> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.harmony.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.harmony.io/ai-agents/employee-lifecycle/vacation-request-agent.md). # Vacation Request Agent The Vacation Request agent is a pre-built HR agent that handles employee time-off requests end-to-end, directly from chat. Instead of routing employees to a separate portal or waiting on manual HR follow-up, the agent manages the entire process: checking balances, validating dates, routing for approval, updating your HRIS, and confirming the outcome - all in one seamless conversation. This agent is part of the Employee Lifecycle automation suite and can be connected to one or more HR systems simultaneously, so global organizations can serve employees across different regions without building separate workflows. *** ### How It Works When an employee sends a message asking about taking time off, the Vacation Request agent steps through the following sequence automatically: 1. **Balance check** - The agent queries the connected HRIS to retrieve the employee's current available leave balance for the requested leave type. 2. **Date validation** - The agent validates the requested dates against company policy rules (e.g. minimum notice periods, blackout dates, or overlapping team absences). 3. **Manager approval routing** - If the request requires approval, the agent routes it to the appropriate manager and waits for a response before proceeding. 4. **HRIS update** - Once approved (or if no approval is required), the agent writes the approved time-off record directly back to the HR system. 5. **Employee confirmation** - The agent sends a final confirmation to the employee with the outcome and any relevant details such as remaining balance. All of these steps happen within the chat interface - the employee never needs to leave the conversation to complete a request. *** ### Multi-HRIS Support You can connect multiple HR systems to the Vacation Request agent simultaneously. Each connected system has its own independent configuration, so you can serve employees in different regions or business units from a single agent deployment. For example, you might connect Workday for employees in the United States and HiBob for employees in Israel. The agent automatically routes each request to the correct system based on the employee's profile, without any manual switching or duplicate setup. This works similarly to how multiple app access sources are configured in Harmony - each HRIS source is added and managed independently, and the agent resolves which source to use at runtime. #### Adding an HRIS Connection To connect an HR system to the Vacation Request agent: 1. Open the agent configuration panel for the Vacation Request agent. 2. Navigate to the **HR Systems** section. 3. Select **Add Connection** and choose your HRIS provider from the list. 4. Enter the required credentials and configuration details for that system. 5. Repeat for any additional HR systems you want to connect. Each connection can be tested independently before going live. *** ### Setting Up the Vacation Request Agent #### Prerequisites Before activating the agent, make sure you have: * At least one HRIS connected and configured (see [Multi-HRIS Support](#multi-hris-support) above) * Manager user records available in the system so approval routing can resolve the correct approver * Leave policy rules defined in your HRIS or within the agent configuration #### Activating the Agent 1. Go to **AI Agents** in the Harmony admin console. 2. Select **Employee Lifecycle** from the left navigation. 3. Find the **Vacation Request** agent in the pre-built agent library and select **Configure**. 4. Connect your HRIS systems and review the default policy settings. 5. Set the agent to **Active** when you are ready to go live. Once active, the agent is available to employees through any chat channel where Harmony is deployed. *** ### Approval Routing When a vacation request requires manager approval, the agent handles the routing automatically. The manager receives a notification with the request details and can approve or decline directly from their own chat interface. The agent waits for a manager response before updating the HRIS or confirming the outcome to the employee. If no response is received within a configurable timeout window, the agent can be set to either escalate the request or send a reminder to the manager. You can configure the approval logic - including which request types or leave durations require approval - in the agent's policy settings. *** ### Employee Experience From the employee's perspective, the entire interaction happens in chat. A typical conversation looks like this: * Employee asks: "Can I take Friday and Monday off next week?" * The agent checks their balance and the requested dates. * If approval is needed, the agent lets the employee know the request has been sent to their manager. * Once the manager responds, the agent updates the HRIS and confirms the outcome to the employee, including their updated remaining balance. Employees do not need to know which HRIS is in use, or how the approval chain is structured. The agent handles that resolution transparently. *** ### Supported HRIS Platforms The Vacation Request agent supports connecting to multiple HR platforms. Refer to the current integration catalog in your Harmony admin console for the full list of supported providers and any platform-specific configuration notes. *** ### Related Articles * Employee Lifecycle Automations - Overview * Connecting HR Systems to Harmony * Manager Approval Workflows * Onboarding Agent --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. 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