Germany has nine public holidays. However, federal states differ from each other. If in most localities in Bavaria there are 13 public holidays, then, for example, in Hamburg there are three public holidays less.
In Europe, nine public holidays per year is the minimum. The Danes make up for their small numbers with an average of 30 vacation days and a shorter working day.
In Germany, the legal leave is 20 days, the collective agreement is 30 days on average. As in many countries, the actual number of paid vacation days depends on the company, seniority, contract and age.
Article 140 of the Basic Law, in combination with Article 139 of the Imperial Weimar Constitution, protects Sundays and public holidays as “days of spiritual upliftment and rest from work”. This ironclad argument is used as a weapon against the abolition of certain public holidays, as well as in debates over whether public holidays that fall on Sundays should be moved.
Public holidays such as Easter and Trinity always fall on a Sunday, while “floating” holidays can sometimes fall on a weekend. 2022 has been a lean year for workers during the holidays, as Christmas and New Year’s Day fell on a weekend, and Labor Day also fell on a Sunday. Well, what may well irritate a worker brings joy to a strengthening economy.
Holidays and working hours
With a total working time of 34.8 hours per week, Germany was slightly below the European average of 37 hours. This value is affected by 30% of part-time workers. In 2021, the full working week was 40 hours. Greeks worked the longest in the EU – 41.3 hours per week.
Germany and Denmark have the most leave and the shortest annual working time in the EU. Germany, followed by France and Denmark, had the fewest working hours of any European country in 2020, at 1,574 hours, according to Eurofound.
In addition to the annual average of 39 days off – the same number in Denmark alone – the working week is also relatively short at 34.8 hours. In terms of labor productivity, Germany is in the middle of the group in the European comparison.
In the Netherlands, productivity with fewer hours per week is higher than in Germany. In Spain, labor productivity is lower with more hours per week. Thus, a large number of working hours does not automatically mean high labor productivity.
Holidays and GDP
The number of holidays and days off affects gross domestic product. On the one hand, fewer products are produced or sold during the holidays, and the costs, for example in the form of work allowances on these days, increase. On the other hand, holidays are often used for short vacations, movies or restaurants.
Holidays and vacation days help reduce the workload of employees, which can lead to increased productivity and work efficiency. Some studies show that a good work-life balance leads to increased employee motivation and satisfaction and can therefore have a direct impact on productivity.
In addition to economics…
… public holidays have other advantages:
St. Petersburg they strengthen society; remember cultural traditions and rituals; give rest; improve work-life balance; structure the year.
St. Petersburg
Germany says this:
Germany’s Most Trusted Holiday Credit Cards
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