Feriedage

Feriedage are days of paid leave granted to employees for vacation or personal time off. The term is used in several German-speaking contexts to describe annual leave that employees can take within a year. Feriedage are typically separate from public holidays, which are often observed as days off that do not count against leave entitlements.

Entitlement and accrual vary by country, contract, and collective agreement. Most systems provide a fixed annual allotment of leave that accrues over the year and can be pro-rated for part-time employees or new hires. Scheduling usually depends on advance notice and managerial approval, balancing the employee’s wishes with business needs. Unused feriedage may sometimes be carried over to the next year, subject to limits, or paid out upon termination, depending on local law and company policy.

Feriedage are generally distinct from statutory holidays (public holidays). Public holidays are days off mandated by law and are not counted toward the annual leave total in many jurisdictions, though treatments can differ by country and contract. In some places, public holidays and annual leave are simply both paid days off, but the rules for accumulation and usage differ.

Legal framework and practices vary by region. In the European Union, the Working Time Directive sets a minimum of four weeks of paid annual leave per year for full-time workers, with many countries providing more. Employers may offer additional feriedage as part of benefits packages, seniority, or job level. Employees should consult their contract, collective agreement, and local labor laws to understand their specific feriedage rights, accrual methods, carryover rules, and payout terms.