Leave Lock Period and Notice Period
This guide covers two important leave restrictions: the lock period (waiting time after joining) and the notice period (advance notice required when applying for leave).
Leave Lock Period
The leave lock period specifies the number of months an employee should wait from their joined date before applying for a leave request.
Method 1: Configure on Leave Type
You can set the lock period when creating or editing a leave type.
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Go to Manage > Leave
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Click Add New or edit an existing leave type
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In the advanced section, specify the Leave Lock Period value
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Leave Lock Period | Number of months to wait before applying |
Example: Setting a lock period of 1 month means employees cannot submit leave requests until 1 month after their join date.
Method 2: Global Setting
You can apply a lock period across all leave types using the global setting.
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Go to Settings > Leave
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Find Leave: Lock Period After Joined Date
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Set the number of months
Priority Rule
If you have specified the leave lock period when adding a leave type, the global leave lock period will be overridden by the leave type's lock period.
| Configuration | Priority |
|---|---|
| Leave type lock period | Higher (overrides global) |
| Global lock period | Lower (default for all) |
Lock Period Example
Employee Join Date: January 15, 2024
Lock Period: 1 month
Result: Employee cannot apply for leave until February 15, 2024
Leave Notice Period
The leave notice period specifies how many days in advance employees should apply for leave.
How to Configure
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Go to Admin > Leave Settings > Leave Types
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Edit the leave type
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Set the Required Notice Days field
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Required Notice Days | Number of days in advance required |
Example: Setting a notice period of 7 days means employees must apply for leave at least 7 days before the leave start date.
What Happens When Notice Period is Not Met
If an employee tries to apply for leave without meeting the required notice period, they will receive an error message.
The system prevents the submission and displays a message indicating the leave request cannot be processed due to insufficient notice.
Manager Override
Managers can bypass the notice period restriction by switching to an employee's account and submitting leave requests on their behalf. This is useful for emergency situations.
Comparison: Lock Period vs Notice Period
| Feature | Lock Period | Notice Period |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Restrict new employees from applying | Require advance planning for leave |
| Based on | Employee's join date | Leave request start date |
| Duration | Measured in months | Measured in days |
| Applies to | New employees only | All employees |
| Typical use | Probation period policy | Operational planning |
Configuration Examples
Example 1: New Employee Restrictions
Lock Period: 3 months
Notice Period: 7 days
New employee joins January 1:
- Cannot apply for any leave until April 1 (lock period)
- After April 1, must apply 7 days in advance (notice period)
Example 2: Different Settings by Leave Type
| Leave Type | Lock Period | Notice Period |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Leave | 3 months | 14 days |
| Sick Leave | None | None |
| Personal Leave | 1 month | 3 days |
Quick Reference
| Task | Location |
|---|---|
| Set lock period on leave type | Manage > Leave > Edit Leave Type |
| Set global lock period | Settings > Leave > Lock Period After Joined Date |
| Set notice period | Admin > Leave Settings > Leave Types > Required Notice Days |
Best Practices
- Exempt Sick Leave - Don't apply lock or notice periods to sick leave (medical emergencies)
- Communicate Policies - Include lock period information in employee onboarding
- Reasonable Notice - Set notice periods that balance employee flexibility with operational needs
- Manager Training - Ensure managers know how to override for emergencies
- Regular Review - Audit settings annually to ensure they match company policy