The 12 best leave management software solutions in 2026

Managing leave well has become one of the quiet essentials of modern business, especially for those organisations operating in frontline industries like Retail, Hospitality and Aged Care. When done right, it builds trust, strengthens compliance, and keeps operations running smoothly without endless back-and-forth between HR and staff.

In 2026, agility matters more than ever. Many organisations are spread across locations or rely on shift-based and mobile teams. For them, managing leave isn’t just an admin task — it’s a strategic function that shapes employee experience and operational stability.

Manual processes no longer work in that environment. The best leave management software connects employees, managers, and systems in real time, making it easy to request, approve, and track time off while maintaining compliance and control.

Let’s look at the platforms defining best practice in 2026 — starting with the one built specifically for the frontline.

Humanforce – Leave Management

Headquarters: Sydney, Australia

Company overview
Humanforce is built for the people who power the frontline. Since 2002, it has supported thousands of organisations globally across sectors like Hospitality, Retail, Aged Care, Healthcare, and Local Government. What makes Humanforce distinct is its focus on connecting every part of workforce management, empowering managers with data, employees with visibility, and businesses with compliance confidence.

Solution overview
Humanforce Leave Management redefines how organisations handle time away from work. Managers get real-time oversight of workforce availability and leave balances across every site. Employees can request time off through the Humanforce Work App, and once approved, updates automatically flow to rosters and payroll. That means no double-handling and no unexpected coverage gaps.

Integrated with Humanforce Leave Management is the Awards & Compliance solution,a comprehensive pay conditions engine that automatically calculates leave entitlements and alerts managers before any breaches occur. Rosters can be easily adjusted via the intuitive roster builder, and entitlements remain accurate across multiple locations, departments, and roles.

Key features

• Automated workflows for all leave types

• Real-time balance and accrual tracking

• Built-in award and compliance interpretation

• Live integration with rostering, payroll, and attendance

• Manager dashboards that surface coverage risks early

• Mobile self-service via the Humanforce Work App

• Reporting and analytics for absenteeism and workforce trends

Why Humanforce stands out
Humanforce goes beyond leave tracking to create a connected, intelligent workforce ecosystem. Designed for shift-based and flexible environments, it brings together compliance accuracy, workforce visibility, and employee empowerment in one intuitive platform. Managers spend less time chasing approvals, while employees enjoy transparency and trust in the process.

By removing manual steps, Humanforce helps businesses plan more effectively, minimise risk, and deliver a better frontline employee experience at scale. It’s workforce management — reimagined for the people who live it every day.

Best for: Frontline and shift-based organisations that need accurate compliance management, real-time insights, and a seamless employee experience.

Workday – Absence Management

Headquarters: Pleasanton, California, USA

Company overview
Workday is a global enterprise HCM cloud provider offering HR, payroll, and finance solutions designed for scale. Its Absence Management module gives organisations visibility and consistency across large, complex workforces.

Key features

• Configurable absence and leave policies across global regions

• Real-time dashboards for utilisation and compliance

• AI insights that flag absence risks

• Automated accruals and carry-forward tracking

• Integration with payroll and time tracking systems

• Role-based approvals and audit reporting

Best for: Large multinational organisations managing complex, multi-country compliance requirements.

Dayforce (Ceridian) – Leave Management

Headquarters: Minneapolis, USA / Toronto, Canada

Company overview
Dayforce unites payroll, HR, and workforce management within a single HCM platform. Its leave management tools combine real-time data with compliance automation, reducing manual intervention for large teams.

Key features

• Real-time accrual calculations

• Automated approval routing and notifications

• Integrated compliance engine for local and global labour laws

• Seamless connection to payroll and scheduling

• Leave forecasting and liability reporting

• Mobile access for employees and managers

Best for: Global enterprises needing full HR, payroll, and compliance visibility under one system.

SAP SuccessFactors – Time Off

Headquarters: Walldorf, Germany

Company overview
SAP SuccessFactors delivers enterprise-scale HR software for large organisations operating across borders. Its Time Off platform helps manage complex absence rules and compliance obligations with precision.

Key features

• Global and regional policy configuration

• Automated accrual calculations

• Real-time balance visibility for employees

• Integration with SAP Payroll and HR Core

• Team calendars to manage overlapping absences

• Audit-ready compliance and reporting tools

Best for: Enterprises operating in multiple countries with complex compliance and reporting needs.

Oracle Cloud HCM – Absence Management

Headquarters: Austin, Texas, USA

Company overview
Oracle’s HCM suite connects HR, payroll, and workforce management in one platform. Its absence management module is built for large organisations that require structure, flexibility, and insight.

