What Is Personal Leave? What Is It Called in English?
Personal Leave, also called Business Leave, is leave taken to handle necessary personal matters that cannot be handled by someone else. Employees are entitled to at least 3 working days of paid personal leave per year.
Table of Contents:
- What Is Personal Leave? What Is It Called in English?
- What Is Personal Leave?
- What Types of Leave Are Considered Personal Leave?
- What Is Personal Leave Called in English? Other Leave Terms You Should Know
- Summary: What Is Personal Leave and What Is It Called in English?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Leave in English
What Is Personal Leave?
Personal leave is leave taken to handle necessary personal matters that cannot be handled by someone else. UnderSection 34 of the Labour Protection Act (as amended by No. 7), employees are clearly entitled to at least 3 working days of leave per year for necessary personal business. Employers must pay wages equivalent to normal working-day wages for up to 3 working days per year (Section 57/1). Importantly, personal leave must also comply with the company’swork regulations
What Types of Leave Are Considered Personal Leave?
Personal leave can cover many situations depending on what the employee needs to do and the purpose of the leave. Examples include:
Examples of Personal Leave
- Personal leave to attend your own graduation ceremony
- Personal leave to apply for an ID card or driver’s license
- Personal leave to comply with a court summons
- Personal leave to attend your own marriage ceremony
- Personal leave to contact a government agency
- Emergency personal leave, such as in the event of an accident
What Is Personal Leave Called in English? Other Leave Terms You Should Know
Personal leave can be called Personal Leave and Business Leave (Some companies use Personal Business Leave.) Other leave terms that HR professionals and employees should know are summarized in the table below, along with brief statutory entitlements.
Thai–English Leave Terminology Table
| Leave Type (Thai) | English | When It Is Used | Brief Legal Entitlement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Leave | Personal Leave / Business Leave | For necessary personal matters that cannot be handled by someone else | At least 3 working days per year; 3 days are paid (Sections 34, 57/1) |
| Emergency Leave | Emergency Leave | For urgent matters that cannot be reported in advance | Counted toward personal leave entitlement or handled according to company regulations |
| Sick Leave | Sick Leave | When an employee is too ill to work | Leave may be taken for as long as the employee is actually ill; paid for up to 30 working days per year (Sections 32, 57) · 20 Sick Leave Rights |
| Annual Leave / Vacation Leave | Annual Leave / Vacation Leave | For annual rest and vacation | At least 6 working days per year after completing 1 year of service (Section 30) · How to Calculate Annual Leave |
| Maternity Leave | Maternity Leave | When a female employee takes leave for childbirth | Up to 120 days; the employer pays wages for 60 days · How Many Days of Maternity Leave Are Allowed? |
| Paternity Leave / Leave to Assist a Spouse After Childbirth | Paternity Leave | When a male employee takes leave to care for his spouse and newborn child | 15 days of paid leave · How Many Days Can a Man Take to Assist His Spouse After Childbirth? |
| Ordination Leave | Ordination Leave | For Buddhist ordination | The law does not define it as a separate leave type; it follows company regulations · How Many Days of Ordination Leave Can Employees Take? |
| Bereavement Leave | Compassionate Leave / Bereavement Leave | To attend or arrange the funeral of a family member | Use personal leave or follow company welfare policy |
| Marriage Leave | Marriage Leave | For an employee’s own wedding | Use personal leave or follow company welfare policy · Should Marriage Leave Be Taken as Personal Leave? |
| Military Service Leave | Military Service Leave | When called up for inspection, military training, or readiness testing | Leave is allowed as officially required; wages are paid for up to 60 days per year (Sections 35, 58) |
| Training Leave | Training Leave | For training or professional development | Leave is available according to the criteria in Section 36 · Can Employees Take Training Leave? |
| Study Leave | Study Leave | For long-term further education | According to company policy |
| Sterilization Leave | Sterilization Leave | For sterilization procedures | Leave is allowed for the period specified by a doctor and is paid (Sections 33, 57) |
| Unpaid Leave | Unpaid Leave / Leave Without Pay | For leave beyond entitlement or leave for which the company does not pay wages | As agreed with the employer |
See the detailed number of days for every leave type at How Many Types of Leave Are Available Under Labor Law and How Many Days for Each?
Summary: What Is Personal Leave and What Is It Called in English?
Personal leave is an employee right that allows time off for necessary personal matters. There are many types of situations depending on the purpose of the leave. Underlabor lawemployees are entitled to at least 3 days of personal leave per year and receive wages equivalent to normal working-day wages. Personal leave should also comply with company work regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Leave in English
Q: Is There a Difference Between Personal Leave and Business Leave? Which Term Should Be Used?
A: They generally refer to the same type of leave. Personal Leave is commonly used by international companies. Business Leave is common in Thai companies because it is a direct translation of the Thai concept, but foreign employees may interpret it as leave for off-site business duties. For documents or emails addressed to international audiences, Personal Leave is recommended.
Q: Can “Private Leave” Be Used Instead of Personal Leave?
A: It can be understood in everyday communication, but it is not a standard HR term. For leave forms or work regulations, Personal Leave or Business Leave is more appropriate.
Q: What Is the English Abbreviation for Personal Leave?
A: Many companies use PL for Personal Leave or BL for Business Leave in leave summary tables, alongside SL (Sick Leave) and AL (Annual Leave). These abbreviations are not universal standards, so the full term should be stated at least once in the document.
Q: What Is the Difference Between a Day Off and Leave?
A: A day off is a scheduled non-working day, such as a weekly day off or a compensatory holiday. Leave is time taken off on a day the employee is scheduled to work, using a leave entitlement such as personal leave or sick leave.
Q: Can Probationary Employees Take Personal Leave?
A: Yes. Probationary employees are employees under labor law, so they are entitled to personal leave and paid personal leave in the same way as regular employees. Read about leave rights during probation
Q: How Should Companies with Foreign Employees Manage Leave Types?
A: Use a leave system that can display leave types in multiple languages so each employee can choose the correct type, such as HumanSoft’s online leave systemwhich supports 5 languages: Thai, English, Burmese, Chinese, and Malay. Employees can submit leave requests and managers can approve them immediately from mobile devices.
More Articles You May Be Interested In
- Q&A: What Is the Difference Between Personal Leave and Emergency Leave?
- Q&A: Should Marriage Leave Be Taken as Personal Leave?
- Q&A: Can Probationary Employees Take Personal Leave and Sick Leave?
- How Many Days of Annual, Sick, and Personal Leave Are Allowed Under Labor Law?
- Q&A: How Many Days Can a Man Take to Assist His Spouse After Childbirth and Care for the Child?
