AbsenceSoft 2026 State of Leave and Accommodations Report Finds Leave and Accommodation Requests Have Risen for a Third Year in a Row
-
CT scans reveal health and burial clues from Egypt’s Braided Lady mummy
-
British buyers pay substantial premiums for period-home appearance
-
Oxford faces complaints over lecturer’s classroom attire
-
Thomas Markle released to house arrest after child-abuse-image charge
-
Kyren Wilson and John Higgins reach International Championship snooker final
-
Dawn of War 4 developers chose Adeptus Mechanicus for tactical variety
-
New Zealand and Tonga meet for place in Rugby League World Cup final
-
Italy face unbeaten South Africa in Turin Nations Championship match
-
Reports of unsafe AI-toy responses renew calls for child-safety rules
-
ChatGPT interactive interface feature tested across six custom tools
-
Juneau food network combines difficult supply routes with deep sharing traditions
-
Freshways milk-price cut deepens pressure on UK dairy farms
-
India climbs green-transition ranking after first emissions decline in 25 years
-
Labour and National remain virtually tied as New Zealand vote count advances
-
Trump names Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff after midterm losses
-
The Good Daughter adapts Karin Slaughter thriller with Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy
-
Restored Albanian tower houses anchor new rural tourism trail
-
Heavy-lift drone evacuates wounded Ukrainian soldier from frontline kill zone
-
Sonia Gandhi reflects on family tragedy and reluctant political career
-
Morrison says West Brom recovered after pressure from successive derby losses
-
Pope Leo begins three-country South American tour in Uruguay
-
Britain considers 2027 state visit for Ukraine’s Zelensky
-
Khawaja says entire Australia camp knew of 2018 ball-tampering plan
-
Anna Miltina Confronted with Racism Allegations on ProSieben Show
-
November Foraging Guide: Edible Mushrooms and Critical Safety Protocols
-
German Auto Giants Face Existential Crisis as China Sales Plummet
-
Microsoft Updates Xbox PC App with 60% Faster Startup and Redesigned Interface
-
Cause of Death Revealed for 'Ellen' Producer Matthew Wright
-
Early Polar Vortex Disruption Creates Uncertain Winter Outlook for Pennsylvania
-
Fusion Power, Global Capital, Branded Streaming and Neurology Breakthroughs: New to The Street Show #779 Premieres Tonight on Bloomberg Television
-
DEA Marijuana Rescheduling Hearing Closes With Government Not Meeting Its Burden Of Proof?
-
How to Enjoy Luxury Experiences on a Budget
AbsenceSoft 2026 State of Leave and Accommodations Report Finds Leave and Accommodation Requests Have Risen for a Third Year in a Row
Rising demand is straining HR teams and creating new urgency for modernization
GOLDEN, CO / ACCESS Newswire / November 12, 2025 / AbsenceSoft, the leading SaaS platform for leave of absence and accommodations management, today released its 2026 State of Leave and Accommodations Report. Based on a survey of 1,200 HR and People Operations leaders, the report highlights the continued growth in leave and accommodation requests, and emerging trends shaping the HR landscape.
With five generations now in the workforce, employees' needs are increasingly diverse, with HR teams managing a broader range of requests and rising complexity. In 2025 alone, over half of employers (53%) reported an increase in leave requests, with two-thirds seeing jumps of more than 20%. Accommodation requests followed a similar trend, with 56% of employers reporting higher volumes. These increases often occur without a corresponding growth in HR staff or systems, resulting in significant compliance and workload strain.
"The complexity of leave and accommodations management has grown exponentially," said Jess Keeney, Chief Executive Officer of AbsenceSoft. "HR teams are being asked to do more than ever before. The right technology and processes are essential to ensure compliance and create a better employee experience - one that improves retention, productivity, and culture."
Key Findings in the AbsenceSoft 2026 State of Leave and Accommodations Report
A Multigenerational Workforce is Driving Diverse Leave Needs. Leave requests no longer follow one dominant pattern. The top reasons now include recovering from illness or injury (51%), bereavement (44%), bonding with a new child (36%), caregiving (35%), pregnancy-related needs (35%), and mental health (34%).
Bereavement leave in particular has grown sharply - from 31% in 2023 to 44% in 2025. While 69% of employers offer paid medical leave and 65% offer paid parental leave, only 29% offer paid caregiver leave, and fewer than one in five employers provide benefits such as sabbaticals or NICU leave.
Mental Health and Remote Work Dominate Accommodation Requests. Mental health remains the top reason for accommodations (54%), followed closely by requests for remote work and reduced schedules (both 43%) - surpassing workspace modifications for the first time. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) has also influenced accommodation trends, with one in three employers now citing pregnancy-related needs among their most common requests.
AI Adoption Is Rising - but Compliance Risks Are, Too. Nearly half of HR teams (45% for leave, 51% for accommodations) are already utilizing AI in their processes, often for sensitive tasks such as eligibility decisions, interpreting regulations, and drafting communications. However, 49% of employers report using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT for these tasks, rather than purpose-built systems with built-in legal safeguards. This raises concerns about bias, data security, and regulatory compliance.
Rising Caseloads Are Overwhelming HR Teams. Even as HR teams report a rise in leave and accommodation requests for the third year in a row, most organizations still manage these programs without dedicated systems. In fact, 43% of HR teams continue to track accommodations manually through spreadsheets or email. Encouragingly, 64% of employers plan to increase investment in accommodations management technology in 2026, and 60% plan to do the same for leave management-signaling real momentum toward modernization.
"Five generations in the workforce means we've moved beyond one-size-fits-all leave programs. Today's HR teams are simultaneously supporting new parents, employees caring for aging relatives, and workers managing mental health needs," said Seth Turner, Founder and Senior Advisor at AbsenceSoft. "This complexity, combined with doubled request volume, has pushed us past the tipping point. The organizations that will succeed are those that recognize leave and accommodations management as a strategic function requiring sophisticated technology, not an administrative task."
About the Survey
The 2026 State of Leave and Accommodations Report is based on a survey of 1,200 HR and People Operations leaders at organizations with 500 or more employees. The research was conducted in late 2025.
To download the full report, visit here.
About AbsenceSoft
AbsenceSoft is a leading provider of leave and accommodations management SaaS solutions. We deliver scalable, easy-to-use, and configurable software to easily and efficiently manage 200+ statutory policies like FMLA, ADA, and PWFA. Our software streamlines and automates leave and accommodations processes, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations while elevating the employee experience. Built by leave professionals, for leave professionals, AbsenceSoft is trusted by employers across industries, Third Party Administrators (TPAs), and Professional Employee Organizations (PEOs) to manage over seven million lives. We are widely recognized for our top-tier customer service and robust customer community engagement. Learn more at absencesoft.com or follow the company on LinkedIn.
Media Contact:
Escalate PR for AbsenceSoft
[email protected]
SOURCE: AbsenceSoft
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
H.E.Young--AMWN