December 2025 HR Newsletter: Work Stoppage Pay Due to Flooding, Tet Leave Policy Challenges & The Impact of Workforce Downsizing

Welcome to RBox’s in-depth HR newsletter for December. As the 2025 fiscal year comes to a close, HR professionals and business owners are facing a “dual pressure”: handling year-end salary and bonus policies, preparing for Lunar New Year (Tet) 2026, and managing the consequences of organizational restructuring. Let’s explore the key updates with RBox to make the most informed decisions.

1. Absence Due to Flooding & Natural Disasters: Are Employees Entitled to Pay?

News:

Amid increasingly complex natural disasters, floods, and storms in recent times, the question of stoppage pay has become more urgent than ever. According to Article 99 of the 2019 Labor Code, payment for work stoppages due to force majeure (natural disasters, fires, power/water outages not caused by the employer) is regulated as follows:

• Work stoppage up to 14 days: Salary is agreed upon by both parties but must not be lower than the regional minimum wage.
• Work stoppage over 14 days: Salary is negotiated, but the first 14 days must still be no lower than the regional minimum wage.

Strategic advice for businesses:

• Turn “Law” into “Care”: Compliance is mandatory, but execution makes the difference. HR should advise leadership to view disaster-related wage payments as an investment in Employer Branding.
• Business Continuity Planning (BCP): Companies should proactively establish contingency plans, including disaster risk funds. Supporting employees during hardship builds long-term loyalty—an invaluable asset that short-term incentives cannot replace.

2. Annual Leave During Tet: Can “Fixed Policies” Be Applied?

News:

Recently, a company in Ho Chi Minh City drew attention by surveying employees on a 14-day Tet holiday plan (including 5 statutory days, 3 company-sponsored days, and the remainder deducted from annual leave).

According to Clause 4, Article 113 of the 2019 Labor Code, employers must set annual leave schedules after consulting employees and providing prior notice. Therefore, combining annual leave with Tet holidays is lawful if implemented correctly.

Strategic advice for businesses:

• “Firm policy” with a “flexible approach”: Avoid rigid administrative imposition. HR should follow best practices such as conducting employee surveys. For workers far from home, extended holidays are highly valued.
• Ensure transparency: Clearly document agreements and communicate early. Flexibility and respect can turn leave policies into valued benefits rather than internal friction.

3. Alert: 66% of Vietnamese Employees Are Overloaded After Downsizing

News:

A recent report from Anphabe highlights concerning figures about the downside of downsizing trends:

• 66% of employees feel overloaded.
• 61% report increased job complexity and 78% have taken on additional responsibilities.
• Only 31% of companies believe downsizing achieved expected results.
• 17% of employees feel daily work pressure.

The root cause lies in mechanical workforce reduction without adequate support from technology or improved processes, leaving remaining employees overstretched.

Strategic advice for businesses:

• Stop & Review: If your company is undergoing restructuring, immediately assess employee well-being. Cost-cutting should not lead to talent loss due to burnout.
• Use data to drive decisions: HR should leverage productivity and workload data to propose investments in automation tools or targeted hiring to redistribute workloads effectively.

4. CareerBox.vn: A Smart Recruitment Solution for Workforce Optimization

News:

Amid workforce overload, demand for replacement and additional hiring is rising toward year-end. CareerBox.vn emerges as an effective recruitment platform, helping businesses address workforce shortages.

Why choose CareerBox now?

• Relieve workforce pressure: Quickly find qualified candidates to share workloads and prevent burnout-driven resignations.
• Optimize cost & time: Smart filtering tools and competitive pricing streamline recruitment processes.
• Enhance Employer Branding: Job postings also promote human-centered policies (e.g., disaster pay, flexible Tet leave) to attract talent.

December is the golden time for HR to review policies and prepare for the upcoming year. RBox is always ready to support businesses with comprehensive HR consulting and recruitment solutions. Contact RBox today for tailored HR strategies.

Explore RBox services:

>>> Mass Recruitment Services

>>> Executive Search (Headhunting)

>>> Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)

>>> Payroll & Benefits Management Services