Vacation is a benefit that employers typically grant full-time employees, allowing workers to take paid time off. Part time employees typically receive vacation pay, not time. Most full-time jobs start with two weeks of paid vacation, with the opportunity to earn more over the years. Employers may choose to offer additional vacation, over and above the basic allotment.
The common practice is upon being hired employees receive two weeks of paid vacation, but can only take it upon approval by their employer. The initial waiting period is usually 6 months to 1 year. After this, employees can take up to 2 weeks of vacation.
Let’s discuss paid vacation in Canada and Germany.
Canadian Paid Vacations
Every year, Canadians have the right to two weeks (10 days) of vacation. (Saskatchewan workers get three weeks a year.) Employees working for less than 5 years are entitled to 2 weeks off for every 12 months’ vacation entitlement year. Employees with a tenure of more than 5 years are entitled to 3 weeks’ vacation time. Canadians also get six paid holidays. However, in fairness, most employers offer 9 days – New Year, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day (excluding NS, NWT, ON and QC), Christmas, and Boxing Day.
Vacation pay must be at least four per cent of the overall compensation (excluding holiday pay) received for workers with less than five years of employment in the 12-month vacation eligibility year or stub period (where applicable). Employees who have worked for 5 months or more at the end of a 12-month vacation or stub period (if any), every 12 months are eligible for least six per cent of the gross wages earned in the 12-month vacation entitlement year or stub period.
German Paid Vacation
Under German law, new employees are not fully entitled to leave for the first six months of employment. Employees with 6 days off per week are entitled to a minimum of 24 days off per year. Employees who work 5 days a week have 20 days’ vacation a year, and those who work 4 days a week have 16 days. Those who work 3 days a week get 12 vacation days every year; a 2-day week entitles one to 8 vacation days; a 1-day work week means one has the right to 4 days off.
However, these numbers are the minimum required. Depending on your collective agreement with your employer, you may have more days off than is required by law. For example, paid employment of 30 days a year is common in many professions and industries across the country.
The law also allows some groups of people more off time. For example, a severely disabled worker who works5 days a week would receive an additional 5 days of vacation per year. That means, they will be given 25 days of vacation.
Learn about the differences between Canadian and the UK paid vacation here.
