What are the rules concerning how to earn holiday allowance, when are you entitled to payment during holiday leaves and what is the payment you will receive while you are on holiday? You can get answers to these questions in this section.
- Number of holidays.
- Holiday payment.
- Public holidays in Germany.
Number of holidays
You earn at least 2 days of holidays for every full month you work.
Even if you work short time (less than 70 days), you are entitled to holidays.
Holiday payment
During your holidays, you will receive the same amount of payment as during your standard working hours.
For example: If you work usually 8 hours a day, that means you must get 8 x 9,82 € (from July on 10,45 € and from October on 12 €) = 78,56 € for a day of holiday.
If you do not take any holiday, the employer must pay you compensation when you get your final payment.
National public holidays in Germany
The following public holidays are generally days off work for employees in Germany:
- January 1st
- Good Friday
- Easter Sunday
- Easter Monday
- May 1st: Labour Day
- Ascension day (Christi Himmelfahrt)
- Whit Monday (Pfingsmontag)
- October 3rd: Day of German Unification
- December 25th – 26th Christmas
If you work on a public holiday you have the right to receive your payment and a day of rest in compensation.
Read more about overtime here.