This Proposed Bill Will Let Single People Take a Leave Every Feb. 15

Do you ever feel the blues when Valentine’s Day is around the corner? There’s a proposed bill in the House that will let single employees take a leave from work every Feb. 15.

The bill was filed recently by Cagayan de Oro First District Representative Lordan Suan. According to him, Valentine’s Day for singles can be a “minefield of social pressure, loneliness, and commercialized reminders of their relationship status,” which might affect their mental health and productivity.

House Bill No. 9932, also known as the “Singles Well-Being Leave Act,” aims to support the mental health of single people by letting them take a leave from work for self-care a day after Valentine’s Day, according to the document reported by ABS-CBN News' RG Cruz via Twitter on Feb. 16.

Under the proposed bill, emotional support resources will also be provided for single people. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) shall partner with mental health professionals to develop evidence-based resources on navigating stress and emotional well-being to share with public and private offices.

As per the bill’s stipulations, employees should not be in a committed romantic relationship to be eligible for the leave. Those who wish to take the leave must submit a written request to their immediate supervisor 48 hours before the leave date.