Leave Granted for Weddings, Funerals, and Health Issues - Leave for marriage, death, and illness: specific entitlements
Cashing in on Days Off for Life's Highs and Lows: How Workers Score Paid Time Away
- by Nick Jefferson
- 3 Min
When casual discussions about time off pop up, they rarely involve pleasant events like weddings or doctor's appointments. But did you know that you're entitled to paid time off for these and more? Special leave isn't just about tough times; it's also about joyous occasions—without taking away from your well-deserved vacations. Plus, there's no cap on the number of special leave days you can take each year. But be warned, navigating special leave can be tricky, asserts a legal expert.
Lawmakers have put provisions in place for this very situation. "Special leave is a legal entitlement for important personal and family events, as well as unforeseen setbacks," explains Till Bender from the Law Protection Company. However, these legal qualifications can be overridden by collective bargaining agreements or employment contracts. The specifics of special leave can also be outlined in company-wide agreements. If there are no clear guidelines, the legal claim stands, as per the lawyer.
When to Take Special Leave
Bender, a seasoned legal expert, outlines common scenarios for special leave based on court rulings:
- your own wedding
- your children or parents' wedding
- your parents' golden wedding anniversary
- your spouse's childbirth
- funerals within your immediate family
- medical appointments
- house fires
- traffic accidents
- burglaries
The length of your special leave depends on the nature of the occasion. For routine appointments, a few hours off may suffice, says Bender. "On the other hand, for family events, the time off often covers the day of the event rather than just the ceremony itself." The maximum leave allowed per event is typically around seven to ten days, according to Bender.
Special leave can also be taken if you need to care for a sick child or a dependent relative. If you're eligible for such leave, Bender suggests using it before receiving child sickness benefits. That's because your full salary is covered during special leave, whereas child sickness benefits usually provide 90% of your wage, capped at 120.75 euros (approximately equivalent to a monthly wage of 3000 euros). In addition, health insurance may cover up to 15 days per parent, or 30 days for single parents, each year.
The Care Time Act also grants employees up to ten days of paid special leave to care for a dependent relative in an emergency. According to Bender, close relatives include:
- grandparents, parents, in-laws, step-parents
- spouses, registered partners, and their siblings, as well as siblings and their spouses
- grandchildren, your own or your partner's adopted or foster children
Special leave can also be granted for certain volunteer activities. "For those deeply committed to charitable or societal causes, it's worth investigating potential time off," stresses Bender. Special leave can also cover educational leave, volunteer work, civic duties, job applications, and prayers, although the specifics depend on the individual case.
Informing Your Employer About Special Leave
The legal expert advises informing your employer well in advance, if possible, allowing them to arrange a replacement as needed. In unexpected situations such as fires or accidents, a phone call is usually sufficient, according to Bender. "However, it's essential to do so as soon as possible, so your employer can plan, and to prevent miscommunications," he adds.
For doctor's appointments, simply informing your employer or presenting a practice appointment card is usually enough, says Bender. However, grumpy bosses may require a medical certificate or a letter from the doctor. According to the lawyer, your supervisor can't demand that you find a doctor available after hours. "Who you choose to visit is your business," the expert asserts.
Evidence may be required if you missed work due to an unforeseen traffic accident. Your employer has the right to request police reports or correspondence with the insurance company, explains the lawyer. If you were at fault for the accident, the money paid for your leave may need to be recovered by your employer. However, many companies won't bother pursuing this.
No Hard-and-Fast Rules for Special Leave
Unlike sick leave, the duration of special leave isn't fixed. "Your employer can't say, 'You got married, and your father passed away, so I won't approve leave for your sister's wedding!' explains Bender.
- Special Leave
- Employer
- Life Events
- House Fires
- Health Insurance
[1] Parental Leave: [Link to parental leave guide]
[2] Special Leave Duration: [Link to special leave duration information]
[3] cried-wolf-syndrome-in-the-law-of-special-leave.html
[4] Parental Leave in Luxembourg: [Link to Luxembourg parental leave guide]
- Employees are entitled to special leave for important personal and family events, as well as for unforeseen setbacks, as cited by Till Bender from the Law Protection Company.
- Special leave can be taken for a variety of life events, including funerals within the immediate family, medical appointments, house fires, traffic accidents, burglaries, and a spouse's childbirth.
- In some cases, health insurance may cover up to 15 days per parent for medical appointments each year. Additionally, the Care Time Act grants employees up to ten days of paid special leave to care for a dependent relative in an emergency.
