AbsenceSoft Survey Finds HR Teams Facing Surge of Leave of Absence and Accommodations Requests from Employees; Mental Health Plays a Key Role
Nearly two-thirds of respondents received an increase of more than 20% leave and workplace accommodations requests in 2023 compared to the prior year
Golden, CO – January 23, 2024 – AbsenceSoft, the leading SaaS platform for leave of absence and accommodations management, released the results of its 2024 Leave of Absence and Workplace Accommodations Survey. The survey of HR leaders at employers with 5,000+ employees across the U.S. uncovers new patterns in leave and workplace accommodations requests and the leading reasons employees are making these requests. The survey also dives into HR’s top challenges with both leave and workplace accommodations and the measures they are applying to overcome these hurdles.
Today’s workforce is willing to ask for what they need – both in terms of time away from work and adjustments to their job or work environment. Highlighting this trend, the survey finds that:
- Accommodations and leave requests are on the rise. 62% of respondents noted an increase in the number of leave requests in the past year, while 75% reported an increase in accommodations requests.
- Mental health needs are a prevalent reason behind the rise of accommodations and leave of absence requests. 55% of respondents reported that taking time to manage mental health-related issues was a top three reason for employees requesting leave, while 52% said the same for accommodations.
“Creating a company culture that attracts and retains top talent requires employers to prioritize and adapt to the evolving needs of their employees,” said Mark Schiff, AbsenceSoft CEO. “Optimizing an organization’s leave and accommodations strategy and processes not only helps reduce employee stress and burnout, but also fosters a more productive work environment.”
The survey highlights proactive measures employers are taking to address the evolving needs of their workforce. Notably, 51% of respondents shared that their organizations have either added or considered adding paid mental health days for 2024. This, along with an increase in other leave benefits such as paid parental leave (54%) and flexible PTO time (52%), reflects the forward-thinking approaches by employers to enhance employee wellbeing.
“As the volume of accommodations and leave requests continues to rise and employee expectations evolve, HR teams must be equipped with the right resources to keep pace,” says Seth Turner, co-founder and chief strategy officer. “With the right software in place, HR can keep up with surging demand and create a personalized and seamless experience for employees, all while ensuring they remain compliant with ever-changing laws and regulations.”
AbsenceSoft surveyed 600 HR leaders who have overall responsibility for the employee experience, HR policies, and HR technology purchase decisions in organizations of more than 5,000 employees. The survey was conducted in late 2023.
To learn more and to access the accompanying report, visit here.
About AbsenceSoft
AbsenceSoft’s leading SaaS solution streamlines and automates leave and accommodations processes, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations while elevating the employee experience. The company’s scalable, easy-to-use, and configurable software enables companies to manage 180+ policies like FMLA, ADA, and PWFA, and its professional services team is widely recognized for top-tier customer service and community engagement. Founded in 2013 and based in Golden, Colorado, AbsenceSoft is trusted by companies of all sizes and across industries to deliver personalized employee experience to more than 5 million employees, improve efficiency, and stay compliant. Learn more at absencesoft.com or follow the company on LinkedIn.
