> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://planmyrounds.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating and managing leave types

> Set up and manage the leave categories — like Annual Leave, Sick Leave, or Study Leave — that your team selects when submitting requests in PlanMyRounds.

Leave types are the categories your organisation uses to classify time off — for example, *Annual Leave*, *Sick Leave*, or *Maternity Leave*. Each type has a short code (like **AL**, **SL**, or **ML**) that appears on calendars and reports so it's easy to read at a glance.

Your organisation starts with a default type called **General Leave (GL)**. You can add as many custom types as you need.

<Note>
  Only admins can create, edit, or delete leave types.
</Note>

## Create a new leave type

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Leave Types">
    Go to **Settings** in the sidebar, then open the **Leave** section. You can also reach it from the **Leave Types** tab in the Leave area.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a new type">
    Select **Add Leave Type**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in the details">
    Enter the full **Name** (for example, *Maternity Leave*) and a **Short Code** — 2 or 3 uppercase letters, like **ML**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Select **Create**. The new type is immediately available in the leave request form.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Short codes must be **unique** within your organisation. If you enter a code that already exists, you'll see an error and need to pick something else.
</Tip>

## Edit a leave type

Need to rename a category or change its code? Select the edit icon next to any leave type, update the **Name** or **Short Code**, and save.

Changes take effect immediately for all future leave submissions. Existing entries continue to show the code they were submitted with.

## Activate or deactivate a type

Each leave type has an **Active / Inactive** toggle.

* **Active** — the type appears in the leave request form and doctors can select it.
* **Inactive** — the type is hidden from the form but existing entries that used it are untouched.

Deactivating is the safest way to retire a category you no longer want people to use — you keep the history, just stop new submissions.

## Delete a leave type

To remove a type permanently, select the delete icon next to it.

<Warning>
  Deleting a leave type cannot be undone. Make sure it is not in active use before removing it — deactivating is usually the safer choice.
</Warning>

The default **General Leave (GL)** type cannot be deleted.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Apply for leave" icon="plane-departure" href="/docs/leave/applying-for-leave">
    Submit a leave request using one of your new leave types.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Approve or reject requests" icon="circle-check" href="/docs/leave/approval-workflow">
    Review pending requests and update the roster automatically.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>