Yes, it’s a “Chinese” thing to believe in auspicious dates, as many Chinese individuals who have planned weddings or moved into new homes can attest. Even if you’re not a fervent believer, there will be older relatives (Hi, Grandma!) who will nag at you about it to ensure you toe the line.
It’s also common practice for some small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with pantang (i.e. superstitious) bosses to start work after the Chinese New Year on an auspicious day (also known as kai gong). Even the day they stop work and take a break for the Chinese New Year matters as well (also known as shou gong).
Here’s a quick run-up on what days you should stop and start work, according to popular fengshui sites online, as well as some of the observances to take note of if you’re keen to practice them!
Which day should one stop work and start work this Chinese New Year 2026?
According to one fengshui site, the date one stops work is affected by your personal zodiac animal sign. And yes, this applies even if you’re working from home!
If you are the boss/towkay/chief executive, the belief is that if you re-open doors and start work on an inauspicious day, you increase the chances of bad business for the rest of the year!
So, which dates are considered auspicious this year?
Chinese New Year in 2026 falls on Tuesday, 17 February, marking the start of the Year of the Fire Horse. The festive period is commonly observed until 3 March.
Auspicious dates to stop work before Chinese New Year
- 29 January 2026 (Thursday), from 9am to 12:59pm (clashing zodiac: Rooster)
- 31 January 2026 (Saturday), from 7am to 10:59am (clashing zodiac: Pig)
- 1 February 2026 (Sunday), from 9am-10:59am, and 1pm to 2:59pm (clashing zodiac: Rat)
Auspicious dates to return to the office after Chinese New Year
- 17 February 2026 (Tuesday), from 7am-10:59am (clashing zodiac: Dragon)
- 20 February 2026 (Friday), from 9am-12:59pm (clashing zodiac: Goat)
- 21 February 2026 (Saturday), from 7am-10:59am (clashing zodiac: Monkey)
Wondering what the clashing zodiac above refers to? The advice from the wizened ones is that it’s best to pick a day that doesn’t conflict with your boss. If there’s a conflict between the employee and the boss, the employee is supposed to delay their return to work by a day if possible.
For example, if your boss’s zodiac is Dragon, and so is yours, he/she should pop back to the office on the 17 February, while you should return on the 20 February instead, or vice-versa!
What to do when stopping work, and starting work during the Chinese New Year period?
Yes, there’s specific tasks to do for the above. Here’s what to do as part of the ritual to down tools:
- Clean your work desk, by discarding unnecessary items, and wiping your desk clean. Please get rid of those pineapple tarts from LAST Chinese New Year.
- Place an ang pao (red packet) in the drawer. You can choose any amount, it’s a symbol of good luck, and then keep it there till next year’s Chinese New Year as a sign of luck at the workplace.
- Clear all outstanding debts. It’s time to pay that work colleague for the kopi he/she tapowed for you that you never quite got round to settling! Essentially, neither a borrower nor a lender be — clear out that ledger with everyone.
When it comes to starting work, there are different to-do lists if you’re working from home or going back to the office.
There are also auspicious dates to do spring cleaning
Take note of the following:
- 29 January 2026 (Thursday), from 9am-12:59pm (clashing zodiac: Rooster)
- 31 January 2026 (Saturday), from 7am-10:59pm (clashing zodiac: Pig)
- 1 February 2026 (Sunday), from 9am-10:59am, and 1pm to 2:59pm (clashing zodiac: Rat)
If you’re working from home, do these in this order:
- Start at the auspicious date and time we mentioned earlier
- Dress up. Yes, even if you’re working from home.
- Clear your workspace of all the Chinese New Year goodies and ransacked angpows
- Have a coffee or tea with the Chinese New Year goodies (but remember, heaty, so not so many lah!)
- Make a work-related phone/Skype/Zoom/Teams call
- Send out a work proposal via email
- Make another work-related phone/Skype/Zoom/Teams call (just check if they got the email?)
And if you’re headed back into the office, do these in this order:
- Start at the auspicious date and time we mentioned earlier
- Put fresh plants or flowers on your desk, and a pair of oranges you brought from the house visiting stash
- Put on some background music
- Have a coffee or tea with Chinese New Year goodies
- Make a work-related phone call (Skype/Zoom/Teams call)
- Send out a work proposal via email
- Arrange a work lunch or meeting
And there you have it, everything to keep the bosses — and Grandma — happy! From Workforce Singapore, here’s wishing all our readers a great and prosperous Chinese New Year ahead!
A quick note: auspicious dates and practices vary across different feng shui schools and beliefs, and are shared here as cultural references rather than prescriptive advice.
Follow us on LinkedIn for more expert career guidance and industry insights: Workforce Singapore on LinkedIn
Stay updated with the latest trends, job market shifts and career health advice from WSG.
