A Malaysian employee recently took to social media to share a dilemma he faced while serving his notice period.
According to the post, he had already resigned and was in the midst of clearing his remaining annual leave.
However, things took an unexpected turn when his boss asked him to attend a work meeting.
The catch is that he had already returned to his hometown while on leave.
Boss says he can still be called back
In the post, the employee explained that he could not attend the meeting as he was on approved leave and no longer in town.
Despite that, his boss allegedly told him, “I hate to say this, but you are still an employee and can be called back to work.”
This left him wondering whether he was actually obligated to return, even though he was in the process of utilising his remaining annual leave before his final day.
AL applied but not yet approved
In the comment section, one netizen questioned whether his annual leave had been officially approved.
The netizen pointed out that if the leave was not approved, the employee would technically still be required to work.
However, if there was a formal email from HR stating his last working day and confirming that his remaining leave would be used during a specific period, then there would be no need to wait for the manager’s approval.
Responding to the comment, the OP clarified that his resignation acceptance letter had already stated his remaining leave balance and that he was required to utilise it.
He added that HR had asked him to apply for the leave, which he did. He also reminded them to approve it and HR acknowledged it.
However, at the time of posting, the leave had yet to be officially approved in the system.
As a result, the situation became a grey area between formal process and practical expectations.
Mixed reactions from netizens
Meanwhile, other netizens offered differing advice.
One urged him to reply firmly but professionally, stressing the importance of maintaining a good reputation. The commenter noted that the Malaysian job market is small and people often cross paths again in the future.
On the other hand, another netizen suggested that he simply ignore the request since he had already applied for annual leave.
While the post did not reveal how the situation eventually played out, it sparked discussion about employee rights, managerial authority, and the importance of proper documentation during a notice period.
What do you think about this? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
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