Vacation is important to recover from work. No deadlines, stress and endless stream of meetings. Then you can get back to work after your leave. But what if your employer or colleagues suddenly call during your vacation, do you have to answer? Basically not. But whether you are really allowed to go completely offline depends partly on your position. We explain.
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Availability clause
Your employment contract may state that you must remain available under certain circumstances, including during holidays. This often depends on your position. For example, are you a manager with a lot of responsibilities? Then you are expected to be reachable at all times.
Make appointments
But just because you have to be reachable, doesn't mean you have to be able to record all day. Therefore, try to make agreements about your accessibility. For example, mention specific times in your transfer or email to colleagues when they can call you or when you open your laptop for emails. That makes it easier not to think about work at all other times. In addition, always turn on an automatic reply: this way your colleagues and any customers know that they have to wait a while for your response.
Right to vacation
As an employee, you are entitled to at least four times your weekly working hours per year – in other words, four weeks of vacation. Do you work 40 hours a week? Then you get at least 160 hours of vacation. If you work 32 hours, you can record at least 128 hours. Your employment contract or collective labor agreement may state that you have more holiday hours. The basic principle during your holiday is that you do not have to work. So you don't have to answer your work phone, read e-mails or answer messages from colleagues.
More work than vacation?
Did you barely get to your vacation because you spent a lot of time on work? In that case, try to agree with your employer that you will make up the missed holiday hours later.
More information
Do you have questions about this article? Please do not hesitate to contact us. Our Service Center is available every working day from 8.00:18.00 am to XNUMX:XNUMX pm via sc@unie.nl and 0345 851 963.
