A leave of absence (LOA) is an authorised period away from work that falls outside an employee's regular annual leave. It can be paid or unpaid and is usually granted for a specific reason: medical treatment, caring responsibilities, study, jury service, or personal circumstances. The employee's contract typically continues throughout.

Some forms of leave of absence are statutory and protected by law, such as parental or medical leave; others are discretionary and granted at the employer's choosing. The distinction matters, because it determines whether pay, job protection, and a guaranteed return to the same role apply.

For employers, the challenge is consistency: applying the same criteria to every request and keeping clear records of what was approved and why. Managing these alongside everyday time off in Calamari's Time Off module keeps balances accurate and approvals auditable.