Every officially employed person in Germany is entitled to a certain number of paid vacation days each year. In this article, we present the requirements to qualify for paid vacation in Germany.
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Vacation in Germany – How Many Days Are Entitled
Vacation entitlements are regulated by the federal Vacation Act (known as the Bundesurlaubsgesetz). Employees are entitled to a minimum of 24 vacation days per year with a six-day workweek and 20 days if the workweek consists of five working days. Additionally, minors (aged 16-18) are entitled to approximately 30 vacation days per year.
Important! The number of hours worked on a particular day does not affect the number of vacation days. Only the number of workdays worked by the employee is relevant.
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The number of vacation days may vary depending on individual agreements with the employer, and all conditions must be outlined in the employment contract.
It is important to remember that vacation must be used in full by March 31 of the following year. Otherwise, unused days will be forfeited permanently.
Vacation in Germany – After How Long?
In Germany, the right to the full number of vacation days typically becomes available after a 6-month probation period. However, it is possible to request vacation during this period, as employees are entitled to 1/12 of the annual vacation for each month worked, according to the regulations.
After using paid vacation, employees can also apply for unpaid vacation days, but this decision must be agreed upon individually with the employer.
Vacation requests should be submitted directly to the employer with at least two weeks’ notice. It is important to note that the employer has the right to refuse vacation on the requested dates.
Reasons for refusal may include:
- Employee’s essential presence during a specific period
- Previous leave requests from other employees for the same period
- Duration of the probationary period
Although it is the employee’s decision to take time off, the best solution is to agree on the leave dates with the employer to avoid potential issues.
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Resigning from work and vacation
If an employee ends their employment at the company, any unused vacation days will be paid out, regardless of the reason for leaving. There is also an option to transfer unused vacation days to a new employer. To avoid a situation where vacation days are counted twice, the employee receives a certificate indicating the remaining vacation days.
Sickness and Vacation
The time an employee is sick is not counted as part of their vacation leave. If an employee falls ill during their vacation, they should visit a medical facility and obtain a sick note. Only after submitting the sick note will the employer consider the vacation as unused.
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