"Personal leave" refers to short-term absences for reasons other than illness, such as taking a child to a physician, school appointments, time to run errands, etc. No federal law requires employers to provide paid or unpaid personal days, but many employers do provide this benefit. In several states , so-called "small necessities leave " laws require that leave be given for many of the same reasons employees use personal leave. A personal day policy should be part of an overall leave policy which may include some of the latest trends including flexible work time and leave donation programs.