[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/what-have-you-been-doing-with-all-your-unused-annual-leave\/#NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/what-have-you-been-doing-with-all-your-unused-annual-leave\/","headline":"What Have You Been Doing With All Your Unused Annual Leave?","name":"What Have You Been Doing With All Your Unused Annual Leave?","description":"Tell us, what have you been doing \u2013 or perhaps, what do you plan to do \u2013 with all your unused annual leave this year? With the year drawing to a close, and leisure travel still far out of the question, many of us are probably at wit\u2019s end on how to proceed. And thus, […]","datePublished":"2020-12-10","dateModified":"2022-04-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/e-lyn-tham\/#Person","name":"E-lyn Tham","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/e-lyn-tham\/","identifier":66,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722f685b02ed9cd4b78c8df212ebc1654b73489382b53ce430214c5fa92c0d0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722f685b02ed9cd4b78c8df212ebc1654b73489382b53ce430214c5fa92c0d0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"TheHomeGround Asia","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","width":640,"height":640}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1609310239391_Unused_Annual_Leave_1280X626.jpg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1609310239391_Unused_Annual_Leave_1280X626.jpg","height":626,"width":1280},"url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/what-have-you-been-doing-with-all-your-unused-annual-leave\/","commentCount":"3","comment":[{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/what-have-you-been-doing-with-all-your-unused-annual-leave\/#Comment1","dateCreated":"2026-05-02 16:55:27","description":"This was very enlightening.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"world live tv online","url":"https:\/\/www.play.net\/bounce\/redirect.asp?URL=https:\/\/www.oneotv.com\/"}},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/what-have-you-been-doing-with-all-your-unused-annual-leave\/#Comment2","dateCreated":"2026-04-27 19:12:08","description":"Clear, concise, and effective.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Salomon swim shoes","url":"https:\/\/globalshoepalace.com\/product-category\/men\/Salomon-Men-Shoes"}},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/what-have-you-been-doing-with-all-your-unused-annual-leave\/#Comment3","dateCreated":"2026-04-24 15:40:12","description":"Thanks for simplifying a difficult subject.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"salomon shoes womens sale","url":"https:\/\/globalshoepalace.com\/product-category\/women\/Salomon-Women-Shoes"}}],"about":["Community","Featured","Health & Wellness","Local","Singapore"],"wordCount":758,"articleBody":"Tell us, what have you been doing \u2013 or perhaps, what do you plan to do \u2013 with all your unused annual leave this year? With the year drawing to a close, and leisure travel still far out of the question, many of us are probably at wit\u2019s end on how to proceed.And thus, the golden question: Should we force ourselves to take them all this year or forego the much-needed rest, and bring them over to the next year?Should one go without a break for such a long time?According to medical experts, working non-stop without a break could very well take a toll on one\u2019s mental and physical well-being. Indeed, work burnout is real, and can affect any individual of any age.\u00a0With many working from home for most part of the year, the impetus to take a break and get away from it all tends to be missing. After all, home is one\u2019s sanctuary away from work, and working from home kind of already feels like a break from the workplace. But with kids at home and multiple distractions abound, can that really be considered as a break?In addition, not forcing yourself to take a break can end up having a negative effect on one\u2019s mental health, ability to focus, energy levels, and creativity \u2013 just to name a few! On top of all that, overworking could cause one\u2019s stress levels to go through the roof, impounded by burgeoning health problems.\u00a0How does this affect companies as well?Pixabay\/PexelsIf one employee brings over most of his unused leave to the following year, that wouldn\u2019t have much impact on a company. However, multiply that by 20, or even by 1,000 for larger corporations, and we\u2019ve got a big problem on our hands.Indeed, allowing too many employees to bring forward their leave might cause workflow problems in the coming year. Those relegated to covering the duties of their colleagues on leave will also face higher stress levels, affecting productivity as a whole.This also proves tricky for companies\u2019 finances, as these unused leave days would be recorded as financial liabilities.\u00a0What are some options?Don\u2019t despair, there\u2019s light at the end of every tunnel! Here are some alternatives as a way out of this predicament:Donate your leaveNanyang Technological University has devised an ingenious initiative, where employees can choose to donate their leave days to raise money for student aid. Needless to say, this doesn\u2019t solve the problem of burn-out, but at least you know your leave will be going towards a good cause!As of November, more than 20,000 days of unused leave have been voluntarily donated. This translates to a net worth of around $10.25 million. The average number of days donated was 11, with the highest being 15.\u00a0Encash your leaveThis depends on companies, but some might allow you to encash a part of your leave. For example, OCBC is allowing their employees to carry forward additional days of leave to the coming year, or encash up to five days of their annual leave. Employees on the OCBC Flex Plan can also use three days worth of their leave as credits to reimburse medical expenses, and more.Take the chance to explore SingaporeWho says a holiday can only be taken overseas? After all, there\u2019s probably so much to see and do in Singapore that you never even knew existed! Plus, with the $100 SingapoRediscovers vouchers given to every Singaporean for use between 1 December 2020 to end June 2021, there\u2019s really no better time to do so.Hay Diaries Pure Goat Milk\/FacebookTake a day off to venture to Kranji\u2019s cluster of farms \u2013 feed goats at Hay Diaries, visit the Jurong Frog Farm, and have a delicious farm-to-table meal at Bollywood Veggies.Have a kayaking adventure among the mangroves of Pulau Ubin, go glamping or go-karting at Changi Airport, get back to nature at Tampines Eco Green, or \u2013 if you\u2019re adventurous! \u2013 even embark on the 36-kilometre Coast-to-Coast trail that stretches from Jurong Lake Gardens in the West to Coney Island Park in the North-east.In fact, you can even make an entire \u2018Singapo-liday\u2019 out of it, and take a block of leave to explore all of the island\u2019s hidden gems.\u00a0Like they all say, life\u2019s too short to not stop and smell the roses. So why not take the chance to take a break, and bring the entire family out for a holiday within our shores? It\u2019s a win-win, really!"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Destinations","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Singapore","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/\/singapore\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What Have You Been Doing With All Your Unused Annual Leave?","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/what-have-you-been-doing-with-all-your-unused-annual-leave\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]