Implement optimistic state updates for employee approvals

[cretadn22]

Explanation of Change

Fixed Issues

$ #72109
PROPOSAL: #72109 (comment)

Tests

• Verify that no errors appear in the JS console

Offline tests

QA Steps

1. Go to staging.new.expensify.com
2. Go to workspace settings > Members.
3. Invite User B and User C.
4. Upgrade the workspace.
5. Go to workspace settings > Workflows.
6. Click on the default workflow.
7. Click Approver.
8. Change the approver to User B, then save it.
9. Turn off "Add approvals".
10. Turn on "Add approvals".
11. No new workflow will be created.

// TODO: These must be filled out, or the issue title must include "[No QA]."

• Verify that no errors appear in the JS console

PR Author Checklist

• I linked the correct issue in the ### Fixed Issues section above
• I wrote clear testing steps that cover the changes made in this PR
  • I added steps for local testing in the Tests section
  • I added steps for the expected offline behavior in the Offline steps section
  • I added steps for Staging and/or Production testing in the QA steps section
  • I added steps to cover failure scenarios (i.e. verify an input displays the correct error message if the entered data is not correct)
  • I turned off my network connection and tested it while offline to ensure it matches the expected behavior (i.e. verify the default avatar icon is displayed if app is offline)
  • I tested this PR with a High Traffic account against the staging or production API to ensure there are no regressions (e.g. long loading states that impact usability).
• I included screenshots or videos for tests on all platforms
• I ran the tests on all platforms & verified they passed on:
  • Android: Native
  • Android: mWeb Chrome
  • iOS: Native
  • iOS: mWeb Safari
  • MacOS: Chrome / Safari
• I verified there are no console errors (if there's a console error not related to the PR, report it or open an issue for it to be fixed)
• I verified there are no new alerts related to the canBeMissing param for useOnyx
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• If the PR modifies code that runs when editing or sending messages, I tested and verified there is no unexpected behavior for all supported markdown - URLs, single line code, code blocks, quotes, headings, bold, strikethrough, and italic.
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• I added unit tests for any new feature or bug fix in this PR to help automatically prevent regressions in this user flow.
• If the main branch was merged into this PR after a review, I tested again and verified the outcome was still expected according to the Test steps.

Screenshots/Videos

Android: Native

Screen.Recording.2026-01-22.at.19.22.28.mov

Android: mWeb Chrome

Screen.Recording.2026-01-22.at.19.20.47.mov

iOS: Native

Screen.Recording.2026-01-22.at.19.21.16.mov

iOS: mWeb Safari

Screen.Recording.2026-01-22.at.19.19.51.mov

MacOS: Chrome / Safari

Screen.Recording.2026-01-22.at.19.18.46.mov

[melvin-bot]

@situchan Please copy/paste the Reviewer Checklist from here into a new comment on this PR and complete it. If you have the K2 extension, you can simply click: [this button]

[codecov]

Codecov Report

✅ Changes either increased or maintained existing code coverage, great job!

Files with missing lines	Coverage Δ
src/libs/actions/Policy/Policy.ts	36.66% <84.61%> (+0.49%)	⬆️
... and 6 files with indirect coverage changes

[situchan]

Optimistic data is not enough. Still issue after logout & re-login. We need backend fix as well. Otherwise find different solution.

[cretadn22]

@situchan This change only addresses the frontend side. We’ll still need a backend fix as well

[situchan]

@francoisl should we hold frontend PR until backend is done?

[francoisl]

Yeah let's hold on a second. I'll try to finish the backend portion this week.

[JmillsExpensify]

Nice product polish

[francoisl]

Hey team, sorry for the delay here. The backend changes are merged but we've had a deploy freeze that's been delaying things a little.

In the meantime, can we update the PR and change the API.write(WRITE_COMMANDS.SET_WORKSPACE_APPROVAL_MODE, ... to use the new API command DisablePolicyApprovals. The only param it needs is policyID, and you can keep the optimistic data the same as they are now.

I'll let you know once the command is deployed (hopefully tomorrow).

[francoisl]

Ok the API command DisablePolicyApprovals is on staging now, we can unblock this now. I'll edit the title.

[cretadn22]

The test failed because the action exceeded the timeout

[cretadn22]

@situchan The PR is ready for review 👍