Annual Leave During Notice vs Offsetting Notice in Singapore

Short answer

They are not the same. With employer approval, annual leave taken during notice leaves the original employment end date in place and you are paid for the full notice period. Using annual leave to offset notice requires employer agreement, brings the employment end date forward, and the offset leave is not paid again. Do not subtract leave days unless HR agreed to an offset. First check the contractual notice dates, then confirm whether approved leave sits inside them or changes the end date.

Approved leave during notice: Notice end date stays the same; employment continues through that date.
Annual leave offsets notice: Employer agreement is required; the employment end date moves earlier.

Check my notice dates

Independent planning worksheet. Not a government calculator or legal advice.

Official rule

MOM distinguishes approved annual leave during notice from offsetting notice. Approved leave during notice does not bring forward the last day of employment. An offset requires the employer’s agreement, brings the last day forward, and the leave used for the offset is not paid again.

Key points

Both taking leave and offsetting notice require employer approval or agreement.
Approved leave during notice does not automatically change the employment end date.
An agreed offset changes the end date and the treatment of the offset leave days.
Notice dates and unused-leave encashment should be reviewed as separate tasks.

Worked example

Two leave days during a notice period

If HR approves two annual-leave days inside an existing notice period, the employment end date stays unchanged. If HR instead agrees that those days offset the remaining notice, the last day moves earlier and those offset days are not paid again. Record which arrangement HR approved before changing any date.

What changes the answer

• Whether HR approved leave during notice or expressly agreed to an offset.
• The original contractual notice dates and the number of leave days involved.
• Any contract rule about starting a new job while still employed during notice.

What to confirm with HR

• Is this approved leave during notice or an agreed notice offset?
• What is the confirmed last day of work and employment end date?
• How will the leave balance and any remaining encashment be recorded?

Calculator

Singapore notice period calculator

Check the original notice dates before applying any HR-approved offset.

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Official Source Cards

These sources informed the page cautions and calculator assumptions. Always open the official guidance before relying on a final pay decision.

Verifiedgovernment guide

Termination with notice

Singapore Ministry of Manpower

Used for Singapore notice assumptions and cautions about salary in lieu, waiver, and leave during notice.

Last checked: 2026-09-09
Used for: notice period, salary in lieu of notice, notice waiver, annual leave during notice

Open official source

Last reviewed: 2026-09-09

FAQ

Does approved annual leave automatically shorten notice?

No. MOM says approved annual leave during notice does not bring forward the last day of employment. An offset is a separate arrangement requiring employer agreement.

Are annual-leave days used to offset notice paid again?

MOM says the annual leave used to offset the remaining notice period will not be paid by the employer again.

Singapore annual leave encashment Singapore notice period calculator

General estimates only. This calculator provides a general estimate based on public information and the details you enter. It is not legal advice and does not replace your employment contract, award, enterprise agreement, collective agreement, company policy, HR advice, or official government guidance. Rules can change and special circumstances may apply. Always verify your final pay with your employer, HR, a qualified advisor, or the relevant government authority.

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