Paid vacation in Germany varies depending on several factors. Typically, a German employee enjoys an average of 20-24 days of annual leave. If an employee works five days a week, they are entitled to 20 days of vacation per year. Conversely, those working six days a week receive 24 days of leave. These figures, however, are often exceeded in practice. The number of leave days in Germany can fluctuate from year to year. Most employers generously grant between 30 to 35 days of vacation annually. Additionally, employees are often afforded a two-week rest period once a year, allowing them to rejuvenate and unwind.
In certain professions, working overtime can earn you additional compensation or extra leave as a reward for the extra hours put in.
If an employee exhausts most of their allotted leave early in the year, they will not receive additional days later on. Essentially, they can utilize their leave at any point during the year. It is important to note that public holidays are not included in this allocation. Moreover, if an employee uses up their leave while employed at one company for half the year and then switches to another company, they will not be granted any additional leave for that year at the new company.
In Germany, an employee is entitled to various types of leave. These include:
– Public holidays
– Sick leave
– Maternity leave
– Paternity leave
– Parental leave
– Carer’s leave
– Work-related injury leave
– Bereavement leave
Public Holidays
In Germany, the number of holidays varies across states, typically ranging from 10 to 13 days. Bavaria, however, boasts the highest number of holidays, offering 13 days in total. The public holidays in Germany include:
1. New Year’s Day
2. Good Friday
3. Easter Monday
4. Labour Day
5. Ascension Day
6. Whit Monday
7. German Unity Day
8. Christmas Day
9. Boxing Day
10. All Saints’ Day (in certain regions)
Sick leave
According to German labor law, an employee can take up to 6 weeks of sick leave without any deduction from their salary. If they are ill for more than 6 weeks, they receive benefits from their health insurance, which covers 70-90% of their total salary. As per German law, the sick leave count resets after 6 months. This means that if an employee falls ill again with the same illness within 6 months, it will not be considered as a new period of sick leave.
Maternity leave
In Germany, an employee is eligible for maternity leave ranging from a minimum of 14 weeks to a maximum of 18 weeks. The leave is divided into 6 weeks before the child’s birth and an additional 8 weeks after. If there are special circumstances such as a disabled child, premature birth, or multiple births, the maternity leave can be extended up to 12 weeks. During maternity leave, employees have the option to claim maternity benefits. Maternity leave can be initiated without prior notice. Additionally, if an employee believes their job could jeopardize their pregnancy, they can commence maternity leave earlier. Even if an employee’s contract expires during maternity leave, they are entitled to receive their salary until the end of the maternity leave period.
Paternity leave
Under current German law, there is no provision for paternity leave. However, there is a possibility of adding a 10-day paternity leave in the near future.
Parental leave
Although paternity leave has not yet been introduced in Germany, parental leave is currently available. This leave is sanctioned by the German government, providing individuals with €300 to €1,800 per month, equivalent to 65% of their average income from the previous 12 months. This government subsidy is disbursed over a 12-month period. Parents have the option to take unpaid leave until their child reaches three years of age. Presently, another initiative known as ‘Parental Allowance Plus’ has been initiated, allowing both partners to share a total of 24 months of leave.
Carer’s leave
This is an unpaid leave. There are two types of care leave in Germany:
– short term carer’s leave
– long term carer’s leave
Generally, care leave is taken when there is a need to care for relatives. In the case of short term leave, it can be taken for up to 10 days, and for long term leave, it can be taken for up to 6 months.
Other leaves
In addition to the aforementioned types of leave, Germany offers several other specialized leaves for specific reasons:
– Bereavement leave: Employees are granted a 2-day leave without any deduction in pay upon the death of a close relative.
– Work related injury leave: This is a 6-week paid leave.
– Force majeure leave: This leave is approved in case of a family emergency and is also paid.
Some Information
1. According to regulations in Germany, employees must submit their vacation requests at least 14 days in advance, although specific requirements can vary among companies.
2. Many individuals wonder if they can carry over their remaining vacation days to the next year. The answer is affirmative. However, any remaining vacation days from a given calendar year must be utilized within the first 3 months of the subsequent calendar year. It is advisable to use vacation days allocated for a specific calendar year within that same year.
3. If you become ill during your scheduled vacation, those sick days will not be counted as part of your vacation time. Depending on a medical certificate, these days may be rescheduled for later use.
Final thoughts
Germany not only stands out as employee-friendly for jobs but also ranks among the top 5 countries globally when it comes to vacation. When thinking about vacation, Germany should be a preferred choice for all employees.
