Are you planning to work in Germany? If yes, then you might be wondering about the vacation policy in Germany. Let’s take a closer look at how many weeks of paid vacation are offered to employees in Germany.
Legal requirements for paid vacation in Germany
In Germany, the Federal Holiday Act (Bundesurlaubsgesetz) regulates the vacation entitlement of employees. According to this act, all employees are entitled to a minimum of 24 working days of paid leave per year, based on a six-day workweek. This means that an employee who works five days a week is entitled to a minimum of 20 working days of leave per year.
Additional vacation entitlements
Many employers offer more than the legal minimum vacation entitlement. It is common for employees to receive between 25 and 30 working days of paid leave per year. However, the number of additional vacation days may vary depending on various factors such as seniority or collective bargaining agreements.
Prorated vacation entitlements
If you start your job partway through the year or if you leave your job before completing a full year, your vacation entitlement will be prorated based on the number of months worked during the calendar year.
Public holidays
In addition to paid vacation, German employees are entitled to public holidays as well. There are nine public holidays in Germany which are recognized nationwide. These include New Year’s Day (January 1), Good Friday (variable), Easter Monday (variable), Labor Day (May 1), Ascension Day (variable), Whit Monday (variable), German Unity Day (October 3), Christmas Day (December 25), and Boxing Day (December 26).
Conclusion
In summary, all employees in Germany are entitled to at least 24 working days or four weeks of paid vacation per year. However, many employers offer more than the minimum vacation entitlement, and the number of additional vacation days may vary depending on various factors such as seniority or collective bargaining agreements. Additionally, German employees are entitled to nine public holidays per year.