The Limited Times

Attention workers: in these cases do you have the right to unpaid leave?

9/3/2020, 4:21:35 PM


All vacation days have been used up - but the year is still so long. Can I then just take unpaid leave? A specialist lawyer clarifies.

All vacation days have been used up - but the year is still so long.

Can I then just take unpaid leave?

A specialist lawyer clarifies.

Three to four weeks vacation *, to dine through Asia or go on a honeymoon with your loved one - that really drains your vacation days.

Once the vacation is used up, the year can be a long one.

Then it's better to take unpaid leave - but does the boss have to allow me? 

Unpaid leave must be approved by the boss

No, thinks Nathalie Oberthür.

She is a specialist lawyer for labor law and explains to the German Press Agency: "You can agree - but there is no fundamental right to it."

So whether or not your company approves unpaid leave is something you need to check with your boss.

Also read:

What vacation entitlement do I have if I cancel?

A

sabbatical

, i.e. a break of several months, usually counts as unpaid leave.

According to a survey by the travel portal Holidaypirates, around 90 percent of Germans dream of it - but only 16 percent actually take a longer break.

Find out who is allowed to take a sabbatical here.

* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.

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