Let’s talk leave.
Not the kind of leave where you ghost a Friday afternoon meeting to get lost in nature (though tempting), but the kind that makes a real difference—leave policies and procedures that show your employees you’ve got their backs when they need you most.
Tilt’s 2025 Leave Benchmark Report was recently released, and spoiler alert: HR leaders aren’t looking favorably at outdated methods for managing leave like spreadsheet tracking.
The takeaway? Modern leave management systems are where it’s at if you want to stay ahead of the pack, so let’s unpack that.
Is Your Leave Management System a Strategic Differentiator?
Gone are the days when leave impacted your world merely as an administrative box to check. On the contrary, organizations and industries that do it well use their leave process as a secret weapon for strategizing workforce optimization, capitalizing on paid state benefit programs, reducing compliance risk, and keeping employee productivity and satisfaction at all-time highs.
Organizations that get this and leverage all modern leave processes have to offer are swooping up top talent (and retaining them) while everyone else is stuck wondering why their best employees keep walking out the door after a sub-par leave experience.
Investing in a modern leave management system signals that you’re ready to support your team through life’s big moments, and they’ll remember that.
Industries and organizations that treat leave as more of a necessary evil are seeing higher turnover, process and productivity inefficiencies, and a reputation of not being employee-friendly.
But the ones leaning into proactive leave strategies? They’re the organizations on the rise, showing employees they matter and reaping the rewards in loyalty and performance.
This isn’t just rhetoric, the numbers back it up.
Data-Backed Proof of Leave’s Impact
The 2025 Leave Benchmark Report surveyed hundreds of HR leaders around the country across multiple industries and has some juicy stats that demonstrate that better leave is good for business.
- Retention: Companies with stellar leave policies and procedures keep their people. The report shows that organizations who use vendors to manage leave kill it in the retention game with 82% of employees still with the organization during those critical 12 months post-leave (11% higher than those who manage leave with spreadsheets).
- Performance: Employees coming back from leave hit the ground running in organizations with strong leave management practices. 74% of employees hit their OKRs the year following a leave when managed with modern leave software compared to 60% when managed with a spreadsheet.
- More to offer: Employees using a vendor to manage leave were able to offer 33% more paid parental leave all while spending 20% fewer hours a week on leave management.
We know that you know that leave management is important and need to modernize your approach, but leadership is going to want to see the data to back that up. Of course accurate data is hard to mine in the tangled nest of manually updated spreadsheet tabs and siloed data sources (i.e. your carrier to your spreadsheet to your HRIS).
Enhancing Employee Trust and Engagement
More organizations are coming around to what HR leaders have known for years; leave policies are a trust test. Show your employees you care during their toughest times, and you’ll earn loyalty that money can’t buy (well…we all have a price).
Thoughtful leave management isn’t just about following the rules, it’s about creating a culture where people feel genuinely supported.
Though there have been fluctuations throughout the years, the data hovers around 30% for engaged employees. That number spikes up to 70% with employers who follow best practices.
Leveraging best practices for your leave management system can make all the difference for employee engagement at critical (and sometimes unpredictable) moments in their lifecycle. The right solution simplifies the chaos, keeps everyone on the same page, and sends a clear message: “We’re here for you.”
That kind of empathy goes a long way.
Operational Efficiency Through Modern Solutions
Spreadsheets? In this economy? They’re a one-way ticket to headaches, errors, and wasted time and money. Modern leave management systems, on the other hand, deliver an empathetic, efficient and scalable solution and the tangible business results that follow.
Emphasizing better leave practices is also a burden off your shoulders.
A modern leave management system like Tilt does all the heavy lifting, from building personalized leave plans to tracking leave accurately to ensuring compliance. Plus, they serve up juicy insights that help HR teams:
- Predict staffing needs like pros
- Spot trends that impact productivity
- Make smarter, faster decisions
In short, the right leave software lets HR shine as the strategic powerhouse you are.
Positioning for Competitive Success
The data shows if you want to be an industry leader you need to prioritize leave. The report couldn’t be clearer: companies clinging to outdated methods are falling behind. They’re dealing with higher turnover, legal risks, and a reputation that’s more “meh” than magnificent.
Meanwhile, forward-thinking companies with modern leave systems are thriving with:
- Loyal, engaged employees
- A glowing reputation
- Metrics that make the boardroom proud
The bottom line? Great leave policies aren’t just good for employees, they’re a game-changer for business.
The Time to Act is Now
The evidence is in: prioritizing leave isn’t just a perk; it’s necessary. With a modern leave management system like Tilt, you’re not only incorporating efficiencies that will save you from pulling your hair out, but you’re future-proofing your business and showing your team that they matter.
It’s easier than ever to ditch the spreadsheets and siloed systems and embrace the future. Your employees (and your bottom line) will thank you. The future belongs to companies that know their people are their greatest asset, and the way in which you emphasize leave leads the way.
Tilt is leading the charge in all things leave of absence management through easy-to-use tech and human touch. Since 2017, our proprietary platform and Empathy Warriors have been helping customers make leave not suck by eliminating administrative burdens, keeping companies compliant, and providing a truly positive and supportive leave of absence experience for their people.
