When serious illness or injury disrupts the lives of employees, medical leave policies can become essential sources of support. Yet, less is known about how these policies are implemented and whether they help alleviate suffering. New research (Barnes et al., 2026) suggests that medical leave policies are not simply about time away from work; how they are implemented can either support employee healing or intensify suffering.
MEDICAL LEAVE POLICIES AND EMPLOYEE SUFFERING
The researchers interviewed 30 employees who had taken extended medical leave and 18 leave coordinators who help employees navigate leave within organizations. Employees described four major forms of personal suffering: a loss of functioning (e.g., difficulty completing work), a loss of safety (e.g., uncertainty surrounding their health), a loss of stability (e.g., job or financial concerns), and a loss of autonomy surrounding their identity (e.g., losing valued identities such as being highly work-driven).
The researchers also found that organizations support healing most effectively when leave policies are implemented in a compassionate and proactive way. Helpful approaches included tailoring leave plans to employees’ specific needs, responding to employees with empathy and validation, and reassuring employees that their jobs and benefits would be protected throughout the leave process. In contrast, defensive implementation, such as making employees feel guilty for taking leave or even restricting leave use, worsened employee suffering.
PRACTICAL AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS
For organizations, being prepared for employees to take leave unexpectedly is an important first step. Preparation could include cross-training employees and developing systems that allow work to continue smoothly during absences. Hiring and training dedicated leave coordinators, rather than relying solely on supervisors, may also improve leave experiences. Short-term, flexible leave options may be useful as well, as they provide flexibility for doctor appointments or ongoing treatment needs.
At the policy level, paid medical leave at the federal and state level may help reduce the burden placed on employees and organizations during times of serious illness. More flexible leave policies, as well as separate leave for medical versus family reasons, may also facilitate employee healing and recovery.
Barnes, L. Y., Lacerenza, C. N., & Hardin, A. E. (2026). How policy implementation impacts employee suffering at work: An exploration of medical leaves of absence. Journal of Applied Psychology. Advance online publication.
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