function getAbsencePolicyObject()
 {
     if (is_object($this->absence_policy_obj)) {
         return $this->absence_policy_obj;
     } else {
         $aplf = new AbsencePolicyListFactory();
         $aplf->getById($this->getAbsencePolicyID());
         if ($aplf->getRecordCount() > 0) {
             $this->absence_policy_obj = $aplf->getCurrent();
         }
         return $this->absence_policy_obj;
     }
 }