What type of leaves are employees entitle to in Germany?

Modified on: Thu, 24 Jul, 2025 at 4:09 PM

In Germany, employees are entitled to a range of leave types regulated by federal law, collective agreements, and individual employment contracts. These leave entitlements support employee wellbeing, family responsibilities, and professional development.

Annual Paid Leave

Holiday Leave:
Employees are entitled to a statutory minimum of 20 working days of paid annual leave per year based on a 5-day workweek, or 24 days for a 6-day workweek. Many employers provide more generous allowances, often ranging from 25 to 30 days annually.

Public Holidays

Public Holidays:
The number and dates of public holidays vary by federal state. Employees are entitled to paid time off on public holidays observed in their region.

Health-Related Leave

Sick Leave:
Employees unable to work due to illness must notify their employer immediately. If the illness extends beyond three days, a medical certificate is required. Employers are obligated to continue wage payments for up to six weeks. After this period, statutory health insurance provides sickness benefits for up to 78 weeks.

Family-Related Leave

Maternity Leave:
Pregnant employees are entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave—six weeks before the expected due date and eight weeks following childbirth. This is extended to 12 weeks for premature or multiple births. Employees receive Maternity Protection Pay (Mutterschutzlohn), calculated based on their average income over the three months prior to the maternity protection period. These benefits are funded through the U2 levy system.

Update as of June 1, 2025 – Miscarriage and Maternity Protection:
Under the revised Maternity Protection Act, women who experience a miscarriage from the 13th week of pregnancy are now entitled to maternity protection. The protection period varies based on the gestational week at the time of miscarriage:

From the 13th week: up to 2 weeks of maternity leave
From the 17th week: up to 6 weeks of maternity leave
From the 20th week: up to 8 weeks of maternity leave

During this period, employment is prohibited unless the employee expressly agrees to work. A medical certificate indicating the week of miscarriage is required. Women are entitled to maternity benefits and employer subsidies during this period, covered through the U2 levy.

Paternity Leave:
Germany does not provide statutory paternity leave. However, fathers may utilize parental leave provisions to spend time with their newborn.

Parental Leave (Elternzeit):
Each parent may take up to three years of parental leave per child. This leave can be taken simultaneously or separately, and a portion can be postponed until the child turns eight. During parental leave, employment is protected, and parents may work part-time up to 30 hours per week. The state provides parental benefits (Elterngeld) to partially compensate for reduced income.

Special Leave

Educational Leave (Bildungsurlaub):
In most federal states, employees may take up to 5 days per year of paid leave for professional development. Entitlement and duration vary by region.

Bereavement Leave:
While not required by law, many employers offer a few days of leave in the event of the death of a close family member. The specific duration is often defined in employment contracts or company policies.

Care Leave:
Employees can take leave to care for seriously ill family members. This includes:

Short-term care leave (up to 10 working days) for immediate caregiving needs
Long-term care leave (up to 6 months) which can involve full or reduced working hours

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