The leave-of-absence policy allows players with department management and supervisor roles in our community to take an extended break without worrying about losing their roles due to inactivity. This document outlines the common questions and expectations around requesting a leave of absence.
How do I request a leave of absence?
To request a leave of absence, you will need to create a support ticket in our Discord. You must follow the template below when requesting a leave of absence:
-
A brief reason why you are requesting leave.
-
When you want your LOA to start.
-
When you are planning on returning
Once you have sent this in the support ticket, your request will be reviewed by the staff team.
Do I need to notify anyone?
Besides the staff, when you are requesting a leave of absence, no. If you hold the rank of department lead or deputy lead, you must notify your department that you are stepping away for a period of time and who will serve as your temporary replacement.
How often and for how long can I request an LOA?
You can only request up to 30 days of leave when requesting an LOA. Depending on the circumstances, you may request an extension; however, these requests will be accepted in the best interest of the community, meaning they may be denied or granted. After returning from LOA, any requests submitted within 1 month will be denied. If you request LOAs on a regular basis or if you have extended your original request multiple times, your role may be forfeited depending on the circumstances. This is to ensure fairness across the community when it comes to holding high ranks within our departments, as these positions have limited capacity.
Requesting an LOA as a department lead.
If you are a department lead or deputy lead and request a leave of absence, you will be responsible for designating a suitable person to step into your role while you are away temporarily. They must be familiar with the responsibilities of your role and receive a handover before your LOA starts. When your LOA has finished, the person who has been temporarily appointed as your replacement will have 7 days to hand over before their roles are reinstated.
Do I have to take a break completely when on LOA?
The purpose of this policy is to allow members in applicable roles to take a break from the community without worrying about losing their roles due to inactivity. If you have requested an LOA, it means you expect your activity to be reduced significantly for a period of time, for whatever reason. You cannot request an LOA and then continue playing the server as usual, including performing your departmental roles. LOA doesn't mean that you have to stop interacting with the server and talking in Discord entirely; you can still talk in our Discord.
Why do I have to take an LOA if I'm going to be away?
We require high ranks within our community to take LOAs if they are going to be away from the community for a period of time or don't have time to complete their duties due to IRL, so they don't lose their roles. This is an easy way for us to see that you haven't given up on your role and that you are taking some time away. This allows you to take a break and for someone to step into your position temporarily whilst you are away, so they can experience the role.
Important Notices:
The reasons for going on LOA are kept confidential and can only be viewed by the staff team. You cannot request an LOA to avoid your role's responsibilities and duties. This is for those who have worked hard for their roles so that they aren't removed from them due to IRL events or responsibilities causing inactivity.