By Brian Campued
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has approved the grant of wellness leave credits for eligible government officials and employees to help strengthen workplace strategies aligned with the Mental Health Act.
In a press release Tuesday, the CSC underscored the importance of prioritizing the mental health as well as the physical well-being of workers in the public sector, in line with the provisions of Joint Administrative Order No. 2023-000 issued with the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Health.
It cited the findings of Gallup’s 2025 Global Workplace Report showing that Filipino workers experience the second-highest stress levels in Southeast Asia, driven by “unhealthy lifestyles and heavy workloads.”
Under CSC Resolution No. 2501292, government workers may apply for up to five days of wellness leave but can only be taken consecutively for a maximum of three days at a time.
“The wellness leave is non-cumulative, non-commutable, and forfeited if not used within the calendar year,” the CSC said, noting that wellness leave is distinct from vacation and sick leave.
Eligible government employees may cite the following reasons in availing their wellness leave:
- Mental health care
- Physical wellness activities
- General break from work
“To promote a safe space for those availing of [wellness leave] for mental health reasons, all information related to the applicant’s mental health condition shall be treated with strict confidentiality and in compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012,” the CSC stated.
Meanwhile, the request for wellness leave must be recommended by the employee’s immediate supervisor and then submitted to the agency head for approval.
Applications must also be filed at least five days before the intended date of availment. For emergency cases, filing can be accomplished once the employee reports back to work.
CSC Chairperson Marilyn Barua-Yap affirmed the government’s commitment to promoting a healthy, supportive, and enabling work environment for civil servants.
“The wellness leave is a proactive response to the realities faced by our workforce today,” Barua-Yap said.
“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 added.
The policy shall take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation, with a follow-up advisory to announce the official publication and effectivity date.
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