Workers discuss how to apply for leave discreetly, balancing privacy and professionalism in Malaysian workplaces
MAINTAINING a clear boundary between personal and professional life is key to a healthy working environment.
In Malaysia, working adults recently took to social media to discuss how to request leave without oversharing with their company’s human resources (HR) teams.
Sometimes, leave isn’t for sickness or special occasions but simply to take a mental break after feeling exhausted.
Many said being completely honest with HR about stress or burnout doesn’t always feel safe or professional, particularly in more traditional workplaces.
“I’ve noticed many colleagues keep things vague, saying personal matters, family reasons, or medical appointments, even when the real reason is burnout or stress. Some plan their explanations carefully, while others don’t explain at all if company policy allows it,” one user explained.
Seeking advice on balancing honesty with privacy, others joined the discussion to offer strategies.
One user suggested that no explanation is necessary at all for benefits such as annual leave (AL).
“I don’t need to explain when I take something that belongs to me. Annual leave is yours, and for some HR systems, the reason field is mandatory — I usually put three dots and submit. It gets approved without questions,” they said.
Others recommended using terms like “personal matters” or “confidential” to indicate the leave reason is private.
For workplaces with particularly nosy HR staff, another tip was to simply write “family matters” — a reason unlikely to be challenged.
“Family matter is family matter, no matter what. If they don’t want to approve your AL, just say ‘Labour Office will love this,’ and they’ll suddenly get meek,” one user quipped, offering a bold approach to asserting workplace rights.
