UK
London, 4 June 2007

 

Holiday entitlements can vary by up to 16 days depending on where you live in the EU, according to research by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. When added together, minimum statutory annual leave and public holidays range from as many as 44 days in some countries to just 28 in others.

The average leave and public holiday entitlements across all 27 EU states is 34 days, with little difference between Eastern and Western Europe. Employees in Finland benefit from 44 days’ holiday, while those in France and Lithuania receive 40 days. In contrast, staff in the UK, Netherlands and Romania are allowed just 28 days off. The figures are based on statutory entitlements for an employee working five days a week, with 10 years’ service.

Mark Sullivan, worldwide partner at Mercer, commented: “Holiday entitlements are a lottery, with some countries offering over 60% more days off than others. Even though efforts have been made to harmonise employment practices in the EU, there are still large disparities in holiday allowances between the member states.”

Annual leave

The minimum number of days’ annual leave ranges from 20 to 30. Those countries that mandate just 20 days (the minimum laid down by the European Union) include Belgium, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and UK, while Finland and France give 30 days. The average across the EU is 23 days. In practice, employers offer more generous leave allowances but this will be driven by industry and often seniority.

Mr Sullivan said: “While employers are only obliged to give the statutory minimum amount of leave, many offer extra days to help attract and retain staff. Generous holiday allowances are an increasingly attractive benefit, as more employees seek to improve their work-life balance.”

Public holidays

Across the EU, numerous different dates are observed nationally as public holidays, yet many of these are observed by no more than one or two member states. This is in addition to the many regional holidays granted in some states.

There are also wide variations in the local implementation of employment practices governing public holidays. EU citizens typically have a statutory right to public holidays, with the exception of France, Sweden and the UK. Employers in these countries usually grant public holidays, but they are within their rights to ask employees to work, or take them as part of their annual leave entitlements.

“Employers trying to co-ordinate business operations across the EU are caught in a maze of legislation when it comes to holidays,” commented Mr Sullivan. “Public holidays tend to be rooted in local tradition or religious beliefs, so it can be difficult to change practices. With the increasing cultural diversity of the European workforce there is pressure for greater flexibility around public holidays.”

Special leave

In addition to annual leave and public holidays, employers in some EU states are required by law to give special leave for getting married, or for the death of a spouse or close relative, for example. Even when there is no requirement, many larger employers provide additional leave for special circumstances.

This research is primarily based on information from Mercer's Worldwide Benefit & Employment Guidelines (WBEG) reports. The WBEG reports are available in five volumes (Americas, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Western Europe and Middle East & Africa), which contain country-by-country information on employment conditions, statutory benefits and typical benefits practices. For further information, please visit www.imercer.com/wbeg

 

Notes for Editors:

Holiday entitlements in EU countries

Country	Statutory Minimum Holidays (days)	Public Holidays (days)	Total (days)
Austria	25	13	38
Belgium	20	10	30
Bulgaria	20	12	32
Cyprus	21	15	36
Czech Republic	20	11	31
Denmark	25	10	35
Estonia	28	10	38
Finland	30	14	44
France	30	10	40
Germany	24	10	34
Greece	25	12	37
Hungary	23 (if over 31 yrs old)	10	33
Ireland	20	9	29
Italy	20	11	31
Latvia	20	11	31
Lithuania	28	12	40
Luxembourg	25	10	35
Malta	24	14	38
Netherlands	20	8	28
Poland	26	10	36
Portugal	22	12	34
Romania	21	7	28
Slovakia	20	15	35
Slovenia	20	16	36
Spain	22	14	36
Sweden	25	11	36
United Kingdom	20	8	28

The figures are based on statutory entitlements for an employee working five days a week, with 10 years’ service.

Mercer Human Resource Consulting is a global leader for HR and related financial advice and services, with more than 15,000 employees serving clients in more than 180 cities and 42 countries and territories worldwide. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., which lists its stock (ticker symbol: MMC) on the New York, Chicago and London stock exchanges. For more information, visit mercerHR.com.

It is the largest consulting firm of its type in the UK, with some 3,000 staff in 19 office locations.

Contact:

Mark Sullivan	Lydia Ruffles / Alistair Peck (Press Office)
+44 (0)20 7178 3784	+44 (0)20 7178 3513 / 3143
aut...@mercer.com	merc...@mercer.com

 

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