requests route through your approval workflow if you've set one up.
* [Scheduling & roster](/features/scheduling) — approved leave shows on the roster.
* [Payroll setup](/features/payroll-setup) — deduction rules link leave types to salary components.
* [Journals](/features/journals) — leave consumption posts to the salary journal at month end.