askST Jobs: I had to work during my annual leave to meet a deadline. Can I ask for time off in lieu?
Working during annual leave may warrant time off in lieu, but why the extra work was needed also matters.
A reporter examines the complexities of working during annual leave and the potential for requesting time off in lieu. Tong Liu, a certified senior professional, advises employees to discuss the matter with their manager if the work was urgent and necessary. She emphasizes that employees should take ownership if they could have completed the task before their leave.
Managers, on the other hand, must assess whether the situation was unavoidable or if the work could have been delegated or reprioritized. Larson Ong, co-founder of Visual Studio Singapore, agrees that asking for time off in lieu after using annual leave is reasonable but not guaranteed. He notes that some industries have non-negotiable deadlines, such as MICE events or emergency services.
Ong suggests that employees communicate potential delays early and take responsibility if the problem is within their control. Employers should consider whether the additional work was truly unavoidable and also recognize the need for employees to disconnect and recharge.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
