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Creating Leave Types

A leave type is a category of time off — Annual, Casual, Medical, Paternity, and so on. Each type carries its own rules: how many days it grants, who can use it, and what happens to unused days.

Open Leave > Leave (the Manage section) and stay on the Leave Types tab. Existing types are listed with their key settings at a glance.

Leave Types tab

Adding a leave type​

Click Add New. A friendly five-step wizard opens — you only have to fill in what you need, and every option has a plain-language explanation underneath it.

Step 1 — Basics​

Give the leave a clear name (this is what employees see) and the number of days it grants per leave period.

Basics step

Step 2 — Access​

Decide who can use this leave and what they must provide:

  • Employees can request this leave themselves — turn off to make it admin/manager-assigned only.
  • Admins & managers can assign this leave — let HR grant it on someone's behalf.
  • Allow requests beyond the available balance — handy for sick leave that may run over.
  • Require a supporting document — force an attachment (e.g. a medical certificate).
  • Require a reason — make the employee explain the request.

Access step

Step 3 — Rules (timing & accrual)​

Control when leave can be taken and how the balance builds up:

  • Minimum notice — how many days in advance a request must be made.
  • Waiting period for new joiners — new staff can't use this leave until this long after joining.
  • Accrue the balance gradually — build the balance day-by-day instead of granting it all at once.
  • Pro-rate for mid-period joiners — new joiners get a share based on how much of the period is left.

Rules step

Step 4 — Carry forward​

Decide what happens to unused days at the end of a period:

  • Carry unused days to the next period — let the remaining balance roll over.
  • Count holidays that fall between leave days — whether a holiday sitting between two leave days is counted as leave.
  • Send email notifications — email employees and approvers about these requests.
  • Internal notes — a note for admins only; employees never see it.

Carry forward step

Step 5 — Advanced​

Optional final touches:

  • Leave group — limit this leave to a specific group of employees. Leave blank to offer it to everyone.
  • Start the leave period from each employee's join date — an advanced option that changes how balances are calculated. Only enable it if you're sure it matches your policy.

Advanced step

Click Create leave type to finish.

Common leave types to start with​

  • Annual Leave — usually 15–25 days, with carry-forward and pro-rating for new hires.
  • Casual Leave — usually 5–10 days, available immediately, no carry-forward.
  • Medical / Sick Leave — usually 10–15 days; often requires an attachment and allows going beyond the balance.
  • Maternity / Paternity Leave — restricted to a leave group.