If it was a while ago that workers had a great year with weekends and public holidays, it now looks like 2023’s vacation days can be planned much smarter. Those who are strategic can maximize time off around weekends and holidays, starting during Easter.
Before you start planning for the coming year, it may be good to know that the holiday law gives you at least 25 days holiday per year. Of these days, you are entitled to four consecutive weeks of summer leave. Check your collective agreement – you may be entitled to more days.
Everyday turns red
This year’s Easter falls at the beginning of April. As usual, Good Friday and Boxing Day are red days, and anyone who takes four vacation days before or after gets a full ten days of continuous leave.
The next opportunity for a slightly longer holiday is around the first of May – this year a Monday. So here is a weekday that suddenly turns red, and whoever takes four days off at Walborg can get nine consecutive days off – if you include Saturdays and Sundays.
With a busy day next to National Day, which this year falls on a Tuesday, there is the possibility of a long weekend at the price of a holiday. Even Christ’s ascension day – which always falls on a Thursday – offers the possibility of four days off with a holiday.
Midsummer’s Eve always falls on a Friday, but many are still off without having to take vacation, which gives the possibility of nine days off with four days off.
Better than last time
For those who want to take a long holiday around Christmas this year, without taking so much vacation, the possibilities are significantly better than last time. Christmas Eve is on a Sunday, so the red days Christmas Day and Boxing Day are on Monday and Tuesday. With three vacation days, you can then look forward to ten days off – which ends with New Year’s Day 2024.
Unfortunately, Epiphany 2024 falls on a Saturday, but it is possible with four more holiday days to actually scrape together a full 16 days off, between December 23 and January 8.