HR Perceptions of Employee Leave Don’t Match Reality, New Research From The Standard Finds

Research reveals significant gaps in how HR leaders believe women and men use leave, highlighting opportunities for more effective benefits strategies.

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New research from The Standard finds significant differences between how HR decision-makers believe employees use leave and what employees report experiencing. The findings suggest that assumptions about gender and caregiving may prevent employers from effectively communicating and directing absence benefits.

The research, detailed in Leave Perception by Gender: What HR Isn’t Seeing About Absence for Women and Men, found that HR leaders considerably underestimate men’s use of leave to care for a loved one’s physical health. HR decision-makers believe 60% of women and just 6% of men take this type of leave. In contrast, 48% of women and 71% of men surveyed reported taking it.

Similar gaps appeared in perceptions of leave for employees’ own health. HR leaders estimate that 34% of women and 14% of men take leave for their own physical health, while employees reported rates of 23% for women and 27% for men. For mental health, HR leaders believe 44% of women take leave, compared with 5% of women who reported doing so. HR perceptions of men’s mental health leave were closer to employees’ reported experiences, at 9% and 13%, respectively.

“Access to solid, reliable data is important for getting absence benefits right for your company,” said Brad Yoder, assistant vice president of Life, Supplemental & Disability Claims at The Standard. “Organizations that approach leave with a clearer view of absence for women and men will increase their opportunities to boost employee engagement and retention,” Yoder added.

For HR executives, the findings underscore the importance of evaluating leave strategies using workforce data rather than assumptions about who needs or uses certain benefits. A more accurate understanding can help employers communicate benefits more effectively, allocate resources appropriately and support employee engagement and retention. Treating leave as a benefit for everyone may also help ensure employees across genders have equitable access to support and career-growth opportunities.

Survey Methodology

On behalf of The Standard, two third-party research firms conducted nearly identical surveys, one with HR decision-makers and one with employees. Each survey explored employee differences in return to work, benefits priorities and employee resource groups.

HR decision-maker survey:

Fielded: 509 HR decision-makers
Field Dates: Jan. 5 – 23, 2026

About The Standard

Established in 1906, The Standard is a family of companies dedicated to helping customers achieve financial well-being and peace of mind. We are a leading provider of financial protection products and services for employers and individual customers. Our products include group and individual disability insurance, group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, group dental and group vision insurance, absence management and paid family leave services, retirement plans products and services and annuities for employers and individual customers. For more information about The Standard, visit standard.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.