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WORKING IN GERMANY

The ‘special’ days when workers in Germany can get paid time off

It's not just for vacations or sick leave: there are many situations in Germany where you can take paid time off. We break them down.

The 'special' days when workers in Germany can get paid time off
You can get an extra paid day off work for your own wedding if it falls during the week. Photo: Stocksnap/Pixabay.

All full-time employees in Germany who work a full-day week, are entitled to at least 20 paid vacation days by law. This is a bare minimum, however, with many companies offering between 25 and 30 days per year – or even more.

READ ALSO: Vacation days in Germany: what to know about your rights as an employee

Yet what about days which aren’t for holiday, but rather something that needs to be done during normal working hours, such as moving house or caring for a child who falls sick? And what about big life events, like weddings or religious ceremonies?

We’ve got some good news for you: these can qualify for paid-time off work outside of the normal holiday allowance – with a few exceptions. Here’s what qualifies for the so-called Sonderurlaub, or special holiday. 

Moving

While on the one hand it’s an exciting time, moving house can be a real pain. Packing up all of your prized possessions takes time that many of those clocking in full time hours simply don’t have. 

That’s why you can take a sigh of relief to know that moving qualifies for a paid day off work under two core conditions: you are moving for your job – for example being transferred to another location – and the move needs to take place on a weekday or during work time, for example because you have to be out of your home by the end of the month. 

That said, Germany is a heavily unionized country, and each union has its own special rules and exceptions to the general law. For example, the union IG Metall grants its employees a day off work for a move, regardless if they are moving for work-related reasons or not.

Public sector service employees can also expect a day free from the job, even if they are just moving their belongings next door. 

In some cases when the move requires a great distance and effort, your employer can be reasonably expected to grant you a few days off of work. 

Photo by Matthew Hamilton on Unsplash

Weddings

Have an urge to tie the knot on a Wednesday afternoon? Maybe you’ll be more up for it when you learn it means a day off of work – in addition to the proper holiday time which we hope you also carve out for the Honeymoon. The same applies for civil unions. 

In some cases, this time off work can be granted for up to three days, in case you want to carve off more time following a typical Sunday celebration. Yet paid time off typically is not longer than a day. 

READ ALSO: ‘Ja, ich will’: Internationals share what it’s like to get married in Germany

Special anniversaries

What better way to celebrate a work anniversary than not working? That’s at least the philosophy of most public sector jobs which will grant a day off of work for 25th and 40th anniversaries of time logged at work. Although if you reach the latter, we hope that you are well on your way to retirement soon!

The same applies to celebrating your own 25th wedding anniversary, or the 25th or 50th wedding anniversary of your parents. Some unions will also grant their employees a day off for these special celebrations, known respectively as silver and golden weddings in Germany. 

Birth of your own child

In addition to the generous Elternzeit (parental leave) that both parents are entitled to in Germany, mothers receive six weeks fully-paid time off before, and two-months after, the birth of their child. Although not yet written into law, many companies also grant fathers or partners a paid day off when their child is born. As of 2024, all companies will be required to give 10 paid days off.

READ ALSO: Vaterschaftsurlaub: What you need to know about paid paternity leave in Germany

An injury

According to Section 616 of the German Civil Code, an employer must continue to pay a salary to the employee following an injury that prevents them from working under the following two conditions: the injury wasn’t caused by the employee themselves, and lasts “a relatively insignificant amount of time,” although in Germany this can mean up to six months. 

Doctor visits

Employees are also granted time off within the course of a working day for doctor and medical visits. For more intensive procedures that span more that part of a day – an operation, for example – the employee can receive up to a few days off of work.

A doctor's waiting room in Germany.

A doctor’s waiting room in Germany. Photo: picture alliance / dpa | Daniel Karmann

Taking care of a sick family member

If a family member under your care falls sick and needs your care, you are entitled to up to 10 days Sonderurlaub, even on sudden notice, and up to six months unpaid time off from work.

Religious reasons

Employees can also take time off in order to attend religious ceremonies such as a communion or confirmation, although whether this is paid depends on the employer. They are also allowed to leave work during the day in order to pray as long as this has previously been communicated with the employer.

READ ALSO: These three German cities offer ‘the best work-life balance’

Death

In the sad event that someone close to you passes away, you are entitled a paid day of grievance leave. For close family members, this is usually two days. Of course, this is the bare minimum written into law, and many employers will also make exceptions based on the individual case. 

Other types of leave

Germany grants a generous amount of paid leave for parents (Elternzeit), sick leave, educational leave (Bildungsurlaub), and unemployment.

READ ALSO: What is Germany’s ‘educational holiday’ and how can I use it?

You can visit our guides on the following and contact us at [email protected] with additional questions or comments.

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WORKING IN GERMANY

How generous is Germany’s unemployment benefit system?

Germany is often ranked among the top countries for the best unemployment benefits. What are the conditions for getting financial support if you find yourself without a job - and how much can you expect to receive?

How generous is Germany's unemployment benefit system?

If you lost your job – or walk away yourself – there are a few steps to take to ensure that you receive financial support during your unemployment.

How to register

To receive relief when you are unemployed, you must register at the Federal Employment Agency. Once your case is reviewed to ensure you are eligible you can begin receiving unemployment benefits. 

You must visit the Federal Employment Agency (BA, or Bundesagentur für Arbeit) in person or online at the earliest three months before your employment ends.

READ ALSO: What happens to your residency permit if you lose your job in Germany?

