How much vacation with a 4-day week?

With a 4-day workweek, the number of Vacation days generally remains the same as with the regular 5-day workweek. The Federal Vacation Act (BUrlG) stipulates a minimum Vacation entitlement of 24 working days per year. In a classic 5-day workweek, this means that you receive at least 20 working days of vacation.

With a 4-day workweek, this minimum entitlement is proportionally adjusted. This means that with a 4-day workweek, there is a calculated entitlement of 16 working days of Vacation per year. This corresponds to the minimum requirements of the Federal Vacation Act, adjusted to the shorter workweek.

However, the employer can also grant more than the statutory minimum vacation. Many collective agreements or employment contracts provide for additional Vacation days. Therefore, the actual Vacation entitlement should always be checked in the individual employment contract.

The Vacation entitlement in a 4-day workweek affects all working days, regardless of which weekdays work takes place. Thus, each Vacation request must be submitted according to the shortened workweek structure. It should be noted that public holidays are not counted in this.

In summary, with a 4-day workweek, you receive the proportional statutory minimum Vacation of 16 days per year, unless your employment contract provides for more Vacation days. This ensures a fair and legal basis for your recovery periods, regardless of how your work schedule is structured.