AbsenceSoft launches AI chat and visual planner for leave requests

A guided path from questions to submission

MyAbsence complements AbsenceSoft's employee self-service portal by turning the traditional leave request form into a question-and-answer exchange. The AI-guided chat helps employees select the appropriate reason for their leave and asks questions that help identify which state, federal and company policies may apply.

A leave planner built on the AbsenceSoft Compliance Engine, or ACE, then provides a visual preview of the potential leave. Employees can see whether time off could be paid or unpaid before they submit. They can download the plan or send it directly to their leave team for review, linking planning and submission in one experience.

Designed to reduce inaccurate requests

AbsenceSoft says the product addresses a common problem at the start of the leave process: employees may not know which leave to request or what they qualify for. Incorrect requests can leave HR teams correcting submissions, explaining entitlements and managing cases that fall behind schedule. Missed deadlines can also create compliance risks.

The company's 2026 State of Leave and Accommodations report found that 31% of employers cited calculating eligibility for leave entitlements as a top challenge. Separately, AbsenceSoft's 2026 Leave and Accommodations Employee Experience Report found that 39% of employees who had taken leave said the process was unclear or confusing.

According to AbsenceSoft, ACE draws on more than 10 years of compliance data and more than 200 federal and state laws. It also uses information already in an employee's record, such as location and tenure, so the chat can ask questions relevant to that person and collect inputs earlier in the process.

HR teams remain responsible for determinations

AbsenceSoft says its AI guides the conversation, while ACE and HR teams make every determination. The company says this approach gives leave teams more accurate requests, fewer follow-up questions and cases that remain on schedule, while allowing employees to understand their options during a stressful process.

“MyAbsence adapts the conversation to each person's situation while ACE applies the compliance logic, and HR stays in control of every decision,” said Jaclyn Zhuang, Chief Product Officer at AbsenceSoft.

Center for Human Development is among the first customers using MyAbsence. HR Director Patricia Rodriguez said the chat offered answer choices that matched an employee's situation. The organization also reported fewer case corrections and said the visual leave plan could help employees understand how leave works.

MyAbsence is available now to select AbsenceSoft customers. Broader availability is planned for early 2027.