Scenario: Saturday Leave Deducted — But Is It a Working Day?
Nizam, a sales executive at a mid-sized retail company, applied for annual leave on a Saturday to attend a wedding. A few days later, he noticed that the leave was deducted from his balance — even though he thought Saturday wasn’t part of his official working week. When he checked with HR, they clarified that his employment contract states a 6-day workweek (Monday to Saturday). Therefore, Saturday is a regular working day at his company, and taking leave on that day does require deduction from his annual leave entitlement. Like many employees, Nizam had assumed working days meant only Monday to Friday, but this experience revealed the importance of understanding one’s employment terms.
Understanding What Counts as a ‘Working Day’ in Malaysia
In Malaysia, the Employment Act 1955 does not strictly define the exact days that make up a working week. Instead, it gives employers the flexibility to determine the company’s working days, provided that:
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Employees do not work more than 5 consecutive hours without a break,
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The maximum working hours do not exceed 45 hours per week, and
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Employees are given at least 1 rest day per week.
This means an employer can set the workweek as Monday to Friday, Monday to Saturday, or even include shifts on Sundays depending on the business nature — as long as it complies with the law and is outlined in the employment contract or offer letter.
Why You Should Check Your Employment Contract
Nizam’s case highlights a critical point: your employment contract defines your working days.
For example:
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If your contract states Monday to Saturday as working days, taking leave on any of those days will be counted as annual leave.
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If your contract states a 5-day workweek (Monday to Friday), and Saturday is considered a non-working day, then you typically wouldn’t need to apply for leave for that day.
Always refer to your:
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Employment offer letter or contract
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Company handbook or HR policies
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Past precedents (how the company has handled similar leave requests)
How Leave Deductions Work Based on Working Days
Let’s break this down simply:
Understanding how your company defines working days helps avoid miscommunication and unexpected leave deductions.
If Saturday is a Half-Day Work Schedule, Is Annual Leave Deducted as One Day or Half Day?
Answer:
It depends on your company’s leave policy and how they define a “working day.”
In most Malaysian companies:
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If Saturday is officially a working day (even if only a half-day), and you apply for leave on that day, it is typically deducted as one full day of annual leave — unless your company’s policy specifically states otherwise.
Some Key Points:
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Employment Act 1955 does not specifically mention how to handle half-days in terms of leave deduction. It gives companies the flexibility to define this in their internal policies.
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Many companies treat any working day — full or half — as one full day of leave for simplicity in HR and payroll processing.
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However, some more flexible or tech-enabled companies may allow:
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Half-day leave deduction if the leave system or HR policy supports it.
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Example:
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Your official work hours are Monday to Saturday, and Saturday is a half-day (e.g., 9am–1pm).
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You take Saturday off for personal reasons.
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Unless your company allows half-day leave deductions, your annual leave will most likely be reduced by one full day.
HR’s Role in Communicating Leave Policies
HR departments have the responsibility to:
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Clearly outline working days in contracts or onboarding documents,
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Ensure employees are aware of how leave is calculated and deducted,
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Address questions like Nizam’s in a timely and professional manner.
Employees, on the other hand, should proactively clarify any doubts, especially during onboarding or when planning long leaves.
Final Thought
Nizam’s situation is not uncommon — many employees assume Saturdays are off by default. But in Malaysia, whether Saturday is a working day depends entirely on your employment contract and company policy. Misunderstanding this can lead to disputes or accidental loss of annual leave.
If you’re unsure whether a day is counted as a working day, always check your contract or speak with your HR department. Clear communication ensures both employers and employees are aligned — and that your well-earned leave is used the way you intended.
