Spain is a popular tourist destination for people from all around the world. Whether you’re looking to relax on the beach, explore historic cities, or indulge in delicious food and wine, Spain has something for everyone. But if you’re planning to work in Spain or move there permanently, one important question you might have is – how many vacation days do you get in Spain?
Legal Minimum Vacation Days:
In Spain, the legal minimum vacation days are 30 days per year. This is much higher compared to some other countries like the United States where there is no legal requirement for employers to provide paid vacation time. The 30-day minimum applies to all employees regardless of their age or seniority within the company.
Pro-rated Vacation Days:
If you start working partway through a year, your employer should give you a pro-rated number of vacation days based on how many months you’ve worked that year. For example, if you start working in July, your employer should give you 15 vacation days (half of the 30-day minimum).
Holidays:
Spain has many public holidays throughout the year, and these are separate from your vacation days. There are at least 11 public holidays per year in Spain including Christmas Day (December 25), New Year’s Day (January 1), and Labor Day (May 1). Employers are required to give their employees these days off work and they do not count towards your vacation days.
Collective Bargaining Agreements:
In addition to the legal minimum of 30 vacation days per year, some employees may be entitled to more vacation time under a collective bargaining agreement. Collective bargaining agreements are negotiated between trade unions and employers and can vary depending on the industry and location.
Unused Vacation Days:
If you don’t use all of your vacation days in a given year, they typically do not roll over to the next year. However, your employer may allow you to carry over a certain number of unused vacation days or pay you for the unused days. This can vary depending on your employer’s policy.
Taking Vacation Days:
Employees are typically required to request vacation time in advance and get approval from their employer. The amount of notice required can vary depending on your employer’s policy and the number of vacation days you’re requesting. It’s important to plan ahead and make sure you’re using your vacation days throughout the year.
In Conclusion:
In Spain, employees are entitled to a legal minimum of 30 vacation days per year, which is much higher compared to some other countries. In addition to these vacation days, there are also public holidays and collective bargaining agreements that can provide additional time off work. It’s important to plan ahead and make sure you’re using your vacation days throughout the year to avoid losing them at the end of the year.