Days off are needed by everyone, especially workers. On that day, they can do all the activities they like without having to bother thinking about work. A day off itself has many positive benefits, both physical and mental.

Do workers in Indonesia have proper days off? Who do they spend time with on holiday? Let’s take a look at a survey that has been done by Licorice.

Period: 2017/8/4 – 2017/12/31
Respondents: 500 Indonesia men and women

Q: How many days off do you get in a week? (MA)

About 37.6 percent get one day off in a week. Those who only get one day off usually work in the service sector, such as restaurant waiters, sales promotion at the mall, toll gatekeeper, security guard, to journalists. Followed by those who get two days off in a week with 24 percent. Those who get two days off are civil servants or work in government agencies and employees of private companies. Sadly, 19.2 percent get no day off in a week.

For the information, working hours, break time, and leave are the rights of employees as stipulated under Article 77 to Article 85 Law No. 13 of 2003 on Labour. The Labour Law stipulates working hours into two categories, as follows 7 working hours in one week or 40 working hours in one week for 6 working days; or 8 working hours in one day or 40 working hours in one week for 5 working days in one week. If the entrepreneur who employs an employee more than the stipulated working hours, he or she must pay overtime payment. The overtime work, however, can only be done a maximum of 3 hours in a day and/or 14 hours in a week.

As you know, taking the day off can help in reducing stress, enabling couples or families to reconnect with one another, and helping individuals get recharged and return to work more energized and focused.

Q: With whom do you usually spend your holiday? (MA)

Those who get days off, 50.8 percent prefer to spend their time with family. One of the benefits of spending time with family is that it can strengthen the emotional bond between members. It is important because the family is the first social circle in life. Activities to spend time with family can be done by just being at home, or going out, such as eating in a restaurant, watching a movie, or going to a tourist place.

Q: What do you usually do on your holiday? (MA)

Besides spending time with family, 8.6 percent like to walking around. Whether just to the park near the house, or to the mall, museum, and so on. Walks can reduce stress due to work.

While 8.2 percent choose to do their hobbies while days off. Like planting, playing music, cooking, or doing other hobbies that are difficult to do on a workday. Hobbies come with many benefits that not only bless the one practicing the hobby but also those on the receiving end. Hobbies are good for you physically and help your mental health. Besides, when you’re doing your hobbies with your loved ones, that activities can strengthen your relationship.

The Conclusion

Unfortunately, most Indonesian workers only have one day off a week. Some even did not get any day off at all. For those who get time off, usually spending time with family. If not with family, they will go for a walk or pursue their hobbies.

It would be better if the government or the owner of the company set a proper number of days off for workers. Moreover, as I mentioned before, working hours, break time, and leave are the rights of employees as stipulated under Article 77 to Article 85 Law No. 13 of 2003 on Labour. That means if you don’t follow the rules then it’s the same as breaking, and you can be sued for it.

Besides, days off have good benefits felt by workers, indirectly bring positive progress for the company. For example, when a worker comes into the office feeling fresh, they will be more eager to get the job done, and that will have a good effect on the company. However, if workers do not get a decent day off, they will not bring positive energy to the office and have an impact on performance.