Forum: Clear leave policies and open communication win-win for all
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Singapore will have four public holiday long weekends in 2025. Leading up to these long weekends, it is understandable that some employees prefer to plan their leave to maximise the benefit. There are also online guides dishing out tips on when leave could be taken to enjoy more consecutive days for travel.
At the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), we champion responsible employment practices and recognise the importance of rest and recharge for employees. However, employers may face manpower challenges if many employees plan to take extended leave concurrently, leading to disruptions to business operations.
To balance employers’ and employees’ needs, here are some best practices to consider.
First, an effective leave management policy, with clear guidelines on different leave types and well-defined procedures for requesting and approving leave, paves the way for a fair and practical approach to manage leave requests. To prevent overlapping leave applications, having a roster could help deconflict these requests. This will promote a healthy work culture, improve organisational morale and employee job satisfaction. Employers also benefit from better workforce planning and operational flexibility.
Second, both employees and managers should communicate openly and early regarding leave matters. Employers should communicate the critical periods for business operations when it would be difficult to approve leave applications. On the other hand, employees should seek approval before committing to travel plans. This will foster greater trust between employees and management. In industries with time-sensitive projects, service and operational standards cannot be compromised.
Third, employees should plan and submit extended-leave applications early so that employers can manage potential conflicts in leave plans. Employers would be better able to plan for covering arrangements, and avoid understaffing during popular leave periods, such as days surrounding public holidays. In F&B, retail and tourism where there is increased footfall during festivities, it is even more critical to ensure a staffing baseline.
Given Singapore’s tight labour market, employers and employees need to work together and build a strong culture of trust and cooperation at the workplace. This will help employers meet their business needs while providing greater certainty to employees who need time away from work for personal reasons.
Hao Shuo
Chief Executive Officer, Singapore National Employers Federation
