Leave entitlement for weddings, funerals, and illnesses is covered in this context. - Leave grants for marital events, demise, and illness
Take Control of Your Time Off: A Guide to Special Leave, Bereavement, and Illness
Pen by Nina Jerzy* Approx - 3 Min Read*
Navigating paid time off may seem tricky, but it's not just about using your vacation days for sunny getaways. Special leave, designed for crunch-time situations like family emergencies or significant life events, can help you maintain a healthy work-life balance without dipping into your precious vacation days. Surprisingly, there's no yearly cap on special leave! However, tread carefully, as the legal waters can get complicated.
Legislation covers the basis for special leave. Till Bender, a lawyer from DGB Rechtsschutz GmbH, explains, "Special leave is a legal right granted for special family occasions and personal hardships. While it's normally paid, it can be excluded by collective agreements or employment contracts." Nevertheless, if your employer doesn't provide guidelines on special leave, you're entitled to it based on the law.
So, when can I take special leave?
Courts have identified the following scenarios for special leave:
- Your wedding day
- Weddings of your children or parents
- Golden wedding anniversary of your parents
- Childbirth of your spouse
- Family funerals
- Medical appointments
- Home emergencies (burglary, fire, uninsured traffic accidents)
Special leave duration varies depending on the situation. In most cases, a few hours off might suffice for a medical appointment, while family events usually grant you the full day. Maximum days per instance? Around 7-10, according to Bender.
You can also use special leave for family care, especially when a child or dependent relative is sick. If you or your spouse qualify for special leave, Bender suggests taking it ahead of child sickness benefits. Since you'll get your full salary during special leave, while child sickness benefits offer 90%, capped at €120.75 (approximately €3,000 monthly wage). Additionally, health insurance covers up to 15 days per year per parent, or 30 days for single parents.
The Care Time Act grants 10 days of paid special leave for caring for a close relative in an emergency. To know who qualifies as a close relative, think of:
- grandparents, parents, in-laws, step-parents
- spouse, partner, siblings, and their spouses
- own or partner's adopted or foster children
- grandchildren
Special leave might also cover voluntary activities under certain circumstances. If you're deeply involved in charitable work or community service, it's worth discussing potential leave with your employer. Paid leave may also apply to educational leave, job applications, civic duties, or religious observances, but this depends on specific cases.
Requesting Special Leave
Bender advises alerting your employer in advance, giving them time to arrange a replacement if needed. In case of unforeseen incidents like fires or accidents, a phone call is sufficient. However, act swiftly to let your employer plan ahead, avoiding last-minute confusion.
For medical appointments, informing your employer or presenting your practice appointment card is usually enough. Though, if your boss raises concerns, you might need a medical certificate or doctor's letter. Remember, your manager cannot insist you see a specific doctor offering evening appointments, stresses the expert.
DOTS: In case of a non-fault traffic accident, your employer may request police documents or insurance correspondence. If it turns out you were at fault, your already paid wages may be recovered. Yet, many companies overlook this aspect.
Unlike sick leave, special leave has no fixed duration. As Bender explains, "An employer can't say, 'You got married this year, therefore, I won't grant leave for your sister's wedding!'"
Capital, a stern partner brand, brings you this helpful guide. For more from Capital, visit www.stern.de/capital.
Keywords:
- Special Leave
- Workplace
- Bereavement
- Illness
- Personal life events
- In the context of unforeseen family emergencies or significant personal hardships, you might be eligible for special leave, which can help manage your work-life balance, even without dipping into your vacation days.
- Notably, specific family events such as weddings, funerals, and medical appointments are scenarios where special leave can be utilized, potentially leading to financial benefits, especially when compared to child sickness benefits or health insurance coverage.
