{"id":"hr-parental-leave-reply-policy-only","audience":"hr","category":"people-work","track":"people","level":"beginner","technique":"grounding","title":"Reply to a leave question using only the policy","free":false,"task":"Reply to Amara in plain text, under 100 words. First line exactly: Subject: Re: Parental leave questions. Answer only what the policy excerpt states: how many weeks, how much pay, and how to apply. For anything the excerpt does not cover, say you will check and name Hector in the People Team as the contact. Do not say whether she legally qualifies for anything. Last line exactly: Warmly, People Team. HR reviews before sending.","materialLabel":"Her email and the policy excerpt (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"Email from Amara Osei (Nov 5): \"Hi, I'm expecting a baby in March. How much leave can I take, is it paid, how do I apply, and could my husband take leave too? Also can I use it in pieces? Thanks!\"\n\nPolicy excerpt (Section 9, updated Jan 2026)\n- Birth parents receive 12 weeks of paid parental leave at 100% of base pay after 6 months of employment.\n- Non-birth parents receive 6 weeks at 100% of base pay on the same terms.\n- To apply, submit the Leave Request form in the HR portal at least 30 days before the planned start date.\n- Leave must be taken within 12 months of birth or adoption.\n\nOlder handbook (2023) said 8 weeks at 60% pay; that version is no longer in force.\nAmara has been with the company for 2 years.","rules":[{"type":"maxWords","max":130},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Old policy figures","why":"The AI uses 8 weeks at 60%.","fix":"Say: \"Use only the policy excerpt (Section 9, updated Jan 2026).\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Guessing the unknown","why":"The AI answers about splitting leave.","fix":"Say: \"For anything not in the excerpt, say you will check and name Hector.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Missing exact lines","why":"The AI writes its own subject and sign-off.","fix":"Say: \"First and last lines exactly as given.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it.","fix":"Cap each part instead, for example: \"each line under 15 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"Markdown","why":"The AI bolds words or adds headings.","fix":"Say: \"Plain text, no bold, no headings.\"","checks":["plainText"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Exact lines","patterns":["subject: re: parental","warmly, people team"]},{"label":"Policy only","patterns":["only","policy excerpt"]},{"label":"Contact named","patterns":["hector"]},{"label":"No legal conclusions","patterns":["legal"]},{"label":"Word cap","patterns":["under \\d+ words"]}],"hint":"Give the exact first and last lines, restrict it to the excerpt, and name the contact for unknowns.","mission":"Answer Amara's parental leave questions from the policy only.","musts":["Weeks, pay, how to apply","Name Hector for the rest","No legal eligibility claims"],"rubricLabels":["The first line is exactly \"Subject: Re: Parental leave questions\" and the last line is exactly \"Warmly, People Team\"","States the policy figures (12 weeks at 100% of base pay for birth parents, 6 weeks for non-birth parents, apply through the HR portal form at least 30 days before) and does not use the old 8 weeks at 60%","Says it will check about taking leave in pieces and names Hector in the People Team as contact, and does not state whether she legally qualifies or is guaranteed anything"]}