10 Types Of Job Leaves You Should Be Aware Of At Work

All working professionals eagerly await the holidays and the weekends. We believe that this is the only time we can get to escape our daily grind. This not only takes away all our stress and worries but also allows us to strengthen our bonds and socialise with family, and friends as well as spend a day indulging ourselves in self-care. But what happens when an emergency strikes or that one Bali trip you’ve been waiting to tick off from your bucket list finally approaches you? In such cases requesting leave from your employer becomes a crucial element. However, navigating the various types of job leaves can be confusing. Thus, we’ve compiled a list of job leaves to guide you through the process and help you plan your next break more effectively.

10 Types Of Job Leaves:

1. Sick Leave – This type of job leave is taken when an illness or Medical treatment is needed. Most organizations give their employees a minimum of 12 sick leaves in a year. These sick leaves can also be combined with earned leaves. Another important thing to remember is that these sick leaves cannot be carried forward to the next year.

2. Paid Leave – Paid leave refers to time off from work where an employee still receives their regular pay. It is a specified number of leaves that a person earns for working specific days. This type of leave can be carried forward unlike sick leaves. The employee also needs to get permission in advance from their managers. The earned leave specified in the employment contract serves as the primary source of motivation for employees, as it can be encashed if unused during the year.

3. Unpaid Leave – Unpaid leave is time off when an employee does not receive their regular pay. Employees may take unpaid leave for various reasons, such as personal matters, extended vacations, family responsibilities, or medical issues that exceed their available paid time off. Unlike paid leave, where the employer continues to compensate the employee, unpaid leave typically involves a temporary suspension of salary or wages. While unpaid leave provides flexibility, it can also pose financial challenges, so both employers and employees need to understand the terms and conditions surrounding unpaid leave, including any eligibility requirements and the impact on benefits and job security.

4. Compensatory Leave – Compensatory time off, often referred to simply as comp time or compensatory leaves, is when employees are granted time off work in place of overtime pay. This type of leave can be a bonus point as some employees work overtime on weekends, weekly offs or even on holidays given that they not only get provided with a comp off but also get additional pay for their work.

5. Bereavement Leave – In case of unexpected death of a family member or a loved one bereavement leaves can be taken to grieve their death or in some cases taken to complete the customs and traditions that different religions follow after the death or after the funeral rites. In some cases, in the case of accidental death or personal harm, the family can also use this leave to oversee not just the funeral rites but also legal work. This gives families time to bond and commemorate their loved ones without any interruptions or work-related stress.

6. Maternity Leave – Motherhood is a gift and birthing a child as well as taking care of it in the initial months can be a challenge from sleepless nights to stress and hormonal changes a woman goes through it all. Therefore, maternity leave is provided to women expecting a child. This leave lasts for 26 weeks for the 1st and 2nd child. Whereas for the third child or more the leave period is 12 weeks. Also, in case of miscarriage or abortion, there is a leave period of 6 weeks as per the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. Also, this leave can be extended as per law for up to 16 months depending on the organization on the pay structure.

7. Paternity leave – Parenthood is a journey that everyone wants to embrace and watch every step of their child from a baby to a mischievous toddler. Therefore, paternity leave is a type of leave granted to fathers (or non-birthing parents in the case of same-sex couples or adoption) to bond with and care for a newborn. This type of leave allows fathers to take time off from work to support their partner and participate in the early stages of their child’s development. It contributes to stronger family bonds, shared caregiving responsibilities, and more equitable workplaces. Additionally, paternity leave is helping break down traditional gender roles and stereotypes by recognizing fathers’ vital role in childcare and family life.

8. Half-day Leave – This type of leave can be taken by the employee when they have other personal or work commitments and cannot make it to the office in time or vice versa. As suggested in the name itself, the employer works either in the first half or the second half i.e. they resume work either before lunch break or after lunch break. Such types of job leaves are used when a person wants to go to do their tasks like bank work, doctor’s appointments, etc.

9. Sabbatical Leave – Sabbatical refers to the time off for personal accomplishments like studies, health issues, building your knowledge, learning new skills, etc. During this period the employees do not complete any of their usual office work. This type of leave is given for a longer period of time, such as one month or more. Usually, these types of leaves are paid or unpaid, depending on organisation policies. Either way, they pay the employee a certain percentage of their salary.

10. Adoption Leave – Adoption leaves are for parents adopting a child. This gives the new parents some time to spend and bond with their new child. Some parents get a 15-day or more leave depending on the company. In India, this type of leave is still getting familiarised as many employers are now realising the purpose of adoption leave. This leave is to mainly support employees during the transition of welcoming a new child into their family, whether through domestic or international adoption. It enables the adopting parents to spend quality time with the child, handle legal and administrative aspects of the adoption process, and adjust to their new family dynamics.

In addition to the traditional type of job leaves, such as vacation, sick, and maternity/paternity leave, many companies are recognizing the diverse needs of their employees by introducing innovative leave policies. For instance, companies like Swiggy and Zomato have embraced progressive initiatives like menstruation leave and even Paw-ternity leave. Swiggy made headlines in April 2024 when it announced Paw-ternity leave, allowing pet parents to take time off to bond with their new furry family members. Launched on April 11th to coincide with National Pets Day, this initiative includes an additional paid leave for employees welcoming a new pet into their homes. It’s a testament to how companies are going the extra mile to support their employees, whether in times of sickness or celebration. These initiatives highlight the importance of companies being responsive to the evolving needs of their workforce. So why wait? Go apply for the type of leave one needs now!