Taking leave from work should be simple. Whether it’s to clear your mind, attend a wedding, or just get some rest, applying for time off shouldn’t feel like a full-blown investigation.
But for one Malaysian woman, what was meant to be a peaceful break quickly turned into a frustrating ordeal, all because of her company’s unusually strict annual leave (AL) policy.
The red flags began early
In a social media post that’s been making rounds online, the woman shared how baffled she was to learn that every AL application required supporting documents.
For her, this was the first time she’d encountered such a rule in her working life.
This is the first time in my life I’ve needed to provide documents just to apply for AL. No wonder people quit within 24 hours here.”
A simple leave request turns into a paperwork nightmare
At first, she thought the policy might only apply in certain cases.
But it soon became clear that no matter the reason even personal ones, documentation was still expected.
What kind of supporting documents do they expect? It’s so frustrating. Even applying for my own leave is hard.”
The tipping point? When she tried to take leave for a wedding, the company asked for a copy of the wedding invitation card.
‘Personal matters’ not good enough?
According to her, general reasons like “personal matters” weren’t accepted unless they came with some kind of proof.
If you’re going for a wedding, you need to submit the invitation. If it’s a family matter, you need to explain exactly what’s going on. Ya Allah…”
She added that even after explaining her reason, the company would still reject the request if she couldn’t back it up with documents.
It’s not enough to give a reason for AL, they’ll still ask for proof. And if you don’t have it, they won’t approve your leave.”
Things got worse with medical leave
As if that wasn’t enough, she shared another troubling experience, this time with medical leave (MC).
Even when she was visibly unwell, she claimed the company expected her to come to work.
When I applied for MC, they even asked me to come in when I was sick and looked pale. It’s like they didn’t believe I was really unwell. But I still dragged myself to work.”
Promises made, promises broken
What frustrated her the most was how the company’s interview promises didn’t match the reality of the job. She said the work culture felt unsupportive and overly demanding.
During the interview, they said something totally different. But once you’re in, it’s like you’re expected to work non-stop out of loyalty. In the end, the company doesn’t even care about us.”
Her post resonated with many netizens, especially those who’ve dealt with similar unreasonable policies at their workplaces.
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After all, taking a break to care for your mental or physical well-being shouldn’t feel like a battle.
Because really, when did asking for leave turn into a full-on justification process?
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