Leave types and leave policies
Configure the leave categories employees can apply for in AttendFirst. Set name, code, and annual quota for Casual, Sick, Privilege, and custom types.
Updated 2026-04-22
The Leave Types page is where admins define the categories employees can apply for. Casual, Sick, Privilege, Comp-off, Maternity - whatever your policy calls out, each one becomes a row here with its own annual quota.
Reading the list
/admin/settings/leave-types. One row per type with Name, Code, and Annual Quota.
The leave types table has three columns: the name employees see on application forms, the short uppercase code used in CSV exports, and the annual quota in days. Open it from Admin → Settings → Leave Types.
| Column | What it is |
|---|---|
| Name | The label employees see on leave application forms and their balance cards. |
| Code | A short uppercase tag used in CSV exports. Typically 2 letters (CL, SL, PL). |
| Annual Quota | Total days an employee can take in one calendar year. |
Every new company ships with three defaults: Casual Leave (CL, 12), Privilege Leave (PL, 12), and Sick Leave (SL, 12). Edit, delete, or add more to match your policy.
Adding a leave type to the policy
Click Add Leave Type in the top right. Fill in:
- Name (required). The human-readable label employees see. Example: Comp-off Leave.
- Code (uppercase) (required). A short tag for exports. Must be unique. Example: CO.
- Annual Quota (required). Days per calendar year. Example: 6.
Click Add Leave Type. The new type appears in the list immediately and is available on every employee’s leave application form.
Changing or retiring a leave type
Click the three-dot menu on any row:
- Edit: change the name, code, or annual quota. Existing approved leaves keep their numbers. Remaining balance is recomputed against the new quota.
- Delete: removes the type from future application forms. Past requests and balances are preserved.
Deleting is a soft-hide. If you accidentally delete a type, add it back with the same name and code to restore it on forms. Historical data continues pointing to the original record.
How quotas work
- Quotas are defined per calendar year. Unused days do not carry forward.
- New employees get a pro-rated quota based on their joining month. An employee who joined on July 1 with a 12-day quota gets 6 days for that year.
- On January 1, the full annual quota resets for every active employee.
- Remaining balance on My Leaves equals annual quota minus the days already approved for that year.
A common starting setup
| Type | Code | Annual Quota | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casual Leave | CL | 12 | Short notice leave, personal work |
| Sick Leave | SL | 12 | Illness, medical appointments |
| Privilege Leave | PL | 15 | Planned leave, pre-booked time off |
| Comp-off Leave | CO | 6 | Earned against weekend or public holiday work |
| Maternity Leave | ML | 182 | As per company policy and local statutory requirements |
| Paternity Leave | PT | 10 | Birth of a child |
Add or trim to match your company’s policy.
Frequently asked questions
What does AttendFirst pre-configure?
Three types: Casual, Privilege, and Sick, each with a 12-day annual quota. Change any of them under Admin → Settings → Leave Types.
Why does the Code field exist?
The short uppercase code appears on CSV exports and compact UI lists where the full name doesn’t fit. Keep it 2-3 letters. Must be unique per company.
I deleted a leave type. Did I lose historical data?
No. The type disappears from future application forms, but past leave requests, balances, and attendance records stay intact.
Can I raise or lower the annual quota mid-year?
Yes. Remaining balance is recomputed as (new quota - already-approved days). You cannot set a quota below what employees have already taken this year.
Do mid-year joiners get a full quota?
No — they get a proportional share based on their joining month. Someone starting July 1 with a 12-day quota gets 6 days for that calendar year. The full quota resets on January 1.
Can I set different approval rules per leave type?
Not yet. Every leave type follows the same manager-or-admin approval flow. Per-type approval policies are on the roadmap.
Related docs
- Leave requests. How employees apply for leave using these types.
- Leave approvals. How admins review and approve requests.
- Holidays. Company-wide non-working days that never subtract from any leave quota.
Steps
- Open Leave Types. Go to Admin → Settings → Leave Types. Every leave type your company uses is listed here.
- Click Add Leave Type. A modal opens with Name, Code, and Annual Quota fields.
- Fill in the fields. Name is the label employees see (Casual Leave). Code is a short uppercase tag (CL). Annual Quota is days per calendar year.
- Save. Click Add Leave Type. The new type appears in the list and in every employee's leave application form.
Frequently asked questions
What defaults does AttendFirst ship with?
Every new company starts with three types pre-seeded - Casual Leave (CL), Privilege Leave (PL), and Sick Leave (SL), each with a 12-day annual quota. Edit or delete any of them to match your policy.
What is the Code used for?
The uppercase code (CL, SL, PL) is used on CSV exports and compact list views where the full name would not fit. Keep it short and unique.
What happens to existing leave requests when I delete a leave type?
They are preserved. Delete only hides the type from future leave application forms. Past approvals, balances, and attendance records stay intact.
Can I change the annual quota mid-year?
Yes. Edit the type and update Annual Quota. Existing approved leaves do not change. Remaining balance is recomputed as (new quota - already-approved days).
Are quotas pro-rated for mid-year joiners?
Yes. Employees who joined later in the year get a proportional share of the annual quota based on their joining month. Full quota resets every January 1.
Can I require manager approval on every leave type?
Every leave type goes through the same approval flow - manager or admin approves. There is no per-type policy control yet.