Government workers to get 5-day wellness leave
The Civil Service Commission has approved the grant of up to five days of wellness leave for eligible government officials and employees.
CSC Chairperson Marilyn Barua-Yap said that the wellness leave (WL) is a "proactive response to the realities faced" by the government workforce.
"By giving employees the space to rest, recover, and care for themselves, we reinforce a public service environment that is compassionate, resilient, and more responsive to the needs of the Filipino people," she said.
Under CSC Resolution No. 2501292, employees can take a WL for up to three days at a time or on separate non-consecutive days.
It can be used for purposes such as mental health care, physical wellness activities, or for a general break from work. According to the CSC, it's different from vacation and sick leaves and is intended specifically for wellness and recovery.
As for terms for WL, the commission said that it is non-cumulative, non-commutable, and forfeited if not used within the calendar year. Filing should also be done at least five days before the intended date, and it will follow the same procedures for other leave privileges adopted by the agency.
To promote a "safe space" for government workers availing of WL for mental health reasons, information regarding their mental health condition will be kept confidential.
"The Commission affirms its commitment to promoting a healthy, supportive, and enabling work environment for all government workers, one that cultivates resilience, uplifts workplace morale, and strengthens the civil service’s capacity to deliver excellent and compassionate service to its citizens by also considering the overall wellness of the workforce that comprises the public sector."
Other details, like the types of government workers who may avail of the WL, have yet to be released. The resolution is also not available on the CSC website as of writing.
This move has received mixed reactions online, with some users on Facebook applauding the implementation.
"Public servants are human too[.] They also deserve enough rest to regain their energy and to have time [with] their family and go to church," one user wrote.
"Well deserved iyan ng mga public servant, lalo na sa health sector," another said.
Others raised how more should be done to promote the wellness of government workers.
"Great initiative. But still: We need to fix the Civil Service System that keeps overloading its people in the first place. Wellness leave helps, but it's ultimately a band-aid fix. If government work were structured to be lighter, humane, and more fulfilling, we wouldn't need to carve out 'recovery days' at all. The burden isn't the workers, it's the system," chimed in one user.
Another hoped that workers would be totally free from work during their WL. "When on leave, no calls, no emails to act, and total absence muna sa work. As in bawal ka kontakin ng about sa work. That's the real [feel] of work life balance," they wrote.
In its press release, CSC cited a 2025 Global Workplace Report showing that Filipino workers have the second-highest stress levels in Southeast Asia.
