Why Holy Week PTO Matters: A Trust-Building Guide for HR Leaders

When was the last time your employees felt truly disconnected during Holy Week?

Did they have to check emails between family gatherings? Were they anxious about returning to a pile of work after the break? 

As Holy Week 2025 approaches, these questions are more important than ever for HR leaders, given that more than half of workers (52%) report working during their paid time-off, according to a Forbes survey. 

From April 17 to 19 (Maundy Thursday to Black Saturday), many Filipinos will join church traditions, visit family in their hometowns, or simply rest. However, not all employees get to fully disconnect due to workplace expectations and stress. Holy Week presents a meaningful opportunity to respect employees’ lives outside of work. 

By implementing thoughtful time-off policies, organizations can build a culture of trust that leads to higher engagement, productivity, and retention. If this sounds familiar, it’s time to rethink your time-off culture. 

Holy Week in the Philippines, or “Semana Santa,” is more than just a long weekend. It is a sacred period deeply rooted in Filipino tradition. Employees participate in religious observances like Visita Iglesia (church visits), attend services, and join processions. Many travel to their provinces to reconnect with family and seek much-needed rest.

Respecting these traditions through a supportive time-off culture shows that a company values Filipino employees’ identities and well-being. When organizations allow space for spiritual renewal, rest, and family bonding, they foster mutual trust and long-term loyalty.

A time-off culture means creating a workplace that supports rest and work-life balance. Here’s why building a healthy time-off culture matters, especially during important times like Holy Week:

Prevents Employee Burnout and Stress

Studies like those from FWD Philippines reveal that uninterrupted rest allows the brain and body to recover, which improves cognitive function and emotional regulation, thereby preventing burnout. In turn, well-rested employees return to work with greater clarity, motivation, and productivity.

Improves Employee Retention

Employees are also more likely to remain loyal to organizations that prioritize their well-being. When workers see that time off is truly respected, not just granted on paper but actively supported by leadership, they feel valued. 

This sense of appreciation cultivates trust, strengthens company culture, and fosters a sense of community within the workplace.

Creates a Healthier Work Environment

Vacation and sick leaves ensure that the workplace remains safe from potential harm caused by employees performing poorly due to unstable physical or mental conditions. 

That said, employers should create a supportive culture where employees feel comfortable taking leaves when needed without fear of backlash or negative consequences. For example, during Holy Week, companies should avoid assigning deadlines over the break and remind employees that it’s okay to fully disconnect.

Attracts the Best Talent

From a recruitment standpoint, competitive leave policies are a compelling benefit for jobseekers. According to JobStreet, Filipino applicants are increasingly drawn to employers that are transparent about time-off entitlements and demonstrate a genuine commitment to work-life balance.

Using a salary benchmarking tool helps HR leaders further strengthen their recruitment strategy by ensuring salaries remain competitive for various roles. 

Despite Holy Week’s importance, many employees still struggle to fully disconnect. Common challenges include:

• Leave Requests Denied Without Explanation: Employees feel undervalued when denied time off with no context.
• Last-Minute Urgent Tasks: Sudden assignments before or during Holy Week put employees in tough situations.
• Guilt and Pressure: Comments suggesting that leave burdens the team discourage employees from using their benefits.
• Unclear Holiday Pay: Misinformation or lack of clarity around pay policies frustrate employees.
• Expectation to Stay Connected: Even while on leave, many employees are expected to check emails or respond to messages.
• Post-Break Workload Surges: Returning to an overwhelming backlog undermines the benefits of the break.

HR leaders can take proactive steps to ensure Holy Week is a time of genuine rest and reflection for employees: Here are some practical policy ideas:

Implement Flexible Work Arrangements

Allow remote work or compressed schedules in the lead-up to Maundy Thursday to help employees travel without exhausting their leave credits.

Normalize PTO Without Stigma

Encourage leaders to take leave themselves and talk openly about their plans. Train managers to support leave-taking and avoid assigning tasks during approved PTO.

Set Email/Slack Quiet Hours

From Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, discourage non-urgent messages. Use professional auto-responders that acknowledge Holy Week.

Block Out Company-Wide Time Off

Consider declaring Holy Wednesday as a half-day or closing operations until Easter Monday. This removes the burden of individual leave requests.

Use Inclusive Leave Language

Acknowledge diverse beliefs by offering floating holidays and using inclusive PTO language. Support this with cultural sensitivity training.

When time off is normalized, teams coordinate better, reduce last-minute disruptions, and foster transparent conversations about workloads and boundaries.

Sprout’s “The Great Resignation Part 2” report found that many employees would have stayed in their previous jobs if their needs, including time-off, were respected. Respectful PTO practices are not perks: they are people-first essentials.

Sprout’s HRIS platform simplifies leave tracking and approval. Automated workflows remove biases and delays in manual processes. Self-service tools empower employees to plan ahead, while analytics give HR visibility into PTO usage and burnout risks.

With Sprout, HR leaders can:

• Set policies in advance
• Track who’s taking (or not taking) time off
• Ensure teams are prepared for absences
• Automate reminders and OOO coordination

Holy Week offers a powerful opportunity to build trust through respectful time-off practices. By embracing inclusive policies and setting healthy boundaries, companies can model the culture they want to build: one rooted in empathy, rest, and resilience.

Want to learn more about creating a people-first workplace? Visit Sprout’s website or book a meeting to explore how Sprout can help you shape a healthier, more inclusive time-off culture.

Let’s make this Holy Week a testament to your company’s commitment to its people.