The Road Ahead for 2026: What 1,200 HR Leaders Told Us About Leave and Accommodations

After surveying over 1,000 HR leaders, AbsenceSoft's 2026 State of Leave and Accommodations report revealed that the nature of leave and accommodations requests has fundamentally shifted in ways most compliance professionals aren't prepared for. For the third year running, caseloads continue climbing, but it's not just the volume that's changed. The types of requests employees are making, the tools HR teams are using to manage them, and the compliance risks lurking in seemingly helpful shortcuts are creating a perfect storm. If you're still managing your programs the way you did three years ago, or if you think AI is just a future concern, this conversation will change how you think about risk, resources, and what it takes to stay compliant in 2026.