Taking the holiday

Annual holiday in the private sector is counted in ordinary weekdays, meaning that Saturdays are also included, even when you do not normally work on a Saturday. A five-day week applies when determining holidays in the national and local government sectors, wellbeing services counties and in parishes and part of the private sector, meaning that Saturday is not an annual leave day.

You must take four weeks of your annual holiday (24 days, or 20 days in national and local government sectors, wellbeing services counties and other sectors that apply a five-day week) during the summer leave-taking period between May and September. The leave-taking period runs from June to September in national government service. Any additional holiday that you have earned must then be taken before May of the following year.

The employer will decide the time of your holiday, but must hear your wishes and treat all staff impartially in this respect. Your employer must advise you of the time of the holiday where possible at least one month, but no later than two weeks before your holiday begins. Collective agreements generally include more detailed rules on deciding the time of holidays.

You may agree other arrangements for scheduling and deferring holidays with your employer. 

For example, you may agree that any annual holiday exceeding 12 days (10 days in central and local government sectors, wellbeing services counties and other sectors applying a five-day working week for this purpose) will be taken by no later than the next leave-taking period. 

You may also agree to take any annual holiday exceeding 18 days (or 15 days in sectors applying a five-day working week (central and local government and wellbeing services counties) at a later date as saved leave. 

In national government service you may carry over any holiday exceeding 15 or 20 days to be taken later as saved leave, depending on the length of your holiday. An employee is usually entitled to take holidays as a single continuous period.

You may agree with the employer to convert any holiday exceeding four weeks into reduced working hours if you so choose. Any agreement to take holidays in the form of reduced working hours must be made in writing. Collective agreements may also set an upper limit on holidays taken in this way.