A lawmaker has filed a bill that seeks to allow employees experiencing heartbreak to take a leave of absence.

Cagayan de Oro First District Representative Lordan Suan filed House Bill No.9931 or the Heartbreak Recovery and Resilience Act on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2024.

Suan said this measure aims to "offer support and resources to employees experiencing emotional distress due to a recent breakup, promoting their personal well-being and continued contribution to the workforce."

He said all employees in the private and public sectors are eligible for heartbreak leave under this Act.

Under the proposed bill, employees below 25 years old are entitled to one-day unpaid heartbreak leave while employees between 25 years old and 35 years old are entitled to a maximum of two days unpaid heartbreak leave.

To qualify for the heartbreak leave, the employee must provide a signed statement confirming the dissolution of their romantic relationship with the past 30 days.

“This bill proposes a novel approach to workplace well-being by granting eligible employees ‘heartbreak leave’ following relationship dissolution. This seemingly unconventional policy addresses a significant, yet often overlooked, factor impacting employee performance and engagement: the emotional turmoil associated with breakups,” Suan said.