Impact on teams of poor time away management

“Leave cycles could become perpetual, adversely impacting morale, engagement, and overall effectiveness of the impacted teams,” the report read.

Meanwhile, additional strains for workers covering for those on leave include:

• Workplace stress or anxiety (73%)
• Burnout (67%)
• Resentment toward their company (48%)
• Resentment toward their supervisor (45%)

Time away practices gap

The findings come despite more than three in four leaders in the report giving their handling of extended leave coverage an “excellent” or a “very good” score.

More than four in 10 (44%) employers also said their approach to leave coverage is consistent, documented, and well-defined.

JR Shamley, senior vice president of National Accounts Business Development and Growth Solutions at Aflac, said their findings indicate a lack of awareness among employers of the toll when it comes to longer leave coverage.