Not Just National Holidays! One Group Gets 3 Paid Days Off — Netizens Expose Harsh Truth: Taking It Might Result in a 'Poor' Performance Review

A significant revision has been made to the Civil Servants Leave Rules. On September 18, 2025, the Executive Yuan and Examination Yuan jointly approved the addition of a new 'Mental Health Leave,' officially implemented from October 10 of the previous year—World Mental Health Day. Under the new rule, civil servants are entitled to three days of paid mental health leave per year, which can be taken in hourly increments. No medical certificate is required when applying, and government agencies are prohibited from rejecting such requests or imposing any adverse treatment on applicants.

However, following the announcement, discussions quickly emerged on PTT, Taiwan’s largest online forum, with many netizens frankly admitting, 'Even if we have the right, we don’t dare to take it.'

Little known fact: Civil servants in Taiwan now have the right to apply for mental health leave. On September 18, 2025, the Executive Yuan and Examination Yuan finalized an amendment to the 'Civil Servants Leave Rules,' introducing the new 'Mental Health Leave' category. The policy officially took effect on October 10—World Mental Health Day. The revised regulation clearly states that civil servants may take up to three days of mental health leave annually, requestable by the hour. No medical documentation is required, and agencies cannot refuse applications or impose unfavorable consequences on applicants.

Importantly, this mental health leave does not add to existing leave entitlements; instead, it is counted together with personal leave (事假). However, unlike regular personal leave, it remains fully paid and is treated as paid time off. The current annual limit for personal leave among civil servants stands at seven days. With the new system, the total number of allowable days remains unchanged—the only difference being the inclusion of a clear, non-punitive reason for leave that cannot be denied by superiors.

Netizen Concerns Over Performance Reviews Spark Polarized Reactions

After news of the new policy broke, PTT users immediately began debating its real-world implications. Some commented, 'We can’t even use up our compensatory leave,' while others noted, 'To use compensatory leave, you first need to work overtime.' Many civil servants already struggle to exhaust their accumulated compensatory leave, leading some to dismiss the new mental health leave as irrelevant or unnecessary.

Other users raised deeper concerns: 'Who would actually dare to apply? I heard a colleague tried to take it and was blocked. The supervisor said, “If you apply for this leave, it means your unit is treating you poorly—making you mentally or physically unwell. You have the right to apply, but think carefully. Your job is simple. If you apply, you might get transferred—and you won’t get a good performance review.”'

Another user added, 'With a normal boss, taking personal leave is fine and nothing happens. But with a problematic boss, they’ll watch your every move regardless. Whether this leave exists or not makes no difference—it won’t stop them from giving you a poor rating anyway.'

One pointed out a structural flaw: 'It’s merged into personal leave? So my personal leave count will be higher than others? I’m not stupid—more personal leave days equals a poor performance rating (乙).'

On the other hand, some users shared more positive experiences. Several reported having successfully taken the three-day mental health leave without resistance. Supervisors reportedly only offered verbal concern about their well-being, with no obstacles encountered. Some used the time to care for children or travel abroad for relaxation. As a result, the PTT discussion thread reflects a deeply polarized response—highlighting both hope and skepticism about the policy’s true effectiveness.