Updated
November 5, 2024
5 min read
Looking to plan ahead for your long weekends in 2025? Here's a quick guide to maximising long weekends so you can squeeze in more short trips and family time!
There are four official long weekends, but with a bit of strategic planning and negotiating, you could use your leave benefits to create up to 9!
Why not take an extended New Year's break to focus on setting your goals and targets for the year ahead? If your company isn't already providing an extra day or two off during this period, using two to four leave days can get you between five to nine days of rest to refocus and recharge. Take the time you need to start the year with intention!
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The Details:
PH on Wednesday
Requires Leave?: Yes, add 2 leave days
Possible Dates: 28 Dec - 1 Jan (2 Leave Days), 1 Jan - 5 Jan (2 Leave Days)
Bonus: 28 Dec - 5 Jan (4 Leave Days)
It's the Year of the Snake! Take a short break for your Lunar New Year visiting needs, especially for those who have to travel to visit relatives. For those who aren't celebrating, you could consider a vacation from five to nine days, using just one to three days of leave. That's a great deal in our books. And if you decide to stay put at the workplace, make sure to stay focused and don't 'eat snake'!
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The Details:
PH on Wednesday and Thursday
Requires Leave?: Yes, add 1 or 2 leave days
Possible Dates: 29 Jan - 2 Feb (1 Leave Day), 25 Jan - 30 Jan (2 Leave Days)
Bonus: 25 Jan - 2 Feb (3 Leave Days)
Hari Raya Puasa is on a Monday in 2025, which means a long weekend! While it might not seem as convenient as a long weekend after to go visiting, this could add up to more time to prepare for the occasion. And for those not celebrating - perhaps a short trip or an extended break this weekend?
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The Details:
PH on Monday
Requires Leave?: No
Dates: 29 - 31 Mar
Good Friday is that one long weekend we've all come to expect, since this one's definitely on a Friday! Whatever your plans are, whether it's a spiritual or relaxing weekend, a day off from work means it's going to be a good Friday for sure.
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The Details:
PH on Friday
Requires Leave?: No
Dates: 18 - 20 Apr
Labour Day or May Day falls on a Thursday in 2025, which means using one leave day on Friday gives you a long weekend! After all your hard "labour" at work, May-be treat yourself to a few days away to relax!
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The Details:
PH on Thursday
Requires Leave?: Yes, add 1 leave day
Dates: 1 - 4 May (1 Leave Day)
Hari Raya Haji is slated to be on a Saturday, which means for most people on a 5-day work week, an off-in-lieu (not everyone though, please check!). This is where your company policy takes precedence on how you can spend your off-in-lieu. If you can choose, or your company dictates the next working day as an off day, then this is your opportunity for a long weekend.
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The Details:
PH on Saturday
Requires Leave?: No, 1 off-in-lieu day
Dates: 7 - 9 Jun (1 Off-in-lieu Day *if applicable)
National Day is also on a Saturday, which means another off-in-lieu day for those eligible. If you have the option, you could also save it for later, because the next public holiday is late in October. Isn't that too long away?
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The Details:
PH on Saturday
Requires Leave?: No, 1 off-in-lieu day
Dates: 9 - 11 Aug (1 Off-in-lieu Day *if applicable)
The last official long weekend, because Deepavali is on Monday! Although it's only after the weekend instead of before like in 2024, we can still take advantage of the extended break to prepare for the occasion, or plan ahead for the long weekend.
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The Details:
PH on Monday
Requires Leave?: No
Dates: 18 - 20 Oct
It's the end of the year, and everyone's favourite time to get out of the office and enjoy the holidays. Take a long weekend with just one leave day (or use an off-in-lieu that you saved from earlier). If you plan to be away for longer, take 4 leave days for a 9 day break, 7 leave days for 13 days, or 8 leave days (7 in '25 + 1 in '26) for 16 days. We'll leave you to do the math, but we're dreaming up our holiday plans already!
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The Details:
PH on Thursday
Requires Leave?: Yes, add 1 leave day
Dates: 25 - 28 Dec (1 Leave Day)
Bonus: 20 - 28 Dec (4 Leave Days), 20 Dec - 1 Jan '26 (7 Leave Days), 20 Dec -4 Jan '26 (8 Leave Days, 1 of which is in 2026)
If you play your cards right, you could in fact allocate your leave days to take an extended break once a month, or plan a long vacation while still enjoying long weekends throughout the year. Just saying.
We know, we know that corporate demands mean that you probably won't be able to take all your leave days whenever you'd like to, but we're putting this out early for you to make your plans and 'chope' your days off. Let's get that break!
Looking for more ways to engage your employees and coworkers? Reach us here.
*Please note this is just a guide and certain dates are still subject to change as of the time of writing - please confirm the actual dates on your own and refer to your company's leave allowances and policies while you're planning!
