Holiday Pay Is a Right, But Awareness Makes It Real

Holiday Pay Is a Right, But Awareness Makes It Real

Why Employers and Workers Must Stop Ignoring DOLE Advisories

Earlier this June, while the country prepared for the observance of Eid’l Adha and the celebration of Independence Day, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) released Labor Advisory No. 08, Serious of 2025. It outlined wage guidelines for the June 6 and June 12 holidays, rules that protect the rights of millions of workers across the Philippines.

If an employee didn’t work on those days but was present (or on paid leave) the day before, they were legally entitled to 100% of their daily wage. If they did report for work, they should have received 200% pay. If they worked overtime or the holiday fell on their rest day, they were due 260% or more.

The rules are clear. And yet, many employees were underpaid or not paid at all.

This is not just a payroll issue. It’s a reflection of a larger and more troubling gap in our system: most Filipino workers don’t know what they’re entitled to. And many employers, especially small business owners, don’t know what’s required of them.

When Legal Protections Stay Unread

Despite DOLE’s consistent release of guidelines, the information rarely reaches the people who need it most. Most advisories sit untouched on government websites, written in formal language, hidden behind press releases that don’t always trickle down to barangay offices, startup teams or backroom staff.

The result? Workers are deprived of lawful earnings, and employers unknowingly violate labor laws, putting themselves at risk of DOLE findings, penalties, or even lawsuits.

Labor law isn’t just for lawyers or HR managers. It affects pay, contracts, discipline, and daily operations. If employers are expected to comply, then they must be empowered to understand.

Built Right From Day One: Why This Bootcamp Matters

That’s why John Kelly & Company (JKnC) is holding a one-day seminar built specifically for employers, HR professionals, and compliance officers navigating these very issues.

The Employer’s Survival Bootcamp
Theme: Built Right From Day One: Strengthening Employer Readiness Through Labor Law and Compliance Education

The bootcamp is part of JKnC’s midyear campaign to help businesses become legally compliant, ethically sound, and structurally resilient. It tackles topics like:

• Proper computation of holiday and overtime pay

• Legal steps in handling employee discipline

• DOLE inspections: preparation, checklists, and protocols

• Drafting compliant contracts and internal policies

• Real-life case studies and common violations to avoid
  

If you’re running a business—or helping manage one—this seminar isn’t just useful. It’s necessary.

Awareness is Protection

Holiday pay is not a perk, it’s a right. But in practice, those rights mean little when the people they protect are kept in the dark. And ignorance, even if unintentional, is no excuse under the law.

Employers must shift from being reactive to proactive. The best way to avoid disputes, inspections, or reputational damage is to get the fundamentals right, and stay updated.

This August, choose to get informed. Choose to protect your team and your company. Attend the Employer’s Survival Bootcamp, and build your business right from Day One.