Hi All, Can anyone help me with the basic Leave policy and Referral policy for the US local employees as per the US norms? Thanks a lot.

@Albus Share the standard Leave policy used by organisations based in the United States

In the United States, leave policies can vary greatly between organizations. However, there are some standard types of leave that many companies offer to their employees. Here's a general overview of a standard leave policy in the U.S.: 1. Paid Time Off (PTO): Many organizations provide PTO, which combines vacation, sick leave, and personal days into a single bank of time that employees can use at their discretion. PTO is typically accrued based on the number of hours worked or years of service. The amount of PTO offered can vary, but a common range is 10-20 days per year for full-time employees. 2. Sick Leave: Some organizations have separate sick leave policies, allowing employees to take time off when they are ill or need to care for a sick family member. The amount of sick leave provided can vary, but it's common to see 5-7 days per year. 3. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): FMLA is a federal law that provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for certain family and medical reasons, such as the birth or adoption of a child, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or recovering from a serious health condition. Employers with 50 or more employees are required to comply with FMLA. 4. Parental Leave: Some organizations offer paid or unpaid parental leave for employees who are expecting a child, adopting a child, or becoming foster parents. The duration and pay structure for parental leave can vary greatly between organizations. 5. Bereavement Leave: Many companies provide paid time off for employees to attend funerals and grieve the loss of a close family member. The amount of bereavement leave can vary, but 3-5 days is common. 6. Jury Duty Leave: Employers are required by law to provide unpaid time off for employees who are called to serve on a jury. Some organizations offer paid jury duty leave as a benefit. 7. Military Leave: Employers are required to provide unpaid time off for employees who are called to active duty military service. Some organizations offer paid military leave as a benefit. 8. Holidays: Most organizations offer paid time off for major holidays, such as New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The number of paid holidays can vary, but 6-10 days per year is common. Please note that these are general guidelines, and specific leave policies can vary greatly between organizations and states. It's essential to consult with HR professionals and legal experts to develop a leave policy that complies with federal, state, and local regulations and meets the needs of your organization and employees.

@Albus Also, share the standard template for an Employee Referral policy used by organisations based in the United States

Employee Referral Policy I. Purpose The purpose of this Employee Referral Policy is to encourage and reward employees for referring qualified candidates for open positions within our organization. This policy outlines the referral process, eligibility, and incentives for employees who participate in the referral program. II. Policy Scope This policy applies to all current employees of [Company Name], except for those in management or human resources positions and those involved in the hiring process for the referred position. III. Referral Process 1. Employees should submit their referrals through the designated referral platform or by completing the Employee Referral Form, which should include the candidate's name, contact information, and an updated resume. 2. Employees must obtain the referred candidate's consent before submitting their information. 3. The referred candidate should mention the referring employee's name during the application process. 4. Human Resources will review the referral and notify the referring employee if the candidate is selected for an interview. 5. If the referred candidate is hired, the referring employee will be eligible for the referral bonus, as outlined in Section IV. IV. Referral Bonus 1. A referral bonus of [Amount] will be awarded to the referring employee if the referred candidate is hired and successfully completes [Number] days of employment with [Company Name]. 2. The referral bonus will be paid through the payroll system and is subject to applicable taxes and deductions. 3. Referral bonuses will not be awarded for candidates who have previously applied to or worked for [Company Name] within the last [Number] months. V. Eligibility 1. Both full-time and part-time employees are eligible to participate in the referral program, except for those excluded in Section II. 2. The referring employee must be employed by [Company Name] at the time the referral bonus is paid. 3. There is no limit to the number of referrals an employee can submit, but each referral must be for a separate candidate and position. VI. Confidentiality All information related to the referral program and candidates will be treated as confidential. Employees should not disclose the status of a referred candidate's application or any information related to the hiring process. VII. Policy Amendments [Company Name] reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate this Employee Referral Policy at any time, with or without notice. Any changes to the policy will be communicated to all employees. By participating in the Employee Referral Program, employees agree to abide by the terms and conditions outlined in this policy.

@Albus Share a standard Leave policy template used by organisations based in the United States

Leave Policy Template I. Purpose The purpose of this Leave Policy is to outline the various types of leave available to employees of [Company Name] and to provide guidelines for requesting and using leave. II. Policy Scope This policy applies to all full-time and part-time employees of [Company Name]. III. Paid Time Off (PTO) 1. PTO combines vacation, sick leave, and personal days into a single bank of time that employees can use at their discretion. PTO is accrued based on the number of hours worked or years of service. 2. Full-time employees will accrue PTO at a rate of [X] hours per pay period, up to a maximum of [Y] hours per year. Part-time employees will accrue PTO on a pro-rated basis. 3. PTO can be used for any reason, including vacation, illness, personal appointments, or family emergencies. 4. Employees must submit a PTO request to their supervisor at least [X] days in advance, unless the request is for an unforeseen illness or emergency. 5. PTO must be used in increments of at least [X] hours. 6. Unused PTO can be carried over to the next year, up to a maximum of [Y] hours. Any PTO in excess of this amount will be forfeited. IV. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) 1. Eligible employees may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for certain family and medical reasons, as outlined in the FMLA. 2. To be eligible for FMLA leave, employees must have worked for [Company Name] for at least 12 months and have completed at least 1,250 hours of service during the 12-month period immediately preceding the leave. 3. Employees must provide at least 30 days' advance notice when the need for FMLA leave is foreseeable. When the need for leave is not foreseeable, employees must provide notice as soon as practicable. V. Parental Leave 1. [Company Name] offers [X] weeks of paid/unpaid parental leave for employees who are expecting a child, adopting a child, or becoming foster parents. 2. Parental leave must be taken within [X] months of the birth, adoption, or placement of a child. 3. Employees must provide at least [X] days' advance notice of their intention to take parental leave. VI. Bereavement Leave 1. Employees are eligible for up to [X] days of paid bereavement leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member. 2. Bereavement leave must be taken within [X] days of the death of the family member. VII. Jury Duty Leave 1. Employees are entitled to unpaid time off for jury duty, as required by law. 2. Employees must provide a copy of the jury summons to their supervisor as soon as possible after receiving it. VIII. Military Leave 1. Employees are entitled to unpaid time off for active duty military service, as required by law. 2. Employees must provide advance notice of their military service obligations to their supervisor, unless military necessity prevents such notice. IX. Holidays 1. [Company Name] observes the following paid holidays: [List of holidays]. 2. If a holiday falls on a weekend, it will be observed on the nearest weekday (either the preceding Friday or the following Monday). X. Leave Request and Approval 1. Employees must submit leave requests to their supervisor using the designated leave request form or system. 2. Supervisors are responsible for reviewing and approving or denying leave requests in a timely manner. 3. Approval of leave requests is subject to operational needs and staffing requirements. XI. Policy Amendments [Company Name] reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate this Leave Policy at any time, with or without notice. Any changes to the policy will be communicated to all employees. By using leave benefits, employees agree to abide by the terms and conditions outlined in this policy.

@Abhash [TSOW admin] Thanks. This surely helps