With the recent floods across Malaysia, many people have asked is there are special leave granted for the flood victims.
Unfortunately, there is no formal Disaster Leave in the Employment Act 1955.
Disaster Leave is essentially a company-approved emergency leave given when an employee is affected by natural disasters and cannot safely come to work. It is not mandated by Malaysian labour law and offered based on employer discretion.
So naturally, different companies handle disaster situations differently.
Examples:
1. Allowing employees to work from home if it is safe and possible.
2. Approving annual leave.
3. Or better till, granting unrecorded Disaster Leave.
Like my previous company, we took a very people-first approach.
We granted affected employees one week of unrecorded leave so they could focus on their safety, families, homes, and recovery.
The company also provided financial assistance to help cushion the damage.
And that is what workforce harmony looks like in real life.
I understand that employers cannot solve everything during disasters.
But at the very least you bosses can:
💜 Grant flexibility
💙 Reduce penalties
🩵 Avoid forcing annual leave deductions
💚 Offer advances or small relief funds
💛 Prioritise humanity over process
Remember, people always remember how their company treated them in their darkest moments.
Think about it.
xoxoxo, AuntyHR
