Why Leave Policies Matter During Open Enrollment
- Ahrise Consultant Team
- Sep 18
- 3 min read
Why leave policies matter during Open Enrollment: Learn how to align FMLA, ADA, and state leave laws with your benefits strategy to stay compliant and support employees.
Why Leave Policies Matter During Open Enrollment
As employers prepare for Open Enrollment, updating leave policies should be a top priority—not an afterthought. Strong leave policies not only ensure compliance with federal laws like FMLA and ADA, as well as state-specific leave requirements, but they also build employee trust and engagement.
A clear and compliant leave policy helps employees understand their rights while protecting your organization from costly fines, penalties, or lawsuits. Open Enrollment season is the perfect opportunity to audit your policies, align them with your benefits program, and communicate changes to your workforce.
In this guide, we’ll break down what every employer needs to know about leave policy compliance during Open Enrollment, including legal considerations, communication strategies, and best practices to keep your business both compliant and employee-focused.
What is a Leave Policy?
A leave policy outlines how employees can take time off work and what qualifies as protected or paid leave. This includes:
Sick days
Vacation
Parental leave
Bereavement leave
Jury duty
Military leave
A clear policy ensures consistency and fairness—which employees value just as much as a good health plan.
💡 Tip: Review and update leave policies annually to reflect legal changes and evolving workforce expectations—ideally before Open Enrollment.
Compliance and Legal Considerations
Non-compliance with federal, state, or local leave laws can result in serious consequences, including:
Legal fines
Employee lawsuits
Reputational damage
To Stay Compliant, Employers Should:
✔ Stay current with employment laws at all levels
✔ Consult legal advisors regularly
✔ Provide compliance training to HR staff
✔ Include leave updates in Open Enrollment materials
💡 Tip: Highlight major policy updates during your Open Enrollment Q&A sessions or HR newsletters.
Communication and Transparency: Don't Assume They Know
Even the best policy is ineffective if employees don’t understand it.
Boost policy visibility by:
Including leave guides in onboarding packets
Sharing leave FAQs during Open Enrollment
Using intranet, Slack, or email for updates
Offering real-life leave examples in training materials
Clear communication builds trust and encourages proper policy usage.
Technology & Automation
Leave management can be complex—but the right tools make it easier.
Top tools to streamline processes:
HRIS (Human Resource Information System)
Automated leave trackers
Benefits administration platforms
Cloud-based document management
Benefits of automation:
Fewer manual errors
Faster processing of leave and QLEs
Improved compliance documentation
Better employee experience
💡Tip: Use Open Enrollment to introduce or remind employees how to use self-service platforms for leave requests and benefits updates.
Employee Feedback & Engagement
Want to know if your leave policies are working? Ask your employees.
Use these tools to gather actionable feedback:
✔ Anonymous surveys
✔ Focus groups
✔ 1-on-1 interviews
Find out:
Which types of leave are most used
Where confusion exists
What leave options employees value most
💡Tip: Implementing feedback-driven improvements before Open Enrollment boosts transparency and morale.
Continuous Improvement: Make Leave Policies Work Smarter
Policy compliance is a continuous improvement process, not a one-time task. To keep policies effective and aligned with both legal requirements and workforce needs, it’s important to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as:
Leave request turnaround time
Employee benefit utilization
Enrollment completion rates
Compliance audit results
Schedule Quarterly Reviews to:
Adjust leave policies for legal updates
Address patterns in leave usage
Align benefits and leave offerings
💡Tip: Open Enrollment is your checkpoint to reset, refresh, and realign leave policies to meet legal standards and employee needs.
Final Thoughts (Align Leave Policies with Open Enrollment)
Think of Open Enrollment as more than just a benefit selection period—it’s an opportunity to:
Educate employees about their leave rights
Audit your policies for compliance
Integrate your systems for easier management
Engage your workforce in meaningful conversations about time off
Ready to simplify HR and stay compliant?
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Need Help Auditing Your Leave Policies?
Let Ahrise Consultant Group review your leave and benefits policies before Open Enrollment season kicks off. We’ll help you stay compliant, competitive, and employee-ready.
👉 Schedule a 15-minute HR compliance consultation today
📚 And read our full HR Pillars Series to ensure every corner of your people strategy is compliant and aligned.
By being proactive and informed, employees can navigate open enrollment with confidence, ensuring they are prepared for whatever the future may hold.
Watch: Think Open Enrollment is only about Health Insurance? Think again. | Ahrise Consultant Group
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes and does not replace legal guidance
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