Regardless of the profession we have selected, we all need a vacation from time to time. It is a healthy way to put work aside, gain a fresh perspective about everything in our lives and return to work more energised than before. Employees who do not take a break at required intervals might experience burnout, which harms not only their wellbeing but also their productivity and their organisation’s goals. 

Often, poor leave management policies and procedures of a business can discourage employees from taking leave when needed. Employees might also refrain from asking for leave if they feel it would harm their reputation as hard workers or if there would be more work to do when they return. In such cases, employers must put forth a carefully created leave management model that helps employees balance work and well-being. 

Employers must control their employees’ leave management requirements. One of the best ways to encourage employees to manage their leave efficiently is by implementing a suitable leave management system. Such systems may also be a part of a human resource management system, which can help ensure employee engagement. 

1. Increases employee satisfaction 

Employees who feel satisfied with the way their organisation provides for their leave requirements and pay attention to the overall growth of their employees are likely to perform better. Organisations can help make their employees feel valued and satisfied with their job roles by implementing automation. Without automated systems, employees generally need to go through a series of lengthy conversations explaining their reasons for leaving. Management had to struggle with paper-based documentation to manage when employees were taking leave. 

With automated leave management systems, employees can apply for leave with just a few clicks. They do not need to go to anyone or face unnecessary questions. An automated system will provide all the mandatory details for taking leave, such as the reason for leave, and if required, attach any related documents. This simplicity works for both employees and management. 

2. Better employee wellbeing

In the absence of a proper leave management system, employees may continue to work more than their physical and psychological health allows them to, resulting in burnout. Absenteeism is the condition when employees are physically present but are unable to perform tasks as per their potential. Both burnout and absenteeism are interrelated and harmful to the growth of an organisation.  

 Implementing a leave management system as part of an HRMS and creating leave policies helps enhance the well-being of employees by allowing them to submit leave applications etc, easily. 

3. Proper leave planning 

Businesses without an efficient leave management system can often struggle with leave allocation, especially over busy periods within the business. With a leave management system, employees can apply for their leave well in advance. Teams working on the same project can plan their leave and the work they need to accomplish beforehand. The system can help the allocation of leave automatically.

4. Adherence to compliance

Regulations also require employers to keep a record of the leave taken by their employees. A leave management system is an easy way to record these events and generate reports when asked by an auditor. It is also a helpful tool to ensure leave is being taken properly and effectively and shows that employers care for the well-being of their employees.

5. Improves accuracy and transparency 

Paper-based leave management systems were inefficient in managing the leave records of every employee. However, automating this process using an HRMS can offer improved accuracy and transparency of leave records. Leave records are recorded and saved and can be accessed by authorised users on the go. Managers across an organisation can see all the leave taken by their employees over a period relatively more easily than with paper-based systems.

Other Benefits of a Leave Management System

All the above are ways in which a leave management system can enhance employee engagement. Other benefits that a well-designed leave management system can bring to an organisation include (but are not limited to):

  • Significant reduction in the number of management errors. 
  • Improves communication between management and employees. 
  • Promotes the values of your organisation. 
  • Reduces paperwork. 
  • Decreases manual interventions. 

The Takeaway:

A leave management system is a powerful platform to provide your employees. Not only does it help with improving employee engagement, but it also takes some of the workload of HR and organisational managers. A leave management system can help further the employee self-service approach. If your organisation does not yet have a leave management system in place or needs to replace an obsolete version, it is time to contact Sentrient HR.