Personal Leave of Absence

A Personal Leave of Absence policy explains when your organization may approve unpaid time off for personal situations that fall outside legally protected leave, including eligibility, request and documentation steps, how leave length is determined, and what job reinstatement (if any) you can offer based on business needs and applicable state or local rules.

How to Write a Personal Leave of Absence Policy

• Start with "why" and introduce the concept.
• Define what a personal leave is, including that its purpose is to cover personal situations not addressed by other leave programs.
• Explain eligibility and that approval is discretionary based on business needs and prior time away.
• State whether the leave is paid or unpaid and how the length of leave is determined.
• Describe the request and review process, including that the request should be made in writing.
• Address documentation expectations for leave related to illness or injury, including fitness-for-duty clearance to return.
• Clarify job protection and reinstatement expectations, including that the same role may not be guaranteed unless required by law.
• Note how this policy interacts with legally protected leaves, including that protected leave may apply instead of a personal leave.

For advice on writing a Personal Leave of Absence policy in a specific jurisdiction, see below.