Earned leave by days worked
Process workers earn leave under the OSH Code: once a worker completes 180 days of work in a calendar year, they earn one day of paid leave for every 20 days worked. Carried-forward leave is capped at 30 days, and unused leave can be encashed at year end if the worker asks. A crew member who works 272 days in the year has 13 full blocks of 20 days, so earns 13 days, with 12 days left over. See the leave entitlement rules.
Approving leave against crew strength
Suppose a crew needs 9 people on the panel and in the field, including 1 shift in-charge and 2 people trained in fire fighting. The shift in-charge approves leave only if the crew still meets that minimum with the reliever pool, and names the cover. Two operators from the same crew should not be away in the same week unless relievers are confirmed. Write the crew minimum down so approvals are consistent from crew A to crew D.
Leave freezes for turnarounds
A turnaround is planned months ahead and needs every maintenance technician and most operators for two to four weeks. Announce the leave freeze at least two months before, so workers plan weddings and trips home around it, and keep sick leave and genuine emergencies open. After the restart, allow a wave of leave, planned crew by crew, so people recover without leaving the restarted units short of experienced hands.
Comp-off and sandwich rules for rotating crews
Crews work public holidays as normal rostered days. Plants usually give a comp-off for each holiday worked, to be used within a set period, or pay holiday work at a higher rate. Sandwich rules matter less in a rotating plant, because rest days move with the cycle. Apply one only where your policy treats leave on both sides of rest days as a single spell, and explain it to crews before it starts.
How to set it up in ZeniaHR
- In the Leave Ledger, set EL to track one day per 20 days worked, cap carry forward at 30 days and preview the year-end run.
- Under Leave Applications, require advance notice for earned leave and cap the length of a single spell, so long leave is planned with the crew.
- Have shift in-charges check the Leave Calendar before approving, then let HR approve in the fixed chain.
- Announce turnaround leave freezes on the Company Wall with acknowledgement required, so every crew member confirms reading it.
- Grant comp-off for holidays worked with an expiry, and let the Leave Ledger lapse credits that go unused.
- In Leave rules, pick the sandwich mode your policy uses for rotating crews, or none.
Read more about leave management in ZeniaHR.
Roles this applies to
See leave management for chemical and plastics plants in a demo
We set up your locations, shifts and rules on a video call and show it running for your team. Free for your first 50 employees.
Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
How is leave approved in a four-crew chemical plant?
Leave is approved against the crew's minimum strength, not department headcount. The shift in-charge checks whether the crew can still run safely with a reliever, names the cover, and then HR approves. Two people from the same crew are rarely away together unless relievers are confirmed in advance.
Can a plant stop leave during a turnaround?
Plants commonly freeze planned leave for a turnaround, since maintenance and operations need full strength for a few weeks. Announce the freeze early, keep sick leave and emergencies open, and allow a planned wave of leave after the restart. Put the practice in your leave policy so it applies the same way every time.
How much earned leave does a shift operator get?
A worker who completes 180 days of work in a calendar year earns one day of paid leave for every 20 days worked. An operator who works 272 days earns 13 days. Up to 30 unused days can be carried into the next year, and at year end the worker can request encashment of what remains unused.