Part 2: Annual Leave Rejections

Many have argued, “Isn’t annual leave an employee’s right? Why can’t we just take leave any day we want?” Well, we also need to understand that the primary objective of being hired is to get work done. It’s not that we cannot take leave any day we want, but we also need our employers to agree to it.

So, there are primarily four reasons why a company can reject our leave requests:

☝️ Insufficient Notice. Normally, company requies 1-2 weeks’ notice for leave applications. So, when we don’t give ample notice, the company has the right to reject our leave requests.

✌️Not Following Procedures. Every company has its for applying for leave, like filling out an application form (often electronic). The most important part is obtaining approval, and in some companies, there may be more than one layer of approval. So, when we don’t comply with the company’s process for applying for leaves, the company has a the right to reject our leave requests.

👌 Lack of Manpower. This often happens, especially if there is a high turnover in the company and recruitment isn’t keeping pace. So, when there are not enough people, particularly in jobs with rotational shifts, the company has the right to reject our leave requests.

🖖 Urgent Projects. Leaves are often frozen during critical project phases. So, when a project deadline is looming and we’re behind schedule, the boss needs everyone present to complete the work on time, and hence, the company has the right to reject our leave requests.

However, it’s also understand sometimes emergency leaves are unavoidable, so bosses should consider this as well. The bottom line is, by knowing the main reasons for leave rejections, we can better plan our time off.

#AnnualLeaveProblems #HRMatters #AuntyHR

Know Your Annual Leave Rights Better with Me @Sim Ling KU

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AuntyHR™

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Ku Sim Ling, fondly known as AuntyHR™ on social media, is a seasoned HR expert with 20 years of experience in the workforce solutions industry. With half a million followers across LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, she's influencing the HR landscape from Malaysia.

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