How to take an annual leave

In Luxembourg, paid annual leave is an absolute right for all employees. If you have worked for the same employer for three months in a row, you can take 26 working days off. This rule applies to all employees without exception, regardless of their working hours (full-time or part-time) and type of contract (temporary or permanent).

To make sure you get the most out of your vacation, there are a few important things to keep in mind.

Take it all at once or in parts

Do not count holidays as vacation days

Use all 26 days in a year

Assessing seasonality

Not to work

Consider the risks

It should be noted that the employer has the right to deny the employee leave in the first place. However, this is only permitted in the case of unscrupulous employees whose absences are unjustified and amount to 10% of the normal working hours for the previous part of the year.

Learn about the annual leave approval process and requirements of the organization you work for.

1. Plan your annual leave dates in advance

   Consider your workload, seasonality (if applicable), and the workload of other employees when you take leave.

2. Notify your employer of your plans

   Typically, companies ask all employees to fill out schedules with their planned vacation periods. And before you take leave on that schedule, you'll usually need to fill out a request or send an email to the human resources department, depending on the employer's established procedures.

3. Be clear about the dates and number of working days you will be taking

   Note that in Luxembourg you can take your leave all at once (26 working days) or in parts, bearing in mind that a part is necessarily 2 calendar weeks.

4. Discuss with your manager and other employees how the tasks will be distributed in your absence

   Delegate tasks. Prepare instructions and other resources to help those who will temporarily perform your duties.

5. Wait for approval from your employer or human resources department

   An annual leave request must be approved by company officials.

In some companies, employers set collective leave periods, but this is by mutual agreement with the majority of employees. And everyone must be notified of the collective leave period during the first quarter of the year.

During your annual vacation, your colleagues, partners, customers, and anyone else with whom you come in contact should be aware of your absence from the workplace. Tasks should not be left unfinished. Therefore, you need to perform a minimum set of workflow preparations during your vacation.

Activate notifications

Set up your email and phone to send out-of-office notifications during your vacation, including dates and alternate contacts if necessary.

Ensure a smooth process

If possible, complete any tasks that need to be finished before you leave, and brief colleagues who will be covering for you during your absence to ensure a smooth workflow.

Leave a contact for communication

In the event of a force majeure situation, your employer and colleagues may need your contact person for consultation.

It is important to note that employees are paid while on vacation. The salary is calculated according to the following principles:

• For each day of vacation, a cash payment equal to the average daily wage for the three months immediately preceding the vacation is paid. If the salary is not fixed and varies significantly from month to month, e.g. depending on the turnover, the compensation for the vacation period is calculated on the basis of the average salary of the last 12 months.
• The average daily salary is calculated as follows: monthly salary (including fringe benefits) divided by 173.

When calculating the amount of salary during the vacation period, the employer must take into account overtime and other compensation. In addition, the employer must keep a record of the vacation days taken and to be taken by each employee.

This information may be maintained by the company in one of two ways

In paper form

In an electronic format