Germany
Complete guide to German employee leave entitlements including 20+ days annual leave, unlimited sick pay, and extensive parental leave (Elternzeit).
20
Annual leave
9
Public holidays
country
Location type
2025-01-15
Reviewed
Legal framework
Primary legislation
Governing body
Last updated
Official source
Entitlements overview
Annual leave
Statutory entitlement: 20
Calculation: Minimum 20 days for 5-day week (24 days for 6-day week). Most get 25-30 days.
Pro-rata: Pro-rata based on months employed
Carryover: Must be used by March 31 of following year (exceptions apply)
Sick leave
Statutory: Yes
Paid days: Varies
Statutory pay: 100% of regular salary
Eligibility: All employees from day 1
Parental leave
Maternity: 14 weeks (6 before + 8 after birth)
Paternity: No specific paternity leave; use Elternzeit
Adoption: 3 years Elternzeit
Shared leave: 3 years Elternzeit per parent per child
Additional leave and compliance
Other leave types
Child Sick Leave (Kinderkrankengeld): 10 days per child per year (20 for single parents) (paid)
Bereavement: Usually 1-3 days (paid)
Educational Leave (Bildungsurlaub): 5 days per year (paid)
Record keeping and notice
Records: Maintain records throughout employment and 3 years after
Penalties: Fines and compensation claims
Public holiday sample
Neujahr (New Year): 2025-01-01
Karfreitag (Good Friday): 2025-04-18
Ostermontag (Easter Monday): 2025-04-21
Tag der Arbeit (Labour Day): 2025-05-01
Christi Himmelfahrt (Ascension): 2025-05-29
Pfingstmontag (Whit Monday): 2025-06-09
Frequently asked questions
How much annual leave do German employees get?
The statutory minimum is 20 days for a 5-day week, but most employers offer 25-30 days. Collective agreements often provide more.
How does German sick pay work?
Employers pay 100% salary for the first 6 weeks of each illness. After that, health insurance (Krankenkasse) pays Krankengeld at about 70% of gross salary for up to 78 weeks.
What is Elternzeit?
Elternzeit (parental leave) allows each parent up to 3 years of job-protected leave per child. Elterngeld provides 65-67% of net income for up to 14 months (if both parents take at least 2 months).