Casual Leave Confusion: Are Phone-Approved Absences Paid or Unpaid?

Dear seniors,

I am from the garments industry where more than 1700 employees are working. I need clarification on casual leave. Some people take leave without prior intimation but inform us through the phone, and we also approve their leave.

My query is whether those leaves are considered casual leave or not. Additionally, if our management approves their leave, do they receive paid leave or unpaid leave? Please let me know; it is very crucial.

Thank you.

Mahesh sir noted, "What is the CL criteria? Eligibility and rules for Casual Leave as per the Factories Act."

I can understand the challenge of granting leave to a large number of employees, as it can have significant financial implications. Furthermore, nowadays, workers are becoming more adept at strategically taking leave to maximize their weekends off and opportunities for overtime, and vice versa. Establishing clear rules and guidelines for leave approval is essential for effective control.

Developing a Comprehensive Leave Policy

To enhance control, it is important to develop a comprehensive "Leave Policy." In previous articles, I have shared some key points on this topic. Please refer to the thread below, where many senior professionals have expressed their perspectives on managing leaves: https://www.citehr.com/555855-long-l...ekend-pg2.html

I hope this information meets your requirements.

Kind regards

Approving leave requests is purely at the discretion of management. However, workers attempting to reach you and inform you about their leave over the phone is a positive sign and should be appreciated.

Leave with Pay or Without Pay

Regarding leave with pay or without pay, it is clear that all leave requests, as per the provisions of Leave with Wages under the Factories Act, need to be handled according to the rules and should be paid.

Casual Leave

Casual leave can be with or without pay, and if your certified standing order does not specify anything or instruct to pay for casual leave, you are not required to do so. There are no clear guidelines in the law that casual leave must be paid.

Any differing opinions are welcome. Hope this is clear.

Regards