Key features

• Custom leave rules and multi-level approval workflows

• Real-time compliance dashboards

• Integration with payroll and costing

• Predictive analytics for absence trends

• Rule-based entitlement configuration

• Self-service management for employees and leaders

Best for: Large enterprises using Oracle’s cloud environment seeking global workforce consistency and compliance.

UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group) – Absence Management

Headquarters: Lowell, Massachusetts / Weston, Florida, USA

Company overview
UKG specialises in people-focused workforce management and HR technology. Its absence management tools prioritise analytics and engagement for distributed workforces.

Key features

• Automated accrual and entitlement tracking

• AI-driven insights on absence and productivity

• Global compliance automation

• Integration with scheduling and payroll systems

• Manager dashboards for workforce visibility

• Self-service access for staff through UKG mobile apps

Best for: Global and multi-site organisations that depend on data-driven decision-making for workforce management.

ELMO Software – Rostering / Time & Attendance

Headquarters: Sydney, Australia

Company overview
ELMO Software is an Australian-based provider of integrated cloud HR, payroll, and rostering/time & attendance solutions. ELMO’s leave management capabilities are integrated within their broader rostering / time & attendance software.

Key features

• Digital leave requests and approvals

• Real-time accrual and liability tracking

• Configurable entitlements and policies

• Integration with HR and payroll modules

• Dashboards for absence and cost reporting

• Mobile-friendly manager and employee experience

Best for: Mid-sized ANZ organisations focused on compliance, visibility, and automation within one system.

HiBob – Time off

Headquarters: London, England

Company overview
HiBob is a modern HR platform created for fast-growing, globally distributed teams. Its design emphasises ease of use, transparency, and employee engagement.

Key features

• Flexible policies and workflows

• Integrated Slack and Teams notifications

• Team calendars with real-time visibility

• Mobile and desktop access for all users

• Reports on absence patterns and utilisation

• Integration with payroll and HR systems

Best for: Hybrid and global teams that value a simple, collaborative HR experience.

Employment Hero – Employee Leave Management Software

Headquarters: Sydney, Australia

Company overview
Employment Hero delivers HR, payroll, and engagement tools to small and medium businesses across Australia and New Zealand.

Key features

• Automated leave requests and approvals

• Real-time balance and reporting visibility

• Configurable entitlements under Fair Work

• Integration with payroll and rostering

• Push notifications for approvals

• Mobile leave access via Employment Hero Work app

Best for: Small to mid-sized organisations wanting simple, locally compliant HR automation.

Rippling – HR Management

Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA

Company overview
Rippling unites HR, IT, and finance systems to streamline global operations. Its leave management capability fits seamlessly within its broader HR ecosystem.

Key features

• Real-time leave and accrual tracking

• Configurable global policies and approvals

• Integration with payroll and reporting tools

• Employee and manager self-service

• Automated notifications and compliance audits

• Scalable design for fast-growing teams

Best for: Tech-driven organisations managing a mix of global and remote employees.

Deputy – Leave Management

Headquarters: Sydney, Australia

Company overview
Deputy offers workforce management solutions tailored to shift-based businesses. It helps simplify rostering, attendance, and leave processes in one system.

Key features

• Automated accrual and balance tracking

• Integration with scheduling and payroll

• Mobile self-service for employees and managers

• Customisable leave types and entitlements

• Award compliance features for Australian workplaces

• Forecasting tools for cost and coverage visibility

Best for: Shift-driven industries like hospitality, healthcare, and retail that rely on flexible scheduling.

Ascender (by Dayforce) – HCM Suite

Headquarters: Sydney, Australia

Company overview
Ascender provides payroll and HR software throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Its focus on compliance and automation supports large employers across borders.

Key features

• Automated accrual and entitlement management

• Regional compliance built for APAC labour laws

• Integration with payroll and HR modules

• Custom leave categories and approval rules

• Workflow automation and real-time reporting

Best for: Enterprises operating across Asia-Pacific that require strong local compliance and payroll integration.

Final thoughts

Humanforce continues to lead for frontline, shift-based, and flexible workforces. Its strength lies in its ability to connect every moving part — from rostering, to hiring and payroll. The Leave Management solution converts a typically administrative function into a strategic tool that ensures compliance, and supports efficient and precise workforce planning.

About Humanforce

Humanforce is the all-in-one platform for frontline and flexible workforces, offering a truly employee centred, intelligent and compliant human capital management (HCM) suite – without compromise. Founded in 2002, Humanforce has a 2300+ customer base and over half a million users worldwide. Today, we have offices across Australia, New Zealand, the US, and the UK.

Our vision is to make work easier and life better by focusing on the needs and fulfilment of frontline workers, and the efficiency and optimisation of businesses.

To learn more about how Humanforce’s solution can help automate people processes in your business, please contact us.