Know Your Rights: The Benefits of Taking Time Off

Looking for a sign to finally file your vacation leave? Maybe this is it! 

According to the University of Minnesota, a vacation leave is defined as “paid time off from work for you to use for your personal activities and to create a healthy balance between your work and personal life.” It is usually granted to employees and they are given a certain number of vacation days per year as part of their employment benefits, which can vary depending on their job position, length of service, and company policies. It is important for employees to plan and coordinate their vacation leave with their employer in advance, to ensure that work responsibilities are covered and there is no disruption to business operations.

Other than your vacation leaves, are you aware of the other specific kinds of leave you can avail of here in the Philippines? Don’t worry because we got you covered! Know your rights as an employee and get to know more about why taking that vacation leave is beneficial to you!

Vacation Leave in the Philippines

From a previous article on Kalibrr, here are the following vacation leaves that you can file for as an employee here in the Philippines:

1. 1. Service Incentive Leave (SIL) – As stated in Article 95 of the Labor code of the Philippines, employees, who have stayed with a company for at least one year are entitled to five (5) days with pay. This is usually availed by employees for their sick or vacation leaves. 
   2. Maternity leave – In Republic Act (RA) 1161 and amended by RA 8282, pregnant employees, whether married or not, especially those working in the private sector are entitled to sixty (60) days for normal delivery or seventy-eight (78) days for cesarean section delivery. This includes pay and other possible benefits given by companies. 
   3. Paternity leave – Soon-to-be fathers are entitled to getting paternity leave when there is a birth of their child. This allows the father to be able to help their wives recover after the pregnancy and in nursing their newborn child/children. Fathers are entitled to a seven (7) day paternity leave. 
   4. Solo Parent Leave – Allows solo parents to be granted seven (7) days of leave with pay. This is to be able to address the needs of their children and perform their duties and responsibilities, especially if their physical presence is needed. 
   5. Leave with pay for Victims of Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) – Women who are victims of physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering or economic abuse are given ten (10) days of VAWC leaves. In the RA 9262, the leave can possibly be extended depending if needed since the leave should be used for medical and legal concerns that the female employees need to attend to. 
   6. Special Leave for Women – As stated in RA 9710,  female employees who have undergone surgery because of gynecological disorder will be allowed a maximum of two (2) months off from their job and must still be paid in full. This is regardless of their age and civil status.

Keep in mind that you have these rights as an employee here in the Philippines!

The Benefits of Taking a Vacation Leave

Since there are various types of vacation leaves that we are entitled to, we must know that it is important that we avail of these. Some companies would offer to have paid leaves that their employees can file in case it is needed. Depending on the reason why you are taking time off, do keep in mind that whatever it may be, you have the right to take a couple of days off. Here are some of the reasons why a vacation leave is needed: 

1. Reduces stress – When you are given time off from work, this can help you get your mind off things that are stressing you out in the workplace. It allows you to get a couple of days off to recharge and take a break from your usual routine. Depending on the reason for your leave, know that this time is given for you to focus on the reason why you wanted to take time off. 
2. Helps improve relationships – For those who are taking their maternity, paternity, or their solo parent leave, they are doing this in order to be present for their families since this is a time where they are needed the most. For those who are welcoming a newborn into their lives, the transitional period is important and having someone there to support one another is needed. On the other hand, for those who are just simply taking a travel or leisure break, this can help strengthen your relationship with the people you will be with as quality time will be spent together. 
3. Better physical and mental health – The leaves we have are given to us depending on our need for it. Those who may be suffering health concerns and are going through a hard time in their personal lives may opt to take their leaves. Remember that you should always prioritize your well-being. The work can wait, listen to what your body and mind needs. 

All things considered, having a vacation can be beneficial for your mental and physical health as well as your productivity at work and relationships with others.

Overcoming the Obstacles of Filing for a Vacation Leave

For some, they wouldn’t dare to take a vacation leave because of their fear of missing out on what’s happening in their workplace or not being able to bounce back after some time off. This is valid because most have probably experienced this, worrying that the workload may pile up once they are gone or too scared to ask for time off because you feel guilty doing so. We all need time off and this shouldn’t be the case! 

Some have also experienced getting anxious when they would like to file for a leave, especially if they assume that their request may be denied. Having a better system and approach to how employees should file for their leaves can help them to open up more and worry less about the possible denial of their leave. 

Stop trying to talk yourself out of getting that leave. Just remember that your reason should be valid depending on the type of leave you are applying for. 

Take that much needed time off!

After knowing you have the right to file for a leave, just keep in mind the benefits that you should be getting in case you encounter any of the reasons on why you should file for one. There were matters that were discussed such as the VAWC leave and this should be taken seriously and must be implemented if needed. 

Prioritizing your well-being is crucial for a healthy work-life balance, whether it is a single long vacation or a series of shorter ones.

Remember that taking a break from your work is essential for your general wellbeing and is not a sign of weakness or sloth. Therefore, make time for yourself so that you can return to work feeling renewed and prepared to take on any challenges that may arise.

Don’t wait for the perfect time or until you feel like you “deserve” a break.

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Kalibrr is a recruitment technology company that aims to transform how candidates find jobs and how companies hire talent. Placing the candidate experience at the center of everything it does, we continue to attract the best talent from all over, with more than 6 million professionals and counting. Kalibrr ultimately connects these talents to companies in search of their next generation of leaders.

The only end-to-end recruitment solutions provider in Southeast Asia, Kalibrr is headquartered in Makati, Philippines, with offices in San Francisco, California, and Jakarta, Indonesia. Established in 2012, it has served over 18,000 clients and is backed by some of the world’s most powerful start-up incubators and venture capitalists. These include Y Combinator, Omidyar Network, Patamar Capital, Wavemaker Partners, and Kickstart Ventures.

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