Topic
Germany — leave guides
German statutory leave is 20 days minimum (24 for a 6-day week), with strong court-driven rules around forfeiture: a 2018 ECJ ruling means employers must actively warn employees before leave expires. The posts below cover statutory rules, Bundesland-by-Bundesland holiday differences, and the bridge-day potential of German public holidays.
7 articles
Articles in this topic
- Holiday Guide
Pont de Mai 2026: France's Bridge Day Season
May 2026 gives France four jours feries in a single month, with three falling on weekdays perfect for bridge days. Here's how to turn 5-7 PTO days into 20+ days off using the pont de mai strategy.
2026-06-1611 min - Holiday Guide
Bruckentag Culture: Why Germans Are the World's Best Bridge Planners
Germany has a dedicated word, a national planning ritual, and institutional support for bridge day optimization. Here's how Bruckentag culture works and what other countries can learn from it.
2026-05-1411 min - Holiday Guide
Best Long Weekends 2026: A German Worker's Guide
Every Bruckentag opportunity in 2026 for German workers, with exact PTO strategies to turn 20 Urlaubstage into 50+ days off using bridge days and holiday stacking.
2026-05-1212 min - Holiday Guide
Bruckentage 2026: Germany's Bridge Day Calendar
Germany's 2026 public holidays are unusually well-placed for Bruckentage. Here's every bridge day opportunity ranked by efficiency, plus the May supercombination that turns 8 Urlaubstage into 16 days off.
2026-05-0911 min - Holiday Guide
Annual Leave in Germany: Urlaubsanspruch Explained
A complete guide to annual leave entitlements in Germany, covering the Bundesurlaubsgesetz, carry-over rules, state-by-state public holidays, and how to maximise your Urlaubsanspruch.
2026-05-0710 min - Strategy
France vs Germany: The European Leave Showdown
France gets 25 statutory days plus 11 public holidays. Germany gets 20 days plus 10-13 depending on your state. Who really wins the leave game?
2026-04-099 min - Holiday Guide
Regional and State Holidays: The Hidden Days Off Most Workers Miss
Beyond national public holidays, many states and regions grant extra days off. From German Bundesland differences to US state holidays, here are the hidden days most workers overlook.
2026-04-087 min
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