
ApproveThis manages your Leave Dates Integration approvals.
April 17, 2025
Integration Category: Time Tracking
Why Combine Approval Workflows with Leave Tracking?
Modern businesses face a critical challenge: maintaining operational efficiency while managing complex employee needs. Leave Dates simplifies vacation tracking, while ApproveThis automates decision-making processes. Together through Zapier, these platforms create a seamless bridge between request submission and policy enforcement – without manual intervention.
Consider the impact on a mid-sized tech company: HR teams currently waste 12 hours weekly chasing down managers for leave approvals. Marketing agencies lose billable hours when creative teams face unexpected approval delays. Retail chains struggle with seasonal staffing fluctuations. This integration directly addresses these pain points by connecting leave requests to structured approval logic.
Key Integration Benefits
Policy Compliance Made Automatic
ApproveThis' calculated fields automatically flag requests exceeding departmental headcount limits or violating blackout periods. When integrated with Leave Dates' absence records, managers gain real-time visibility into team availability before approving time-off.
Cross-Platform Visibility
Financial controllers can automatically route high-impact requests (like extended leaves during fiscal closes) through approval thresholds. Meanwhile, department heads receive email-based approvals requiring no software licenses – critical when working with external contractors or board members.
Capacity-Driven Approvals
A marketing agency uses vacation delegation to ensure client projects never stall. When a creative director takes PTO, ApproveThis automatically reassigns approval authority while Leave Dates maintains accurate coverage records.
Real-World Implementation Examples
Scenario 1: High-Volume Seasonal Staffing
A retail chain with 300% seasonal workforce spikes uses the integration to:
- Auto-reject temp worker requests during mandatory holiday blackouts
- Require store manager + HR approval for any leave exceeding 3 days
Result: 78% reduction in last-minute coverage scrambles.
Scenario 2: Client-Centric Service Firms
Consulting agencies combine ApproveThis' sequential approvals with Leave Dates' capacity planning to:
- Block PTO requests when client deliverables are due
- Require project lead → department head → HR sign-off chain
Outcome: 92% client retention rate through consistent staffing.
Scenario 3: Global Enterprises
Multinationals leverage approval groups to handle regional compliance variations. A leave request in Germany triggers different approval rules (works council notifications) than identical requests in US branches – all automated through conditional logic.
Technical Integration Guide
Step 1: Core Connection
Create a Zapier account and select "Leave Dates" as your trigger app. Choose "New Leave Requested" as the trigger event. Test with sample data to confirm API connectivity.
Step 2: Approval Logic Configuration
In ApproveThis, build a workflow template matching your policy requirements. Key settings:
- Set approval thresholds at 5 working days for manager-only approvals
- Enable vacation delegation rules for department heads
- Add calculated fields to auto-deny conflicts with major projects
Step 3: Bi-Directional Syncing
Create a second Zap using ApproveThis' "Request Approved/Denied" trigger to:
- Update Leave Dates calendars instantly
- Notify Slack channels upon approval
- Generate Google Calendar events for approved leaves
Department-Specific Advantages
Human Resources Teams
Reduce policy violation risks by embedding compliance checks into automated workflows. Example: Auto-flag requests from departments exceeding quarterly absence allowances.
Finance Departments
Connect leave approvals to budget impacts. When a sales leader requests leave during quarter-end, require CFO approval if their team is under 90% quota attainment.
Operations Managers
Use approval groups to coordinate cross-functional coverage. A manufacturing plant manager's leave might require approvals from production, safety, and HR stakeholders.
Strategic Implementation Tips
Do: Start with high-impact departments – 67% of successful implementations begin with HR or finance teams.
Don't: Overcomplicate initial workflows; implement 2-3 core rules first.
Pro Tip: Use ApproveThis' calculated fields to dynamically adjust approval chains based on Leave Dates' team capacity data.
Critical Path to Implementation
Phase 1: Map current leave approval processes for 2-3 key departments.
Phase 2: Configure ApproveThis workflows mirroring existing policies.
Phase 3: Build test Zaps for 1-2 common scenarios.
Phase 4: Train managers on email-based approvals.
Phase 5: Full rollout with real-time dashboards for exception handling.
Overcoming Common Objections
"We have unique approval rules"
ApproveThis supports nested conditional logic – 94% of companies replicate their exact policies within 2 weeks.
"Our executives won't learn new software"
Decision-makers approve via email without logging into either system. No additional licenses required.
Getting Started
Begin your automation journey in three steps:
1. Register for ApproveThis (14-day free trial)
2. Connect to Leave Dates via Zapier
3. Clone pre-built templates for common leave scenarios
For complex implementations, schedule a custom demo showing how to combine approval thresholds with multi-country leave policies.
The Future of Workforce Management
Companies using both platforms report 41% faster approval cycles and 83% reduction in policy exceptions. As hybrid work evolves, integrating decision automation with absence tracking becomes critical for maintaining productivity.
ApproveThis and Leave Dates create more than efficiency – they enable data-driven workforce strategies. HR leaders gain predictive insights by analyzing approval patterns against operational outcomes. Finance teams correlate leave approvals with revenue impacts. Executives maintain control without administrative overhead.
Next Steps
Visit ApproveThis.com to start your trial or book a live integration walkthrough. For Leave Dates users, ask about pre-configured workflow templates that cut setup time by 75%.
Integrate with Leave Dates Integration and get 90 days of ApproveThis for free.
After you create a Zapier integration, please email us at support@approve-this.com with your account name and we'll add 3 months of ApproveThis to your account. Limit one redemption per account.
Learn More
Best Approval Workflows for Leave Dates
Suggested workflows (and their Zapier components) for Leave Dates
Create approval requests for new leave on ApproveThis
Efficiently manage leave requests by automatically creating an approval request in ApproveThis when a new leave is initiated. This integration ensures that every leave request undergoes the necessary approval process, saving HR teams time and ensuring compliance with company policies.
Zapier Components

Trigger
New Leave Requested
Triggers when a new leave is requested.
Action
Create Request
Creates a new request, probably with input from previous steps.
Create employees for approved requests in Leave Dates
Speed up your onboarding process by creating new employee entries in Leave Dates whenever a request is approved in ApproveThis. This automation eliminates repetitive entry tasks, allowing HR to focus on strategic initiatives.
Zapier Components
Trigger
A Request Is Approved/Denied
Triggers when a request is approved or denied.

Action
Create Employee
Creates an employee in your company.
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