ferieår

Ferieår is a term used in Denmark to describe the annual period during which paid annual leave is earned and taken under the Danish Holiday Act (Ferieloven). The system typically separates two cycles: optjeningsår (accrual year) and ferieår (holiday year). Holidays are earned during the optjeningsår and taken in the following ferieår.

Timeframe and structure: The ferieår is usually defined as running from 1 May to 30 April, while the optjeningsår is the 12 months preceding the ferieår. For example, holidays earned from 1 May 2023 to 30 April 2024 can be used from 1 May 2024 to 30 April 2025. The exact calendar can vary by sector or collective agreement, but the two-cycle principle remains central.

Entitlement: The statutory minimum is 25 days of paid annual leave per year (five weeks). Some employees receive more days through collective agreements or individual contracts. A portion of the holidays is commonly allocated to the main holiday period, typically the summer months, with the remainder available for other times, subject to employer agreement.

Administration and scheduling: Holidays are planned in dialogue with the employer. Leave must be granted in accordance with the Ferieloven and any applicable collective agreements. Arrangements may specify how holidays are distributed across the year and how notice is given.

Carryover and termination: Unused holiday entitlement can, under Ferieloven and relevant agreements, be carried over to the next ferieår or settled upon termination, depending on the terms of the law and contracts.

Special cases: The Ferieloven mainly covers employed workers; self-employed individuals and others may have different arrangements defined by contracts, collective agreements, or company policies.