How AbsenceSoft Helped WaFd Bank Streamline Leave Management and Elevate Employee Experience
AbsenceSoft: Simplifying Leave and Accommodations Management
AbsenceSoft is a leading SaaS solution that automates and streamlines leave and accommodations processes, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations while improving the employee experience. Known for its scalability and adaptability, AbsenceSoft helps companies manage over 180 leave and accommodation policies, including FMLA, ADA, and PWFA, with ease. By eliminating the administrative burden of manual processes, AbsenceSoft empowers HR teams to focus on their people rather than paperwork.
With features like automated workflows, employee self-service portals, and robust compliance tools, AbsenceSoft provides a seamless, modern approach to leave management. Backed by a 99% customer retention rate and a highly recognized professional services team, AbsenceSoft is a trusted partner for organizations managing complex employee needs.
AbsenceSoft is a winner in the 2024 HR Tech Awards program. The following case study was a major contributor to AbsenceSoft’s entry and subsequent win. For more information, please visit HRTechAwards.org.
WaFd Bank: Elevating Leave Management with AbsenceSoft
The Challenge: Simplifying Complex Leave Processes
Washington Federal (WaFd) Bank, one of the largest banking institutions in the U.S., faced the challenge of managing leave requests for over 2,000 employees across 235 branches. Leave Management Specialist Elle Emerson needed a solution to streamline the process, ensure compliance, and provide a positive experience for employees requesting leave. Previous software implementations had proven time-consuming and difficult, leaving Emerson cautious about adopting a new platform.
The Solution: AbsenceSoft’s Automation and Customization
AbsenceSoft provided WaFd Bank with a scalable solution that transformed its leave management process:
- Effortless Implementation: AbsenceSoft’s implementation was seamless and completed a month ahead of schedule. Emerson remarked, “AbsenceSoft should teach a class on implementation, your team is that good.”
- Automation and Integration: Integration with WaFd’s ADP ensured automatic daily updates of employee data, reducing compliance risks and streamlining eligibility calculations.
- Text Messaging for Engagement: Employees responded to text messages significantly faster than traditional calls, often within seconds. Emerson noted, “People just don’t answer the phone anymore… With text, they’re much more likely to respond.”
- Employee Self-Service: Employees could easily request leave on any device, reducing the need for instruction and improving their experience.
Results: A Streamlined, Employee-Centric Process
With AbsenceSoft, WaFd Bank achieved significant improvements:
- Enhanced Employee Experience: AbsenceSoft’s self-service portal and text messaging capabilities simplified the process for employees, fostering a positive, modern experience.
- Increased Efficiency: Automation and integration reduced administrative workload, freeing up HR to focus on strategic initiatives.
- Proactive Support: AbsenceSoft’s customer support team ensured WaFd Bank stayed compliant and informed through ongoing education and proactive follow-ups.
Emerson praised AbsenceSoft’s support, saying, “Your team is so on top of things, always proactive, checking in and following up.”
Conclusion: A Partnership for Success
By partnering with AbsenceSoft, WaFd Bank transformed its leave management process into a streamlined, compliant, and employee-focused operation. With automation, customization, and unparalleled support, AbsenceSoft enabled WaFd Bank to deliver a seamless experience for both HR and employees.
For organizations facing similar challenges, WaFd Bank’s success highlights AbsenceSoft as a powerful solution to modernize leave management and create a culture of care.
Ben Eubanks is the Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory. He is an author, speaker, and researcher with a passion for telling stories and making complex topics easy to understand.
His latest book Talent Scarcity answers the question every business leader has asked in recent years: “Where are all the people, and how do we get them back to work?” It shares practical and strategic recruiting and retention ideas and case studies for every employer.
His first book, Artificial Intelligence for HR, is the world’s most-cited resource on AI applications for hiring, development, and employee experience.
Ben has more than 10 years of experience both as an HR/recruiting executive as well as a researcher on workplace topics. His work is practical, relevant, and valued by practitioners from F100 firms to SMB organizations across the globe.
He has spoken to tens of thousands of HR professionals across the globe and enjoys sharing about technology, talent practices, and more. His speaking credits include the SHRM Annual Conference, Seminarium International, PeopleMatters Dubai and India, and over 100 other notable events.