With the new year come new vacation leaves. Some companies are pretty generous with their benefits, while others stick to the minimum required by law. If you're wondering what you're actually entitled to (and how your bennies compare), here's a simple breakdown for you.
Surprisingly, our labor laws don’t require any sick leaves, vacation leaves, or emergency leaves, so we’re completely at the mercy of our employers on that front. The law simply stipulates that employers must provide 5 days of annual Service Incentive Leave (SIL) to workers who have been with the company for at least a year.
Apart from SILs, companies are obligated to give maternity leave, paternity leave, and solo parent leave. The law also gives provisions for special cases like victims of violence against women and children who need time off to file a case and get medical attention. Women who have had surgery to treat a gynecological disorder are entitled to a certain number of days off as well. Needless to say, all of leaves should come with pay.
But wait. As with everything in law, there is fine print involved. To view the terms and conditions to your leaves, visit the website of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
