If you're handling leave tracking at a small or growing company, you already know there’s a disconnect between what a general HRIS does and the complexity of leave management. A spreadsheet or a generic HR module can track that a request exists, but it can't tell you whether you're handling it correctly. Leave management software for small business is the solution to this problem.
This guide walks through what to look for in leave management software and shares questions to ask any software vendor before you commit.
Why Small Businesses Need Leave Management Software
In a small business, leave tracking is often one responsibility among many for a single HR generalist. You're accountable for the same federal and state-level leave rules that apply to large businesses, but you have fewer resources to work with.
Often, the reason small businesses start looking for a leave management solution is because something bad happened—a deadline was missed and triggered a compliance audit, for example. Leave management software can eliminate most risks associated with procedural errors,
Core Features to Evaluate
Before you compare vendors, it’s helpful to have a baseline for your evaluation.
Automated tracking and calculation. A leave management platform should calculate leave balances, eligibility, and entitlements for all leave types without the need for manual math. This functionality is important when employees have overlapping leave (FMLA running concurrently with short-term disability, for example).
Employee self-service. Your employees shouldn't have to make a phone call or complete a multi-page form to request leave. The best leave management software for small business offers mobile-friendly access that lets someone initiate a request by scanning a QR code.
Manager and HR visibility. You need a clear view of who's on leave and when they’re returning, without digging through email. You also need to keep up with the status of every leave request. Leave management software can do all of this, saving you countless hours of admin time.
Integration with your existing systems. Check how the platform integrates with your HRIS and payroll systems. Poor (or no) integration can create more manual work for your team.
Support model. Any software you’re considering should come with support—not just during onboarding, but whenever you need assistance or have a new feature request.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy
Consider these questions in any vendor conversation:
How scalable is this platform?
The best leave management software for a company with 10 employees could also be the best leave management software for an enterprise with locations in every state, but only if it’s designed for scalability. If you intend to grow your business, you’ll want to know how specifically the software can support an ever-increasing leave request caseload.
How does your pricing structure work?
Software may require a hefty one-time initial investment for an on-premises solution, but cloud-based software is usually sold as a subscription, with pricing based on the number of users. Some software platforms also offer different tiers of service, with premium features available only in the top-tier subscription.
Can you customize your software to our workflows?
Leave management software won’t make your job easier if it requires you to upend your workflows. Find out whether a vendor can customize their product to suit your processes.
How long does implementation take, and what does it require from our team?
Some platforms need weeks of configuration work from your side. Ask what the vendor handles, versus what falls on you.
How does this software keep up with state leave law changes?
State leave laws change often, and you’ll want some assurance that the software can keep up with regulatory updates.
What support do you offer?
Ask what happens when a question or an edge case comes up. What’s the response time, and will you have access to a real person?
How Pulpstream Approaches Leave Management
Pulpstream is a scalable, cloud-based leave management platform for businesses of any size. Our customizable, no-code platform has helped HR teams in a wide variety of industries streamline their leave management processes without changing how they work.
Pulpstream customers get white-glove support from a dedicated three-person team. When you need help, you can count on us to respond within 24 hours. We’ll also walk you through onboarding, so you can get up to speed quickly.
With Pulpstream, you can manage any type of leave—ADA, FMLA, and more—and ensure compliance, with automated tracking and data-backed return-to-work recommendations. And our integrated compliance engine tracks federal and state leave laws in real time, automatically applying updates as they occur.
None of these features eliminate the need for HR professionals. The software handles the tracking and the repetitive parts of compliance so you can spend your time on the decisions that require human judgment.
See Pulpstream in Action Today
If you're comparing options, the fastest way to know whether a platform will work for you is to see it in action. Schedule a 30-minute demo, and we’ll show you how Pulpstream can help you improve compliance and reduce admin time in your leave management processes.
