Episode
The Policy Nobody Talks About Until They Need It
- Published
- May 13, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1344
- Processing state
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Summary
Most leave policies were written once and never revisited. The result: legal exposure, manager improvisation, and employees navigating a crisis without clear guidance. In this episode, Sabrina and Marie break down why leave of absence is the HR area most likely to catch small employers off guard — and what to do about it. What's covered: The three-layer compliance problem: federal law, state law, and informal practice The most common policy gaps (multi-state coverage, intermittent leave, and process documentation) What a defensible leave process actually looks like from request to return The manager's only job when an employee requests leave: direct them to HR Three things to audit before the end of the week Key point: If you have employees in California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, or New Jersey, and your policy doesn't address those state requirements, you have a gap. Check where your employees work — not where your business is incorporated. HR Connection is produced for HR professionals and business owners managing people in organizations with 1–500 employees.