How to Enjoy Your Time Off During Singapore’s Public Holidays this 2023

We all have that one coworker who always seems to be in a good mood. It’s like they have some superpower that keeps them energised at work, no matter how many deadlines and issues they face. What’s their secret?

It’s probably their commitment to giving themselves as much rest as the amount of work they do. In a world where being a workaholic is praised, recharging your batteries may seem unproductive and uncomfortable, but occasionally relaxing does help make you happier, healthier, and more able to take on the job.

Can’t find time off to plan a holiday? You’re in luck because Singapore has a total of 10 public holidays this year, some of them lasting over long weekends. Due to its diversity of cultures and religions, you’re never far away from a celebratory day within the year, and you can plan to make your holidays productive. Here is the list of public holidays in Singapore for 2023:

What’s more, you can maximise your time off by being smart and combining these public holidays with your annual leave days and scheduling them close to weekends. Keep reading to discover how.

Why Resting During the Holidays Is Productive for Your Career

It prevents burnout.

Focusing too much on work can lead to burnout, siphoning off your motivation to do tasks and do them well. If you experience this, you may have undertaken more than your work capacity, and you need a work-life balance by giving yourself time and opportunities to de-stress.

Going on break keeps your mind off work so you can reset your brain. According to an article on forbes.com, “Taking a break allows the brain to come up with new answers, insight and fresh ideas. Psychologists call this the “incubation effect,” a phenomenon wherein temporarily walking away from an unsolved problem can lead to new solutions or insights.”

Unplugging can be difficult, especially for a workaholic. However, ironically, you need it to perform better at your job.

It can boost your work performance.

Just like your gadgets, you need to recharge to give your best performance at work. Imagine never plugging in your phone or laptop. They would give out in no time! Picture a tired child. They act out and refuse to cooperate once they’ve had enough. That’s the same state your subconscious mind gets in, no matter how much your conscious mind tries to whip it into shape by insisting on more work!

Once you are kinder to yourself, you will find that you will feel much more confident and motivated to excel in your tasks, as you will not allow yourself to run on empty anymore. #SEEKBetter and exercise self-care now and then.

It improves your health.

Being around nature and free to roam, run, swim and play can do wonders for your health, especially if you’re stuck sitting in the office. Going on vacation will allow you to do these things and balance the time you spend sedentary and stressed at work. Prolong your career by prolonging your health, so you can operate at your best capacity longer!

Making the Most of Your Time off During Holidays

Limit gadget time.

You’re already glued to your devices around the clock at work, so when you’re on holiday, switch them off ! Once you go offline, your task-oriented brain unplugs and explores some recreation, too. Make a list of things you’ve always wanted to do if only you had the time, and treat yourself by making them happen. Whether it’s bonding with your family, exploring a new location, or picking up a hobby you left behind, these experiences will be much more enriching when you are gadget-free and give them your undivided focus.

Make arrangements in advance.

Bookings for travel, accommodations, and activities are in high demand during the holidays. Avoid the rush and the chances of your dream vacation being cancelled by securing tickets and reservations as early as possible. It helps to have an itinerary of how you plan to spend your holidays, but leave some unscheduled time for rest or something serendipitous!

Endorse all work obligations before going on leave.

Nothing is worse than being in the middle of a blissful vacation only to have your boss and colleagues blowing up your phone to coordinate tasks with you or follow up on unfinished obligations. Make sure to inform your colleagues about your leave schedule, and prepare all the necessary information they need from you to cover up for your tasks.

Your Cheat Sheet for Scheduling Leaves

Relaxation is a good thing, and just like everything else in life, you can succeed in giving yourself your much-deserved time off by planning for it and making it a priority.

Did you know that this year, it’s possible to schedule eight leaves to get a whopping 36 days off from work?

According to the Employment Act, when a public holiday falls on a non-working day (such as your day off),  you are entitled to another day off or a day’s salary. If you work from Monday to Friday, you may ask your HR department if you can reschedule this extra day off on a Monday or Friday, so you can have a longer weekend.

Here’s when to schedule your leaves to have the longest vacations possible in 2023:

Never forget that you have several types of leaves at your disposal, and you can combine them to make your holidays last longer.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has a detailed resource on annual leave entitlements. Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State at the Ministries of Health and Manpower, said that workers should view their annual leave alongside other entitlements. These include paid public holidays, sick leave, childcare leave, maternity leave, and paternity leave.

By understanding these regulations, you can better utilise your leave benefits and make them work for you.

Half-Day Leave

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower stipulates that any leave day will be considered a full day’s leave, even when working on Saturdays, which is a half-day.

Although the government has regulations for leaves, private companies may modify these guidelines, and it would benefit you to ask the HR department if half-day leaves are permitted. Taking a half-day leave may give you that extra time to evade the traffic when travelling to your vacation destination, giving you more time to enjoy it to the fullest.

Carry-Over Leave

Were you unable to fully use your leave credits from last year? Don’t worry because there’s still a chance you can get them back. If you qualify under Part IV of the Employment Act, you can carry forward any unused days of annual leave to the next working year. A workman earning up to S$4,500 a month or a non-workman earning up to S$2,600 a month is eligible for a carry-over leave.

Working on a Public Holiday

If you have to work on a public holiday, then expect your day’s pay to be doubled or receive a substitute holiday leave that you can schedule next to another public holiday for more time off.

Pro-rated Leave

The government mandates you are eligible for annual leave if you have worked for at least three months at a company. It is pro-rated, meaning you base your leave days on the months you have worked at the company.

Here is the formula for annual leave:

(Number of months of service÷ 12 months) × Number of days of annual leave entitlement

Compute your annual leave days with this Ministry of Manpower calculator.

Can Your Employer Force You to Take Leave?

One caveat of leaves is that your employer may instigate forced leave for their employees, should operations need to be suspended due to calamity or emergencies. When enforcing this protocol, employers must communicate with their employees clearly to arrive at an agreement where everyone benefits. If union representatives are available, they may mediate between employer and employee to reach a compromise, such as a flexible work arrangement.

Your Company Can Help You Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance

While it may once have been daunting to ask your employer if you could go on leave, Singapore is slowly evolving from its work-centred culture and valuing the holistic development of its employees across all aspects of their life.

The MOM launched The Tripartite Standards, a set of good employment practices that all employers should implement at their workplaces, in April 2022.

It ensures that Singaporeans have the support of the government and their employers in expanding their leaves, changing Singapore’s reputation as “the most vacation-deprived country in the world”. Consult your HR department to learn about the new and improved leave benefits available to you.

Download JobStreet’s app on the App Store and Google Play for more tips to guide you in navigating your career. Or, check out our Career Resources page, which offers expert insights and advice that could help you manage your mental health and well-being in the workplace.