If your employer does not provide you with advance notice of your contract termination, then you need to visit the Agency three days after you know of your unemployment. You do not need an appointment. 

There are strict protections against unlawful termination of employment, but not all employers are aware of the rules. If you find yourself unlawfully terminated you may be entitled to a severance payment

If you register too late you could receive a Sperrzeit, or disqualification period which would decrease your unemployment benefits. 

Is unemployment available after quitting your job?

Yes, but you may have to wait for those benefits to kick in. For individuals who resign to find employment elsewhere and need unemployment benefits while looking for their next step, you can also visit the Federal Employment Agency in person or online at the earliest three months before your employment ends. 

The BA will require you to wait three months after your notice period before you can receive benefits, so it is advantageous to schedule an appointment before you leave the job.

This period can be waived if you can show that your job took a toll on your health (with a doctor’s note), your new employment contract was canceled, and / or you can prove you resigned without notice because of employer misconduct like not receiving pay. 

What unemployment benefits are available?

There are two types of unemployment benefits available in Germany. 

  • Unemployment Benefit 1 is an insurance-based benefit available if you contributed to the unemployment insurance system during your employment. You will receive benefits according to your contributions to the system while employed. 
  • Unemployment Benefit 2 or Bürgergeld is a benefit for individuals and families facing financial hardship because of unemployment or low income. This benefit is funded by federal taxes.

READ ALSO: Bürgergeld: Germany’s monthly unemployment benefit to rise by 12 percent

A woman clicks on an online application for Bürgergeld

A woman clicks on an online application for Bürgergeld, Germany’s long-term unemployment benefit. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Carsten Koall

Eligibility for unemployment

Regardless of which unemployment benefit you are eligible for, you must be a legal resident of Germany, registered as unemployed, actively looking for a job, and between the ages of 15 and 65.  

To be eligible for Unemployment Benefit 1, you must have been employed and contributed to the unemployment insurance system for at least 12 months in the past two years before becoming unemployed.

You may also be eligible for this benefit if you raised a child until the age of three, received sick pay, voluntarily signed up for unemployment insurance while freelancing, or completed voluntary military service, federal volunteering or youth service.

To be eligible for Unemployment Benefit 2, expats who are facing financial hardship must meet the means test criteria set by the job centre. Foreigners must also fulfill at least one of the following scenarios:

  • Registered resident in Germany for at least 5 years
  • Previously received Unemployment Benefit 1, but benefits ran out
  • Worked in Germany for three of the last six months, and are not entitled to unemployment benefit 1

What is covered by unemployment benefits?

Unemployment Benefit 1 is based on previous earnings so it partially covers living expenses and housing. Recipients will also remain covered by health insurance. 

Unemployment Benefit 2 covers essential living expenses including food, clothing, 

It covers rent and heating costs up to the rate set by each state and recipients receive 

Both categories can receive job-seeking assistance, free professional training and counseling to improve job opportunities. 

How much money will I get?

Recipients of unemployment benefit 1 can expect to receive 60 percent of their gross income, or 67 percent if they have children. It is important to note that the money you receive is taxable. Germany also ignores gross income above €90,600 when deciding benefits. 

Bürgergeld recipients can expect up to €563 per month along with the payment of other living expenses and housing. Local authorities set rates for “reasonable” accommodation costs based on the region’s cost of living. Check with your local ‘jobcentre’ to determine what the allotment will be.   

The jobcentre in Berlin Mitte.

The jobcentre in Berlin Mitte. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Philipp Znidar

How long do unemployment benefits last?

For those receiving Unemployment Benefit 1, assistance typically lasts between 6 to 12 months. If you are over 50, the benefits can last up to 2 years. Still, you could receive less unemployment benefits if you face a Sperrzeit or assistance disqualification period. 

Changes proposed to Germany’s system

And Germany’s unemployment system may face another shakeup. 

That’s because the CDU proposed several changes to Bürgergeld, Germany’s long-term unemployment benefit. The center right party said in a statement it wants to “abolish it in its current form” and rename the program to “Neue Grundsicherung” or New Basic Security. 

What are the proposed changes?

Under the current proposal, stricter sanctions would be established to reduce benefits if appointments at the jobcentre are missed with no excuse or recipients refuse employment. 

The CDU resolution also intends to prevent Totalverweigerer (complete refusers), unemployment recipients who are able to work but refuse to do so, from receiving any benefits. 

Germany’s Constitutional Court decided in 2019 that a 100 percent cut was not constitutional. But the country’s highest court found that a 30 percent cut in benefits could be permissible but anything higher than 60 percent was unreasonable. It is unclear how the CDU plans to clear this hurdle when implementing the plan. But for “total refusers” it may be permissible to fully cut benefits

The SPD and the Green party rejected the CDU initiative. SPD leader Lars Klinbeil rejected the plan in a statement to Tagesschau

“The amount of citizens’ money is determined by a constitutional court decision. This has now been implemented, with the consent of the Union, by the way,” he said. “We need to have other debates than attacks on the welfare state.”

The federal and state governments also met to discuss potential changes to refugee policy. 

New Ukrainian refugees may also no longer receive Bürgergeld, instead the group will receive monetary assistance through the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act, according to a recent CSU proposal. 

Under this proposal a single asylum seeker would be entitled to a maximum of €460 in monthly assistance through the Asylum Seekers’ Benefit. This represents a slight decline from the €563 Ukrainian refugees could receive previously through Bürgergeld. 

In 2023, nearly 6 million people received Bürgergeld benefits. There is no national data on how many benefit recipients fall under the “complete refuser” category. 

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