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Why 24 working days are four weeks
The Federal Leave Act counts in working days, that is, all days except Sundays and public holidays. At six working days a week, 24 working days come to exactly four weeks.
Anyone working five days has the same entitlement: 24 ÷ 6 × 5 = 20 workdays, likewise four weeks. The conversion does not cut, it transfers.
The qualifying period and what applies before it
The full entitlement is acquired for the first time after the employment relationship has lasted six months (section 4 BUrlG). Before that there is a pro rata entitlement of one twelfth per full month of employment.
The qualifying period postpones the full entitlement, it does not cancel it. Anyone starting on 1 April has the full annual entitlement from 1 October, not just nine twelfths.
A change in working days during the year
Where somebody changes the number of working days per week, the entitlement is calculated per segment: for each period with the number of weekdays applying there. The European Court of Justice has held that an entitlement already acquired must not be reduced retroactively on a reduction.
For an increase the reverse applies: no additional leave arises retroactively for past periods.
Example: a change from five to three days
- 30 days of leave at five working days a week.
- January to June full-time: 30 ÷ 12 × 6 = 15 days.
- July to December at three days: (30 ÷ 5 × 3) ÷ 12 × 6 = 9 days.
- Total entitlement for the year: 24 days.
Common mistake
The annual entitlement gets converted to the new model across the board after the change. That retroactively cuts the entitlement acquired during the full-time phase, and that is exactly what is impermissible.
This is not legal advice; for a specific case at your workplace you are better off asking someone qualified to give it.
- Section 3(1) BUrlG
- „Leave amounts to at least 24 working days a year.“
- Section 4 BUrlG
- „The full leave entitlement is acquired for the first time after the employment relationship has lasted six months.“
Published by: AMNAU GmbH
Editorial responsibility: Ugur Aydogan, Product development.
Last reviewed: 2 September 2026