Employee gets 'heat from the higher management' for travelling on her weekend day off

Independent Singapore

18-05-2025

SINGAPORE: A desk-bound employee took to social media to share her confusion and frustration after facing backlash from upper management for taking leave on a Friday and travelling over the weekend, despite not being officially scheduled to work.
In her detailed post on a local forum, the employee explained that she holds a standard 9-to-5 weekday job that does not involve shift work or regular weekend duties. However, due to the nature of the role, the team often works a few hours during the final weekend of each month to meet deadlines.
'This is not official working time, it's carved out personal time to get the job done on time,' she wrote.
She noted that while senior staff often dedicate a significant portion of their weekends to work, employees at her level typically spend just 1 to 3 hours. Though initially surprised by the unspoken expectation, she eventually got used to it.
'I'm accustomed to it now,' she said. 'No big deal, one weekend out of a month, just a few hours.'
Recently, however, she decided to take leave on a Friday and travel over the weekend, which is coincidentally during the month-end period. Since she had already been partially removed from the project that usually required weekend work and wasn't called upon the previous month, she assumed the same would apply this time. What she hadn't anticipated was the reaction from management. See also The definitive guide to validating your startup idea
'I'm receiving a lot of heat from the higher management, with quite personal words said to me like how they expect me to make mature decisions, how they've lost trust in me… all because I'm travelling on a weekend I'm not scheduled to work,' she explained.
'I was fully prepared to still be contactable and available to work even while travelling (again, out of goodwill), but I did not think I was expected to fully block out and not make plans on the weekend.'
She further shared that the leave had been approved without much scrutiny, as her manager trusted her judgment. However, the incident has reportedly led to stricter leave approvals for the entire team, leaving her feeling guilty.
'I understand the peak period at work is stressful for everyone, but I'm wondering where I went so wrong to warrant such a reaction from the management? Should I have declared anything to them?' she asked the online community.
'Am I legally bound to tell them how I spend my weekends/day off? I don't see how my travelling is that detrimental to the work, since I've already been taken off the project/willing to work those few hours if they put me back on the project anyway.'
She also expressed that throughout her time in the company, she had consistently gone above and beyond by working late hours, avoiding taking leave during peak periods, and stepping in to help wherever she was needed. She explained that she did all of this not out of obligation, but because she genuinely cared about her work and valued her teammates.
'I must admit, yeah, I'm feeling hurt, confused, and looking for clarity. Is this normal in the workforce? What could I have handled better? How can I resolve this with upper management? I would like a good working relationship with them :/ Thanks in advance!' she concluded her post. 'Ignore any messages over the weekend…'
In the comments section, several users advised the employee to consider leaving the toxic workplace. One user wrote, 'Find another job and leave. You are not obligated to work on weekends when your official working hours are from 9 to 5 on the weekdays.'
Another wrote, 'If the management isn't respecting your day off and trying to gaslight, manipulate, and guilt trip you, it is time to leave to seek greener pastures.'
A third added, 'Are you paid? Is it written down in your contract? Otherwise, can tell them to fly a kite. Ignore any messages over the weekend and find a new job.' Working on weekends
According to the job site Indeed , most office workers in Singapore usually do not work on weekends. Saturdays and Sundays are generally set aside for rest, family time, or personal errands.
However, there are times when companies may ask employees to help out over the weekend, such as during busy periods or when an important project deadline is coming up. Ideally, these expectations should be clearly stated in the employment contract or at least communicated early on, so that employees can plan ahead.
Also, according to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), employers are not allowed to make employees work on their designated rest day unless there are 'exceptional circumstances.'
Read also: Singaporean 'feels lost in life due to burnout at work' caused by her micromanaging boss and toxic work culture
Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)