# Choose who approves absences

> In Weplanify, the leave circuit says who receives each absence request, in which order, under which conditions, and who stands in for an absent approver.

- Product: Weplanify (https://weplanify.io)
- Section: Leave & absences
- Web page: https://weplanify.io/docs/absences.circuit-de-validation?lang=en
- Other language: https://weplanify.io/docs/absences.circuit-de-validation.md
- Last updated: 2026-09-30

In Weplanify, the leave circuit is set in the **Leave and absences** screen, **Leave settings** menu → **Approval circuit**. The editor is the same for every circuit: [configure a circuit](https://weplanify.io/docs/validations.circuit?lang=en).

![Leave and absences › Approval circuit: Direct manager, then Human resources beyond 5 days](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/weplanify/o/docs%2Fabsences%2Fmaj-2026-09-28%2Fab-validation-8ed00e5b.webp?alt=media&token=897cddfc-87b8-4cfc-99a1-a0f2b54418ba)

## Steps

1. Open **Time → Leave and absences**, then the **Leave settings** menu → **Approval circuit**: each step shows in order, with who approves and when it applies.
2. Click a step to choose [who approves](https://weplanify.io/docs/validations.responsable?lang=en): the employee's manager, the manager of a site or the head of their department, specific people, or based on rules.
3. Set **When this step applies** (if the duration exceeds a few days, for some absence types), **If nobody answers** and the **Final decision**; **Add a step** if needed.
4. Choose a **Substitute**, click **Test the circuit** for an employee, then **Save**.

## Good to know

- An employee without a manager is approved by the substitute: the screen counts these employees.
- Each approver finds the requests in [Requests → To handle](https://weplanify.io/docs/validations.a-traiter?lang=en); for leave, a reason is always required to refuse.
- An approved request shows in the planning, its slots flagged as conflicts; a rejected request gives the employee the reason.

## Related guides

- [Configure an approval circuit](https://weplanify.io/docs/validations.circuit?lang=en) — In Weplanify, build the approval steps of a leave request, an expense, an advance or a form: the order, the name, the approver and when each step applies.
- [Choose who approves a step of the circuit](https://weplanify.io/docs/validations.responsable?lang=en) — In Weplanify, choose who approves a step: the manager, the head of a site or a department, specific people, or a different person depending on rules.
- [Handle the requests waiting for you](https://weplanify.io/docs/validations.a-traiter?lang=en) — In Weplanify, Requests → To handle gathers the leave, expense claims, advances and forms waiting for your decision, with the overdue ones first.
- [Manage leave and absences](https://weplanify.io/docs/absences?lang=en) — In Weplanify, the Leave and absences screen gathers the whole team's requests, as a list or a calendar, with the requests to approve shown first.
- [Approve or reject an absence request](https://weplanify.io/docs/absences.valider?lang=en) — In Weplanify, approve or reject an absence request from To handle or from its panel, which shows the effect on pay and on the balance before you decide.
- [Request leave from your phone](https://weplanify.io/docs/application-mobile.absences?lang=en) — Request leave or an absence in the Weplanify app, attach a supporting document, see your balance and track approval.
- [Getting started with Weplanify](https://weplanify.io/docs/demarrage?lang=en) — In Weplanify, the web is for managers and the mobile app is for employees: here is where to start, from creating the account to the first published schedule.
- [The dashboard Getting started list](https://weplanify.io/docs/demarrage.premiers-pas?lang=en) — In Weplanify, the dashboard Getting started list shows what is left to do to get going, and each of its lines ticks itself once the step is done.