# Auto-lock and leave accrual

> Office guide: lock exported periods automatically, and choose how leave builds up.

URL: https://timetracking.tech/developers/help/office/settings-lock-and-leave
Last updated: 2026-10-26

Both settings are under **Settings** (Instellingen) → **Organisation and payroll** (Organisatie en verloning). Only admins can change them.

## Lock exported periods automatically

**Lock exported periods after (days)** (Geëxporteerde periodes vergrendelen na (dagen)), default 14.

Every night, a period whose latest export is older than this number of days is locked automatically. Locked hours can never change again; corrections go into an open period. If you export the same period again (for example a delta export), the count starts over.

A period that still has hours or expenses that are not exported is skipped until they are exported or rejected. Leave the field empty to switch auto-lock off and only lock by hand ([export and lock](https://timetracking.tech/developers/help/office/export-and-lock)).

Every automatic lock is in the audit log as a system action.

## Leave accrual

**Leave accrual** (Verlofopbouw):

- **Full year on 1 January** (Heel jaar op 1 januari): the whole yearly allowance is available straight away. This is the default.
- **1/12 per month** (1/12 per maand): on the 1st of each month 1/12 of the yearly allowance is added, counted from the month the person started (their first placement).

The yearly allowance per person stays the same; only the available balance changes. Employees see the result under [Leave & sick](https://timetracking.tech/developers/help/employee/leave-and-sick).

In het Nederlands: [automatisch vergrendelen en verlofopbouw](https://timetracking.tech/developers/help/nl/kantoor/automatisch-vergrendelen-en-verlofopbouw).