In Germany, employees are entitled to a range of leave types regulated by federal law, collective agreements, and individual employment contracts. Each heading below gives the name you will see when booking time off in the platform, and shows who pays.

Employees are entitled to a statutory minimum of 20 working days of paid annual leave per year based on a 5-day workweek, or 24 days for a 6-day workweek. Many employers provide more generous allowances, often ranging from 25 to 30 days annually. Paid by your employer.

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In the platform this is called Vacation. It can be requested in half days, with no supporting document required. See the separate annual leave article for accrual and carryover rules.

The number and dates of public holidays vary by federal state. Employees are entitled to paid time off on public holidays observed in their region.

Sick Leave:
Employees unable to work due to illness must notify their employer immediately. If the illness extends beyond three days, a medical certificate is required. Continued wage payment for up to six weeks is paid by your employer. After this period, sickness benefits for up to 78 weeks are paid by social security through statutory health insurance.

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Disability Leave:
Employees with a recognised disability are entitled to 5 additional working days of leave per year. Paid by your employer. Unused days may be carried over, expiring after 3 months.

Maternity Leave:
Pregnant employees are entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave—six weeks before the expected due date and eight weeks following childbirth. This is extended to 12 weeks for premature or multiple births. Employees receive Maternity Protection Pay (Mutterschutzlohn), calculated based on their average income over the three months prior to the maternity protection period. This is paid by your employer and reimbursed through the U2 levy system.

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Miscarriage Protection:
Under the revised Maternity Protection Act, women who experience a miscarriage from the 13th week of pregnancy are entitled to maternity protection. The protection period varies based on the gestational week at the time of miscarriage:

During this period, employment is prohibited unless the employee expressly agrees to work. A medical certificate indicating the week of miscarriage is required. Women are entitled to maternity benefits and employer subsidies during this period, covered through the U2 levy. In the platform this is requested as Miscarriage Protection.

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Paternity Leave:
There is no general statutory paternity leave in Germany. Remote People provides 1 paid working day around the birth of a child, in line with the short-term absence provisions of §616 BGB. This is paid by your employer. Longer periods away from work are taken as Parental Leave.

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Parental Leave (Elternzeit):
Each parent may take up to three years of parental leave per child. This leave can be taken simultaneously or separately, and a portion can be postponed until the child turns eight. During parental leave, employment is protected, and parents may work part-time up to 30 hours per week. Parental Leave is unpaid by your employer; parental benefits (Elterngeld) are paid by social security to partially compensate for reduced income.

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Childcare Leave (Kinderkrankengeld):
Parents are entitled to time off to care for a sick child, with an entitlement of 15 working days. It is unpaid by your employer; the child sickness benefit is paid by social security through your statutory health insurance. In the platform this is requested as Childcare Leave.

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Family Responsibility Leave (care leave):
Employees can take leave to care for seriously ill family members. German law provides short-term care leave (up to 10 working days) for immediate caregiving needs, and long-term care leave (up to 6 months) which can involve full or reduced working hours. This is unpaid by your employer. In the platform, care periods are requested as Family Responsibility Leave.

Educational Leave (Bildungsurlaub):
In most federal states, employees may take up to 5 days per year of leave for professional development. Entitlement and duration vary by region. Paid by your employer.

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Bereavement Leave:
There is no general statutory bereavement entitlement in Germany. Remote People provides 2 paid working days following the death of a close family member. Paid by your employer.

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Marriage Leave:
​1 working day for your own wedding. Paid by your employer. Supporting documentation is required.

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Moving Leave:
​1 working day for a house move. Paid by your employer. No supporting document required.

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If your situation isn't covered above, contact your Remote People HR contact.